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GT750 – A Ducati Classic Love Story
By Phil Favero
This is my Ducati GT750. Her name’s “Rina” and we’re seen here crossing the Turon River, near Sofala NSW, in 1976. We were on our way to a camping weekend with 4 other motorcycles and a few cars. I’ve owned Rina since 1975 and I still ride her today. She occupies pride of place in my heart and in my garage. After owning her for a couple of weeks, I knew I could never part with her. We’ve been on many journeys and adventures together. High speeds, long distance, cannonball blasts, you name it, we’ve done it together.
She’s never once let me down. I just give her regular love and she rewards. Rina now stands, ready to go on a moment’s notice. Once this lockdown finishes, the road that stretches away into the far distance will be calling and another satisfying motorcycling adventure is about to happen.
One of the nicest thing about this GT750 is the feeling I get whenever I’m on a ride; she is still as exciting as the first day I bought her. As I get older, I realise how lucky I have been to own her.
Hopefully, the journey is still long and we will have a good many rides left in us.
Phil Favero – Life Member, SCMC
My Venerable 1982 Suzuki Katana GSX750 JCW Replica
In February 1982 the J.C.W. Racing team entered the Yamaha Australia sponsored 750 Production Race at Oran Park. The J.C.W. team riders for the race that day were the legendary Rodney Cox and Neil Chivas. Their bike for the race was a 1982 750 Katana painted in the J.C.W. team racing colour ........... bright YELLOW. At that time, J.C.W. Motorcycles was both a Suzuki and Yamaha dealer located in Yagoona NSW but the team elected to enter a Suzuki because Yamaha would not supply a bike for the race .......... many years later the shop was sold to later become what is now known as The Helmet Warehouse.
As fate would have it, Rodney and Neil won the race with another Suzuki 750 Katana raced by Crowes Nest Motorcycles coming in second place. Of course this was somewhat embarrassing for Yamaha at the time given that they were the sponsors of the race and most of the $20000 prize money went to teams racing a rival brand.
Following the race, to celebrate the win, and no doubt add insult to Yamaha's injury, Suzuki Australia took the opportunity to repaint and sell 30 certified J.C.W. 750 Katanas race replicas.
My Suzuki Katana, No 21 of that 30, was sold brand new and registered by Mick Hone, in Victoria on 21 July, 1982. I bought the bike as pretty much a basket case in 2016 and I have since spent a lot of time and money restoring it. It's kind of interesting that I sourced the majority of the parts I needed for the restoration from Mick Hone Motorcycles which is still operating today, with Mick Hone himself at the helm, still selling bikes and spares some 40 years later.
Gary Meers
SCMC Secretary
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