Ian Waughs Puma

[Bob B]

I've had an enquiry as to why Ian Waugh's Puma was banned. I was out of racing at the time so can anyone enlighten me please?

[666]

As I remember Bob when F2 started it included up to 1000 twins then came rule change which stopped big twins racing in the class but I don't know the official reason.

[Bob B]

Thanks John

[Wal]

Yes Bob, big twins were originally included and many people built them like Waffy's beautiful Puma, even Dieter Busch built a BMW for the TT.
As I remember it, perhaps not the only reason, but certainly a contributing factor in the banning of the the twins was the Ducati outfit campaigned by Neil Smith in the early 90's (ish), Neil being a top rider of the day, I hope he won't mind me saying that I don't remember it being a great success at the time.

It was however, around that time that Ducati came to prominence on the World stage, going on to Carl Fogarty and Ducati dominated World Superbikes. Consequently, 'somebody somewhere' decided that if one of these engines were put in a sidecar, they would have an unfair advantage . . .net result. . .ban all the twins

Personally I think if anybody could have afforded the half a million quid to buy the WSB engine, they already have the "unfair advantage" !

[Eddy Wright]

I remember Neil Smith with his Ducati. He entered this bike within the rules at the time and was accepted to ride in the TT.

However this was on the condition he removed the fuel injection and replaced it with carburettors. He did this but as I understand it the ignition had to be changed too.

I don't think the twins were banned at this time.

[chrisa]

Ducati came to prominence because they were racing against 750s. I remember Neils bike, didn't he have a lot of reliability problems

[oldbelly]

Neil used the Ducati in 91 and as Eddy said had to use carbs. It was never going to work and to make it more embarassing Neil set off at No 1. Neil was a top runner at the TT at the time but had to stick by the FSRA rules . I can remember a motor in Neils camp with a rod out, so it wasnt just slow it was fragile. I dont think Neil appeared at the TT after this. Remember certain FSRA committee members were still hell bent on protecting their 350s at this time.

[steve-e]

I just tried to edit that post, to get rid of blank space. Geoff I don't know how you did it but I'm impressed

[oldbelly]

Havent a clue what happened there Steve.

[steve-e]

the difference is, I'm supposed to know not a clue

[oldbelly]

Neil did come back to the TT on his 350 in 92.

[lang]

Geoff, Neil Smith used the Ducati at the 1993 TT. He built the bike that year within the rules, when the powers that be heard about it they banned fuel injection only a few weeks before the event.
With such short notice he had no option other than to fit carburettors to motor that was never designed to use them.
Their is no doubt that with Neil's ability he was a potential TT winner, I think this treatment he recived was the reason he never came back to the TT.

Neil's best result at the TT was second in 1991 on a TZ350 outfit.

[sidecarracing]

while we are talking about the time that big twins were allowed with the F350's...

...anybody remember a outfit with a Folan 1000 V-twin engine fitted?

I once saw a photo of it, traditional tube chassis, have no further information.

[Phil Davies]

Didn't Paul Pinfold also build a V twin outfit, Westlake lump from the grass tweaked to run on petrol?

Think I remember seeing it at Mallory.

[Bob B]

Quite possibly, seems to ring a bell - distantly. Wonder what they would make of Dave Mallows 1300cc Vincent or the Irving Vincent from down under?