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Honda's race history 1959 - 1968........


Honda's Race History 1960
Content © Joep Kortekaas 2002

mail Joep here if you have questions

1960 Overview ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt  
When Honda returned to Europe in 1960, a lot has changed compared with the year before.
In the first place, instead of competing in only one race, all the Grand Prix are contested. Furthermore, next to the Japanese riders, Tom Phillis and Bob Brown are contracted to ride for Honda, later joined by Jim Redman, the future six-times world champion on Hondas, after Phillis crashes during practice for the Dutch TT . Unfortunately, Bob Brown fatally crashes at the Solitude in Germany.

In the 125cc class, the MVs and MZs are still faster than the Hondas, and the world champion is Carlo Ubbiali on the single cylinder MV, with Gary Hocking on an MV second and Ernst Degner on MZ third. However, Honda ends up third in the manufacturers' world championship behind those two marks. Best individual results for Honda are fourth places for Redman in Monza and Assen.

In the 250cc class, Ubbiali and Hocking on their MVs take first and second place in the individual world championship, with Luigi Taveri on another MV in third place, but in the manufacturers' world championship the result for Honda is better, with a second place. Best results for Honda are a second place for Phillis in the Ulster GP, just 2 seconds behind Ubbiali, and a second for Redman in Monza.

125 cc RC143

The RC143 is a completely new bike from the RC 142, the most conspicuous change being the switch from leading link front suspension to telescopic front forks, and although the frame type is still the spine type, practically everything else of the cycle parts is new.

The brakes are changed from single sided two-leading shoes to double sided single leading shoe.

The drive to the camshafts is still with bevel shaft and gears, but the cylinders are now inclined under 35 degrees. The position of the magneto is changed from the inlet camshaft to a place behind the cylinders. Bore and stroke are still 44 x 41 mm, and the poweroutput is now 23 bhp at 14,000 rpm. The carburettors still have remote float bowls. The dry weight is 93 kg.

250 cc RC161

125cc RC143
1960 125cc RC143
125cc RC143
250cc RC161 Engine

The RC161 is a totally new bike and has nothing in common with its predecessor.

Frame, front suspension, brakes (with the same changes as described for the 125 cc twin RC143), all is new. Like with the 125 cc, the cylinders are inclined at 35 degrees and are cast in one piece with the top part of the horizontally split crankcases, which are cast in light alloy, as are the cylinder heads (cast in one piece for the four cylinders). The various covers are cast in electron, an alloy of aluminium and magnesium.

The double overhead camshafts are now driven from the centre of the crankshaft by a gear train between the cylinders. To reduce the width of the engine, this gear train is partially situated behind the cylinders, and from there drives the magneto for the ignition. The valve angle is 76 degrees: 36 degrees for the inlet and 40 degrees for the exhaust valves. Bore and stroke are still 44 and 41 mm. Carburation is by four Kei-hins with remote float chambers, with a rather steep downdraught angle for the inlet bellmouths; later they are replaced with concentrics with a short bellmouth in line with the inlet track.

There is a six speed gearbox and the engine has wet sump lubrication. Power output is given as over 38 bhp at 14,000 rpm. Maximum torque is 2.1 kgm at 12,000 rpm. Total weight of the bike is now 128 kg dry, top speed is given as over 220 km/h.

 

 

left ...... Tom Phillis in the Isle of Man with the RC161 and a mechanic.

1960 250cc RC161 Engine
250cc RC161
1960 250cc RC161
Tom Phillis in the Isle of Man with the RC161 and a mechanic.