Hi guys
Here's a few photos of the Saftune mille when I used to race it for the shop in Sydney in the late 80's, and being rebuilt with the original bodywork now.

I can swap between the '79 NCR replica bodywork I've used for some time now or the Saftune mille style to suit my mood or the occasion. Mike Saffell was the bikes builder and owner, but after he passed away in the early '90's I bought it from his estate and resurrected it. Hence the Mike Saffell Replica sticker. It was in this form that it raced in the 1988 Oran Park Australian round of the first World Superbike series - and remains probably the only mille to have competed at that level.

There's also a photo of the '73 greenframe hot rod I'm putting together with the big Paoli forks, sport classic wheels and a 907 swingarm.

Because I can. Hope you like them. I'll keep you updated with the progress of the roundcase and the next ride day of the mille.

Stephen

Classic stuff of legends, love the Lakeside grid shot.

Hi Stephen,
Very interesting photos. What is the swingarm on the mille?
Bill

Hi Stephen
I have a photo i took at oran park in the early 80s of a saftune bevel, dont know if it is the same one you are doing.
Let me know if you want me to post the picture
Jon

The picture of saftune bevel i think about 1984

My mille is the last incarnation of the Grandfathers axe that was the Saftune race bike that started originally as a very heavily modified Darmah that Barry Hartshorne rode for many years (as shown in the last photo kindly posted) before it became the mille in the Daspa chassis.

There were at least three frames and various motor configurations - but in the form I raced it had the mille engine with the Pantah heads in the Daspa frame, an F1 750 front end and the Verilicchi swingarm and Marzocchi GP shocks and mille bodywork.

Mike Saffell was going to extend the race life of the engine by fitting it in an Alchemy frame from Brook Henry, and so he sold me the frame and bodywork. He contracted pancreatic cancer before any progress was made though.

I then sourced RGV 250 Suzuki wheels brakes and swingarm for my 900 megabevel that I raced at Bathurst, Eastern Creek, Oran Park and the like, and then I acquired the mille from his estate after his unfortunate passing.

Then the mille engine went back into the chassis that I had modified to replicate the '79 Hailwood race bike with the bracing as I found an original fairing on my Honeymoon in Europe (as you do - the incurable romantic that I am. "C'mon honey! Let's look in this guys garage for bike parts!") and then copied the tank locally.

Then it was a case of breaking out the old bodywork and it was repainted for me.

What would you do if you didn't have bikes to play with? I have no idea either...

Now that's a true statement if I've ever seen one.
Bill

I absolutely LOVE it!

And hot-rodding a greenframe?

Perfect.

I've always enjoyed destroying the collectible value of classics by turning them into something that can be regularly used in anger and seeing your examples made my day..

Regards,

Well said, Steve!!!

There are just too many folks who are preoccupied with the monetary value of their bikes and yet more who go orgiastic about a machine's originality......... Ferchrissakes!!!

Poison

Found this pic on net. Boucher.