KAWASAKI released the 900cc Z1 in late 1972 to claim the title of the world’s fastest production bike, succeeding the Vincent Black Shadow which had held the title for nearly 25 years. The Kwaka Nine, as it was soon dubbed, was as strong as it was fast, winning four Castrol 6 Hour races on the trot from 1973 to 1976 and inspiring countless engine builders around the globe to make it go faster again.
So no surprise that Victorian Ben James, whose bike and car tastes are anchored in the 1970s, chose a Z1 as the basis for a dedicated salt racer. “I went to Lake Gairdner for Speed Week in 2004 with my mate James, for sale in Geelong for $1000 without an engine or electrics.”
