Team Obsolete is proud and pleased to announce an exciting multi-year promotional agreement with the NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM (UK) which contemplates Team Obsolete bringing out many of the Museum’s exotic machines. These will be seen and heard on selected venues in the UK and on the Continent and will be ridden by world class riders.

Team Obsolete has enjoyed a long association with the museum and has restored several of its most prominent machines including the Monocoque Norton, the AJS 7R3 Triple Knocker, and the ex-Hailwood BSA F-750. Team Obsolete is currently overhauling the museum’s E95 Porcupine which will debut in the Spring of 2002!

Isle of Man TT Lap Of Honour, June 5, 2000 - The National Motorcycle Museum entered one of its premier machines, an ex-works 1954 AJS 7R3 "Triple Knocker" in the Lap of Honour organized by the TT RiderŐs Association. Pilot was former AJS factory rider Derek Farrant who placed 2nd in the 1954 "Junior," perhaps on this very machine! He also won the 1952 "Senior" Manx Grand Prix on the prototype Matchless G-45. After retiring from motorcycle racing when AJS pulled out of the Grands Prix at the end of 1954, Farrant went on to an illustrious sailing career as a multi-time world champion. The "Triple Knocker" was restored for the "National" by Team Obsolete in the late 1980Ős. Recently Team Obsolete gave the motor a full overhaul. This June 5, 2000 was its first run in forty-six years! Derek was joined by Jim Redman, six times FIM World Champion. Jim rodee the same ex-Agostini MV Agusta 350 "Triple" that he rode to victory at Daytona Speedway the previous March. Jim won Daytona on the same MV in 1995. He will ride in last position under the honorary designation "J". Finally, former SAAB USA Chairman and Board Member of McLaren USA Bob Sinclairrode a Mike Braid tuned Manx Norton 350. Bob is no stranger to the Isle of Man. Farrant, Redman, and Sinclair will ride on Avon tyres. Team Obsolete has used Avon tyres exclusively for more than a decade.

Oliver's Mount Circuit at Scarborough, England, Sepember 9 & 10, 2000 - PORCUPINE DEBUTS AT SCARBOROUGH Ultra-rare AJS Porcupine, 6 time FIM World Champion Jim Redman, MBE, and "The Most Successful Motorcycle Racer of all TimeÉ" These were the attractions brought by Team Obsolete to the Oliver's Mount Circuit at Scarborough this past weekend for the 50th anniversary Gold Cup Celebration. The 1954 AJS E95 Porcupine is one of only four E95's ever made and is currently the world's only running version, and is perhaps the most original specimen of the rare model. Team Obsolete has been working on rebuilding the bike on and off for the past 18 years, and the project got a finishing boost when the team acquired the bike's original and complete engine at this past spring's record-breaking Stafford auction. The first to ride the bike on a Road Racing track in over 40 years was Jim Redman, MBE, the ex works Honda racer and 6 time FIM world Champion. Redman paraded the bike in a Lap of Honour that included many greats from the past in the world of motorcycle road racing. Giacomo Agostini, the racer who earned the title "The Most Successful Motorcycle Racer of all Time" while riding in the 1960's and 70's as an MV Agusta works racer, was on hand to greet the crowd and tour the course. Unfortunately, he had to complete his Lap of Honour from the safety of a four-wheeled vehicle, having injured his right arm (not by motorcycle) just a few days before the event. The debut of the Porcupine was a huge success, and Team Obsolete would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the project over the years. It could not have been done without them.

Daytona Historic Races, March 5-6, 2001 - Roper, Duhamel, and Rayborn to ride "dream bikes". Team Obsolete is pleased and proud to announce the North American debut of the legendary 1954 AJS E-95 PORCUPINE, to be piloted by Isle of Man TT winner Dave Roper, who is the chief mechanic on this ultra-rare machine. It has never before appeared on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Yvon Duhamel, patriarch of the racing Duhamel family, will ride the ex-Dick Mann BSA A75R that won the 1971 Daytona 200. Cal Rayborn III will pilot the same 1972-3 Harley Davidson XR750TT that his late father raced for the Harley Davidson Factory Team in the early 1970Ős.

