Slippery Sam
Rear: 316 mm disc with 2- piston floating caliper
Slippery Sam was a racing motorcycle from Triumph Motorcycles, which was developed for the 750 series. The name Slippery Sam was at the Bol d'Or 24 -hour race in 1970 in France, because a faulty oil pump driver Percy Tait sprayed continuously with engine oil.
- 3.1 See also
- 3.2 Literature
- 3.3 External links
- 3.4 Notes and references
History
End of the 1960s, the British motorcycle manufacturers were facing increasing competition from Japan. Therefore, Triumph decided based on the Triumph Bonneville to build a three-cylinder engine and counter the Japanese competition in the 750 production class. The bike was given the name Triumph Trident. On the basis of this motorcycle racing machine was built. The result was the racer who later entered as Slippery Sam in the history of motorsport.
One of the most important and prestigious race for motorcycle manufacturer was the Bol d'Or. The Honda CB 750 Four won the 24 -hour race Bol d'Or Autodrome de Linas- on the Montlhery in Montlhery, France in 1969, after Percy Tait, who had led long, had to retire with a leaking oil pump. This situation eventually led to the name Slippery Sam. Despite similar difficulties, the Triumph Trident racer won with the drivers J. C. Lombard and Daniel Rayez fourth place at the Bol d'Or in 1969. The following year was Tom Dickie (GB ) and Paul Smart ( GB), the race finally but win after the problems were solved with the oil pump. The racing success with the Trident were the last of triumph.
The original Slippery Sam, which was exhibited in the British National Motorcycle Museum, was destroyed by fire. However, it was completely rebuilt and is on display at Allen Vintage Motorcycle Museum. There were and are many replicas in the design of Slippery Sam made and auctioned off in part at high prices.
Slippery Sam was one of three similar motorcycles that were built for Triumph / BSA in 1969 specifically for the production -750- class the Isle of Man TT. The chassis was modified slightly from the motorcycle engineer Doug Hele, so it had a lower center of gravity. Hele and Rob North were known as experts at building successful racing machines. The racing version has had a few other modifications to the standard version, they had among others, four valves per cylinder instead of two of the original engine. The engine power was increased from the original 60 to 82 hp. She was also equipped with disc brakes, the stock bike had to be content with Duplex drum brakes.
Achievements
The prepared by Les Williams Slippery Sam won the 750 Production TT race in the Isle of Man for five consecutive years - 1971 to 1975 - making it the most successful motorcycle in this class. Drivers were Mick Grant and, in 1971 Percy Tait and Ray Pickrell. In 1974, 750 increased to 1000 cc of the formula. But the formula was introduced 750 Classic. The racing machines based on the Triumph Trident were then drilled to approximately 900 cc to meet the regulations requirements. One of them won the race again.
Today Slippery Sam refers not only to the original machine by Les Williams, but all Triumph Trident racing machines of the time, who participated in the Bol d' Or and the motorcycle race in the Isle of Man TT. There were still some modifications as the Trident Rickman and Rob North Trident, which had also significantly larger displacement part.