{"id":1659,"date":"2024-11-05T09:02:08","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T09:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/?post_type=product&p=1659"},"modified":"2024-11-18T06:40:14","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T06:40:14","slug":"1972-cal-rayborn-tr500","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/bikes-for-sales\/1972-cal-rayborn-tr500\/","title":{"rendered":"1972 Cal Rayborn TR500"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cal Rayborn’s 1972 Suzuki TR500<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raidermoto is incredibly humbled to offer a unique opportunity for serious collectors of motorcycle racing history.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cal Rayborn, the quick Californian, was one of the most influential racers of 60\u2019s\/70\u2019s motorcycle racing.<\/p>\n

Born in San Diego in 1940, Cal Rayborn first rode a motorcycle when he was eight. In his teens he worked as a delivery boy after school, and over the summer holidays his time was consumed with riding motorcycles.<\/p>\n

In his early 20\u2019s he turned to scrambles and TT Steeplechase, then tried his hand at road racing, beating many of California\u2019s top riders on what was a production motorcycle. He turned pro in 1965, recording two podium finishes \u2013 a second at the Des Moines road race in Iowa, and third at LA\u2019s Ascot Park half-mile. In only his second year as a pro, Cal won his first AMA road race at San Diego\u2019s Carlsbad circuit.<\/p>\n

An almost over-night sensation, legendary Harley-Davidson race boss Dick O\u2019Brien was one of the first to recognise Rayborn\u2019s natural raw speed, and promptly signed him to the Milwaukee squad. Although contracted to ride Harley\u2019s 750 dirt-trackers and road racers, O\u2019Brien allowed Rayborn to compete for his good friend and mentor, Don Vesco, in both 250 & 350 classes riding Veco\u2019s Kawasaki and Yamaha two-strokes. During this period Rayborn went up against the famous Kel Carruthers in the AMA Junior class.<\/p>\n

In various articles, Vesco made note of Rayborn\u2019s rare talent for amazing corner entry speed, now the staple technique for elite riders up to and including Marc M\u00e1rquez.<\/p>\n

Vesco remembers, \u201cthose Harleys were heavy and didn\u2019t have the greatest brakes, and Calvin would run the thing into turns faster than anyone else, then he\u2019d turn-in the front tyre to scrub-off speed. That\u2019s not all that uncommon now, but in those days no one rode that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rayborn\u2019s first big win for H-D came at the 1968 Daytona 200. Up against reigning world champion Phil Read, Rayborn out-braked the British rider\u2019s much lighter Yamaha TD3 into the Horseshoe and was never headed again. The following year he proved to the world it was no fluke, by towelling the field for back-to-back wins.<\/p>\n

In 1970, piloting a Harley-Davidson Sportster-based streamliner, Rayborn set a new American and International speed record of 265.492mph (427.268km\/h) on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, then a year later recorded his only-ever AMA national dirt-track win at Michigan\u2019s Livonia Mile circuit.<\/p>\n

In 1972, Rayborn made a dynamic debut in the UK, winning three of the six race John Player Transatlantic Series held over the Easter long weekend. Local Ray Pickrell (Triumph 750) won the other three, the pair finishing 1-2 in all six legs. It was England\u2019s first viewing of a top American rider, and local fans voted Cal \u2018Man of the Series\u2019 Later that year Rayborn won road races at Indianapolis and Laguna Seca, which were his last AMA victories.<\/p>\n

Rayborn\u2019s UK success motivated him to take on the best road racer of 1972, Jarno Saarinen, at Mallory Park\u2019s Race of the Year, held in September. Cal knew after practice that his heavy Harley was no match for Saarinen\u2019s new water-cooled Yamaha 350, but he stayed with the Finn in the opening laps of the race, skidding into the corners as usual until ignition failure forced him out.<\/p>\n

When Rayborn learned that Giacomo Agostini had signed with Yamaha and would contest the 1974 Daytona 200 on the new TZ750A, the American said, \u201cBoy, I better get me a quick bike for that one!\u201d Knowing he stood little chance with a Harley, Rayborn resigned from the Milwaukee team and signed with Suzuki America to partner legend Paul Smart. Eager to show-off his new recruit, Suzuki\u2019s Ron Grant talked Rayborn into competing in the inaugural round of the Marlboro Series in New Zealand. Rayborn, having decided to follow in the footsteps of Mike Hailwood and John Surtees, had acquired a Lola Formula 5000 open-wheeler that he entered in the 1974 Tasman Series, so it made perfect sense to compete in the Marlboro Series while in NZ.<\/p>\n