USA DEBUT OF THE AJS PORCUPINE - Eighteen years after it's arrival in New York Team Obsolete's legendary 1954 AJS E-95 Porcupine debuted on March 2,2001 at Georgia's Roebling Road Raceway. This machine is the only running example. No Porcupine has ever before run in North America. Chief mechanic Dave Roper rode it to a solid fourth place in WERA's Heavyweight Vintage Class, behind second place teammate Erik Green on a 1962 AJS 7R. Roper reported that the PORC handled well, had a predictably low center of gravity, and gave good power from 5200 rpm to 7800 rpm. Then it was off to Daytona Speedway, where Roper and the Porcupine completed ten trouble free practice laps. In the Classic 60's race a slipping clutch required a quick return to the hot pit for an adjustment to the clutch pushrod. The Porcupine then completed the race at a lap speed which closely paced the leaders. It was clearly the star of the Daytona meet. Teammate Yvon Duhamel placed 2nd. In F750 on the ex-Cal Rayborn XR750TT Harley Davidson, and second in Formula Vintage on the ex-Dick Man BSA III, both times behind Adam Popp on a very modernized Honda Four. Cal Rayborn III was fourth on the same Harley in Formula Vintage. Lon McCroskey was first 350 in Classic 60's followed by Tupper Robinson, both on standard AJS 7R's. In 350 G.P. Erik Green was second on an original AJS 7R behind Jay Richardson on an ultra short stroke replica 7R.

Mallory Park, England, June 10, 2001 - Team Obsolete (U.K.) and the National Motorcycle Museum (U.K.) are pleased to announce the reunification of two very important ex-works racers - the 1954 AJS E95 "Porcupine" 500 twin and the 1954 AJS "Triple Knocker" 350 single. This will be the first time these ultra rare machines have run together anywhere in the world since 1954 when AJS ended its Grand Prix racing program. Vanson Leathers are also supporting the reappearance of these two very special machines at Mallory Park. Probable riders will be Alan Cathcart and Stewart Graham. The long term collaboration agreement between Team Obsolete and the National Motorcycle Museum can be expected to bring out many of the Museum's important historic machines for the public to enjoy over the next few years.

Cadwell Park, England, August 4, 2001 - ULTRA-RARE AND HISTORIC BRITISH BIKES OF NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, TEAM OBSOLETE TO RUN AT BEEZUMPH RALLYE Team Obsolete will again be showcasing some of the ultra-rare and historically significant British racing motorcycles owned by the National Motorcycle Museum (UK) as part of their ongoing coordinated outreach program that seeks to bring these bikes back into the public realm. This time the venue is the Beezumph Rallye. The bikes that will appear in running condition to perform parade laps are as follows: 1954 AJS "Porcupine" E95 1954 AJS "Triple Knocker" 7R3 1962/65 Matchless G50, ex-Arter/Duff 1967 Arter-Williams Matchless G50 1970 BSA III ex-Hailwood 1971 BSA III ex-Cooper Also appearing for static display will be the following: Slippery Sam (Triumph) 1971 BSA ex-Ray Pickrell The long term collaboration agreement between Team Obsolete and the National Motorcycle Museum can be expected to bring out many more of the Museum's important historic machines for the public to enjoy over the next few years.

2001 Silverstone

Goodwood Revival Meeting, September 14 - 16 2001 - Phil Read, MBE, eight time World Champion will be reunited with an ex-works 1967 MV Agusta 500 "Triple" to contest the Historic Motorcycle Races. This event marks an historic and emotional reunion for man and machine- Phil won his first 500cc FIM World Championship back in 1973 on the MV "Fire Engine." The legendary 1954 AJS E-95 Porcupine will also star at Goodwood. The worldŐs sole operational "Porc" is a joint entry of Team Obsolete and the National Motorcycle Museum, UK. It will be ridden by Damon Hill, with Colin Seeley listed as the possible co-rider.

Team Obsolete is sponsored by the National Motorcycle Museum (UK), Vanson Leathers, Megacycle Cams, Avon Tires, Works Performance, AirTech & R/D Springs, Sudco, and SuperTrapp.