That moment in time…
For Canadian Al Keith the world changed at the Canadian National MX events he competed in during the early Eighties. How so? It was at these events that he first set actual eyes on Yamaha’s OW factory racers and life would never be the same again.
Al wanted one, the MX world wanted one, the world – Al included – couldn’t get one and at the end of each season such machines were sent to the crusher. That was a cruel fate for such a thoroughbred with its handcrafted parts that were designed to win races and nothing else.
It is true with the amount of technology available these days replicas can be built, but they’re not the same as the real thing, as who knows what went inside those engines or what exotic materials were used to make the machines? Yes, the knowledgeable could see the outside by the effects racing life had on materials but in this quest for the ultimate machine, replicas are made and as time marches on whispers and rumours of what specifications were are heard to emanate from those with more than a little knowledge. Such scant information is all those who are determined to create their homage to the legend need to embark on frustration, dead ends, nit-picking dedication and sleepless nights as their quest become all-consuming. Seemingly insurmountable tasks are laughed off, genuine parts are acquired where pattern would be cost-saving but not good enough… the list goes on.