First round of the \u201974 Tasman F5000 series was at Levin, north of Auckland, a week after the second round of the inaugural Marlboro bike series at Pukekohe. Rayborn arrived in NZ and was offered $1000 start money to race a three-year-old Suzuki TR500. Heavier, less powerful and not as nimble as the new TZ350,\u00a0Rayborns team decided to convert it to Methanol the morning of the event. Understandably the bike seized in practice; new pistons were fitted and possibly more tuning, and Rayborn went out in the first race. Running 4th<\/sup>\u00a0at the end of lap one, tipping into Champions Curve (end of the main straight), a very fast right hander, the bike seized again, throwing Rayborn off and into the hardwood timber guardrail at 190km\/h. With so much still to do in his life, Calvin Lee Rayborn II was fatally injured; his family and the sporting world in large was robbed of one of the most impressive racers of the times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

History of the Cal Rayborn TR500 Suzuki<\/strong><\/p>\n

The bike Cal rode was initially built for Geoff Perry, an up-coming young NZ champion who had made quite an impression in the 72 Dayton riding a “factory style” TR500 Suzuki. This was a bike built by Steve Roberts. Legend has it Perry broke a chain on the last lap while in the lead! Following this impressive start Steve Roberts built a new & improved chassis for Perry for the 73 Daytona assault. This new design was based on a smaller, lighter frame modelled on the TR250, with an engine built by Dick Lawton. Tragically, Geoff was killed before the 73 Daytona.<\/p>\n

The bike then went on to be campaigned by Dayle Wylie & Brian Martin, and sometime during 1973 was purchased and raced by Joe Lett, the workshop manager at Coleman Suzuki in Wanganui; all these guys were among NZs finest riders.<\/p>\n

This is a very unique opportunity to purchase this famous piece of motorcycle racing history and is presented in concourse condition. Located in Australia, Raidermoto can co-ordinate & manage freight worldwide.<\/p>\n

Follow this link for hi-res pics of this amazing motorcycle being ridden by Sir Alan Cathcart.<\/p>\n

Cal Rayborn TR500<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

For further information, more photos shipping, price or provenance inquiry, please feel welcome to contact RaiderMoto.com during office hours on +61 2 66512405, cell +61 423 559656, email liamybike@raidermoto.com<\/a>, or find us on Facebook\u00a0RaiderMoto.com<\/a><\/p>\n

IMPORTANT!!<\/strong>Advertised price may include shipping concessions and\/or be subject to currency exchange rate fluctuation \u2013 please contact RaiderMoto.com to confirm the location of this item and establish the price relative to the current exchange-rate.<\/p>\n

Need finance? \u2013 RaiderMoto.com can provide on the spot approval at better than bank rates to approved Australian customers (Mon \u2013 Fri)<\/p>\n

International Buyer? \u2013 RaiderMoto.com has offices & agents in six Countries<\/p>\n

Need shipping? \u2013 RaiderMoto.com ships worldwide by air-sea-road & provides full import\/export, Customs & Quarantine services for every country<\/p>\n

Stock No:<\/p>\n

PO -TR500<\/p>\n

Ref: 326<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cal Rayborn’s 1972 Suzuki TR500 Raidermoto is incredibly humbled to offer a unique opportunity for serious collectors of motorcycle racing history. Cal Rayborn, the quick Californian, was one of the most influential racers of 60\u2019s\/70\u2019s motorcycle racing. Born in San Diego in 1940, Cal Rayborn first rode a motorcycle when he was eight. In his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"0","ocean_second_sidebar":"0","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"0","ocean_custom_header_template":"0","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"0"},"product_cat":[34,64,65,58],"product_tag":[66],"class_list":{"0":"post-1659","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-classic-japanese","7":"product_cat-race-track","8":"product_cat-rare-unique","9":"product_cat-suzuki","10":"product_tag-raidermoto-com","12":"entry","13":"has-media","15":"first","16":"instock","17":"shipping-taxable","18":"product-type-simple","19":"has-product-nav","20":"col","21":"span_1_of_7","22":"owp-content-center","23":"owp-thumbs-layout-horizontal","24":"owp-btn-normal","25":"owp-tabs-layout-horizontal"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/1659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=1659"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.mediatrenz.dev\/raidermoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=1659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}