Royal Enfield GP5 – still the apple of many people’s eyes

After the recent letters and articles about the Royal Enfield GP5 raced by John Swannack in the 1960s, I felt it appropriate to contact OBM. I still have programmes from Cadwell Park showing John in the results in 1966 and 1967.

When I first saw a GP5 I thought how superb it was, and when I got to know John I was given the chance to restore the bike in 1987.

I didn’t start the rebuild for some years, but since being finished with the new bottom end, piston, seals etc. it has been paraded frequently at Mallory Park, Oliver’s Mount and Cadwell Park by John himself, Bill Mackay and Craig Ridgley. Wherever it goes, we get lots of people taking photos and talking to us about it.

Only minor changes have been made from the original, such as a Greeves front brake, Honda RS silencer and silver frame (as it was when new) and the fairing has been repainted in red and silver.

The accompanying photo
was taken at Cadwell in 2015, and the machine will continue to be paraded and taken to future meetings.

B Mackay,
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Read more Letters, Opinion, Views and News in the March 2018 issue of OBM – on sale now!