The O'rourke Arrow Racer replica

[Roger James]

A project has been taking shape for a number of years to build a replica of the Ariel Arrow racer used by Mike O'rourke in the 1960TT when he finished 7th ahead of some works machines, the engine was tuned by Hermann Meier, in fact Hermann built two engines and they took both to the Isle of Man fortunately only the one was needed, I was lucky enough to come across one of these engines a few years ago that set in motion the idea of building the replica (I have spent the last 12 years trying to find out what happened to O'rourke s Arrow tracking down a succession of owners up to 1970 so far unfortunately indications are it was broken up with parts being sold off to various people). I'm at the stage now where I've started to assemble the parts for fitting the fairing, tank and set etc once this had been done with suitable brackets in place it will be dismantled and painted for final assembly. A problem to completing the machine as it was in 1960 is the difficulty in finding a pair of GP2 1 1/8" CLIP FITTING carbs that are extremely rare items in comparison to the GP2 Flange fitting carbs, I do have a pair of flange fitted GP's and tried to fit them using a rubber adapter but the tops of the carbs are too close to the underside of the frame, options are being considered of having a new carb mounting block machined to accept the flange fitting carbs or using chopped monoblocs to at least get the engine up and running - if anyone has or knows of a pair of GP2 Clip Fitting carbs that might be hanging up gathering dust on a shed wall I could put them to very good use. Jess

[JohnnyBeckett]

hi good luck with your build you have made a very good job so far, keep up the good work and keep us posted with how it is coming on

[M.Bagshaw]

Do you know Ian Austin, who is doing a similar thing, I have some pictures but it shows flanged carbs, think it was a works replica for Miller or Sandford.

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Great project!
Perhaps a daft idea, but is it possible to mill off the flanges ? not cutting them but keeping the thickness of the flange on the carb?
Would you then have enough lenght and attach them with some sort of flexi rubber tube?

and...it looks like the original engine got sectioned by someone.
no surprise it does not exsist anymore

[Roger James]

I do know Ian Austin. Ian is restoring Peter Inchley's Arrow racer . Jess

[Roger James]

It has been suggested to mill off the flanges so I might resort to this if I cannot find correct Clip fitting carbs. Hermann Meier built up two engines for use in the Arrow racer that Mike O'rourke took to 7th place in the 1960TT I have one of those engine crankcases that is being used as the basis for the build of the replica machine. Still trying to locate the Arrow itself and/or the second engine. Jess