Page 90 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)
P. 90
Collectables
BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL unparalleled handling for the day, Norton
Norton was always some way behind had doubts of the Featherbed’s ability to
Triumph. When motorcycle production cope with sidecar work so it didn’t include
resumed after World War II, Triumph’s sidecar attachment lugs. Late in 1956
Speed Twin and its derivatives already Norton released the Model 77, which was
dictated the shape of the British post-war aimed at the sidecar man. The 99’s 600cc
industry. Norton was forced to produce a engine was installed in the old Model 7’s
twin to survive, but it wasn’t until 1948 that single-downtube, brazed-lug cradle frame,
it presented its 500cc Dominator. Designed which came with the required sidecar
by Bert Hopwood, who assisted Edward attachment lugs.
Turner on the Speed Twin, this followed
the 360-degree parallel twin layout of all THE MODS
other English twins at that time. The Norton When deciding to mount a challenge to
differed as it featured a single chain-driven Triumph’s TR6 Trophy in 1958, Norton
camshaft, located in front of the engine. looked no further than the Model 77.
The 360-degree crank (with both pistons The impetus came from the US
rising and falling together) was dictated by distributor Berliner’s West Coast
the requirement for a twin-spark magneto, representative, Bob Blair. He specified
essential for sales at that time. desert-racer requirements and the older
The first Dominator was the 500cc ABOVE Cutaway drawing brazed-lug frame was better suited than
Model 7, which coincided with Hopwood’s shows the standard the Featherbed to the rigours of off-road
99 engine with its
departure to BSA. Hopwood returned to single Amal Monobloc competition. The Scrambler also needed
Norton in 1955 and the first fruit of his carburettor whereas more horsepower than the standard Model
re-engagement was the Dominator 88, Nomad had slightly 99’s 29.5hp. Fortunately, Doug Hele and
followed in 1956 by the 597cc Dominator 99. larger-diameter twin Brian Stimson had developed a range of
These new Dominators also employed the carbs. Solid mounting performance components for the clubman-
would have made
famous dual-loop all-welded “Featherbed” fuelling interesting on racer 88 of 1955 and 1956.
frame. But while this frame provided uneven dirt surfaces. While the bore and stroke of
88 MOTORCYCLE TRADER
