We have been wanting to get behind the scenes with Mr Charles and his stunning (and we mean proper mind blowing here!) collection of historically relevant classic racers for some time. These are the real deal – every single one of them! The collection will be the basis of another story, but in the mean time we are here to talk about one in particular.
So last weekend Stephane and Julian where in town with us filming the penultimate round of the UAE GT Championship and we thought it would be the ideal time to make the journey across town and witness a legend being woken from a slumber. Step forward the game changing Honda CR 750 M3 Factory Racer.
The bike you see before you was the result of Honda making the call to move significantly upscale from their position at the time. Honda bravely entered the high-performance, multi-cylinder, large displacement ‘consumer’ arena in 1969, with the introduction of the inline four-cylinder CB750.
This was the bike that then gave us the game changing CR 750 M3 Factory Racer that you see before you.
So as we mentioned above, the reason for being in the presence of a such a piece of history was to shoot, film and capture the bringing to life of Eric’s bike, after a number of years sat proudly in his collection. Thanks to the dab hand of French Legend Gilles Chauve the carbs where given a thorough going over..
The fuel system was cleaned, purged and primed for action…
The old toffee-esque oil was drained out and a fresh batch of liquid gold was poured in…
And then it was time! Eric pushed the bike back onto the mobile rollers and got ready for the moment of glory.
Which sadly for all of us didn’t happen as expected. So off the rollers it went and the head scratching began. After another round of coffee and biscuits care of Mrs Charles, the motivation levels were back up and Rd2 was ready and waiting.
With the rollers running at full steam and both Eric and Gilles working their magic, the old girl burst into life! Actually I think burst probably doesn’t do it justice, as the might of 93hp motor igniting shocked the life out of all of us. The most intense and sonorous noise you can imagine blew out across the Dubai desert and even attracted people from the neighbouring streets to wander down and catch a glimpse of what was going on.
We will leave you with a full break down of the technical aspects of the bike and the mind blowing list of achievements that it succeced in collecting during its fruitful competition life. Eric will be hitting the Dubai Autodrome in the next couple of weeks to give the bike a proper leg stretch so if you are interested in seeing a piece of history lapping the track, we urge you to head on down.
Keep your eyes peeled for the video that we will be releasing in the coming weeks.
CR750 HONDA RACING ENGINE
Engine built by M3 Racing (92-93 HP @ 9800 RPM)
Nova Close Ratio gear box (newest updated version)
Lightened/balanced/micro polished crank with oil hole mods.
Carrillo conecting rods with Kelmet racing beariings.
Special M3 slipper type cam chain tensioner/Tsubaki racing chain.
Special M3 racing pistons/rings, set at zero deck height.
Special M3 racing grind camshaft by Web Cam.
Lightened/polished rocker arms with special M3 adjustimng lock nuts.
KPMI springs/Ti retainers and Black Diamond valves.
Cylinder head Ported/flowed by “Berreth Heads” to M3 specs.
Special primary drive hub with M3 modifications.
Dyna ingition with OEM advancer.
Special top cover with top engine mount by M3 Racing.
CR special 31mm carbs.
Heavy duty racing clutch.
Heavy duty primary chains.
OEM oil pump modified to M3 Racing specs.
A BRIEF HISTORY
- Bike was constructed during winter of 1996-1997, in house here at M3 Racing factory in Northern Minnesota by Mark McGrew and M3 crew.
- 1997 Debuted at Deland FL in Dick Mann/Team Honda Racing livery.
- 1997 Mitch Boehm (Motorcyclist) gave bike first wins at Willow Springs CA.
- 1997 Riden by Japanese rider, Ken Nemoto (Riders Club magazine & ex Factory Honda racer) to Third place at AHRMA Willow Springs, CA event.
- 1997 Adam Popp….Finsihed Third in AHRMA F-750 Championship.
- 1998 Bike was re-painted in Honda factory GP colors, circa 1960′s. (silver fairing with yellow stripe, red tank, seat)
- 1998 Won AHRMA F750 Championship with “perfect score” 12 out of 12 race wins.
- 1998 Won both legs of AHRMA Team Challenge at Dayona.
- 1998 Bike was fastest Classic bike at Daytona (142 mph)
- 1998 AMA Superbike Champion, Reg Pridmore rides bike at Sears Point for Lap of Honor.
- 1998 Traveled to Mallory Park UK to compete in second half or AHRMA Team Challenge. Highest point scorer for US team.
- 1999 Adam Popp….Won Second AHRMA F-750 Championship.
- 1999 Established top speed record (155.556 mph) at Daytona for any Classic motorcycle.
- 1999 Travelled by invitation to the Dutch TT in Assen Holland, Circuit Van Drenth to race in Classic Team Challenge by Team Obsolete. during the 500 GP weekend. Fastest lap of meet, (DNS due to experimental engine problems)
- 2000 Won Daytona AHRMA F-750 event
- 2000 Fastest Classic bike at Dayona (150)
- 2000 Adam Popp….Third place in AHRMA F-750 Championship (attended only 4 events)
- 2000 Traveled by invitation to LInkoping Sweden to participate in the Jubileumsracet Festival. Finished 2nd place both days, after crashing on first lap of first practice and having to do major repairs on site.
- 2001 Won Daytona AHRMA F-750 race by 57 seconds and an AHRMA record.
- 2001 Established the Classic bike quickest lap record of 2:07 @ Daytona.
- 2001 Established quickest lap reacord of 1:56 for Classic Bikes at Brainerd International Raceway.
- 2001 Won the Classic bike race at Brainerd International Speedway.
- 2001 Traveled by invitation to the Historic Speed Festival at Silverstone England. Finished 5th place (highest American finish)
- 2002 AMA Grand National Champion, Gary Nixon finished second in AHRMA F-750 & Formula Vintage races.
- 2003 Gary Nixon finished third at AHRMA Formula Vintage race Daytona. (finished second, but jumped start and was penalized one place)
- 2004 Gary NIxon finished second at AHRMA F-750 race in Daytona.
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