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Matchless G50 in the studio

Hugh Anderson’s ex-racer

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The ex-racer of the New Zealand four-time world champion Hugh Anderson has come a long way – today the Matchless G 50 is with its current owner at the foot of the Swabian Alb.

Old motorcycles have usually seen a lot to tell a story. Sometimes, however, it is also the (prominent) previous owner, who is much older and has experienced so much in his long motorcycle career that it would easily be enough for two or more lives, who puts his stamp on the bike. As in the case of the M.atchless G50 by New Zealander Hugh Anderson. The legendary motorcycle racer, who recently turned 80 on January 18th, just acquired this G50 in the early / mid-1980s in order to start his second racing career in the classic races that were just beginning to blossom. 

Matchless G50 in the studio

Hugh Anderson’s ex-racer

Europe has always been the goal

But his goal was always clear from an early age: to drive motorcycle races in Europe. He bought a Norton Manx and an AJS 7R and set out for Europe in 1960. He was able to celebrate his first victory with the Norton at the Premio Madrid, and at the end of the season he even took a remarkable seventh place in the World Cup in the 350s. Despite setbacks due to falls or technical problems, Anderson’s success was unstoppable. He got a works contract with Suzuki, drove for the Japanese in the 1950s and 125cc World Cups in 1962, in parallel in the 350cc class with an AJS and in the 500cc class with a Matchless in England. In 1963 he managed the double strike and became world champion in the 50 and 125 classes. In 1964 he was able to repeat his success in the 50s, in 1965 he won the 125cc title again. 

After changes in the team, Anderson left GP racing in 1966, but Suzuki remained, albeit in the motocross sector, where he successfully helped develop the 250cc competition racer. In 1969 he returned to New Zealand, where he continued to race successfully for three years and then retired from racing in order to devote more time to the family and (of course successfully) to be active in the real estate business. But with the burgeoning classic racing scene, Hugh was itching to throttle again, and the aforementioned Matchless G50 came into play. Between 1985 and 1990 he not only had a lot of fun with the bike at European competitions and got to know a lot of people, Anderson also won over 25 races, including such prestigious ones as the Historic TT in Assen, three times in 1988 and 1989 and 1990.

Is used regularly on racetracks

A racing fan from Germany recognized the importance and potential of the Matchless G50 and expressed interest in buying it. Anderson used this opportunity as an impetus to retreat into private again – after all, he would soon be 55, time to finally take care of his wife Janny more. The G50 came into the possession of Ewald Schwend, with whom it spent a long time in a glass cabinet in the hallway. After Schwend’s death, the current owner, Manfred Strohle, found out about the Matchless G50 in the estate by email, which should come into worthy hands. A little research and Strohle was sure that the G50 actually once belonged to Hugh Anderson. For an unspecified amount, it finally changed into his possession and is still regularly used at classic events on the racetrack. Also from Hugh Anderson, because he was in contact with him that continues to this day, yes, a friendship that is cultivated by phone until they either meet in Europe to take part in Classic races or meet him “Down Under” in New Zealand visited. 

The fact that the Matchless G50 is a bike that is often used in races and has been sensibly modified by Anderson is shown by the changes that the New Zealander has made over the years. So the tank is of course not a lush fuel barrel, as it was once required for the long racing distances, but a slimmer version with a smaller capacity. The Amal GP carburettors are fed from modified float chambers with SU covers. The primary drive was converted to a toothed belt drive due to the chain tending to break, and a Quaife five-speed gearbox is used as the switch box. The exhaust and manifold are modified or self-made, the mounted streamlined half-shell helped to convert the 50 hp power of the single into competitive top speed on the straights. The installation of more suitable Koni shock absorbers at the rear was considered to be almost essential at the time. The G50 engine, as cast and mold specialist Manfred Strohle with his company sma-Racing regularly overhauls for customers (like AJS or BMW Boxer models) or completely rebuilds it, was once considered the solution by Matchless to replace the ailing and ailing two-cylinder G45 and make the factory racers competitive. The step of drilling the engine of the AJS 7R, also known as the Boy Racer, from 350 to 500 cm³ seemed obvious to experts even then and long overdue. With a bore of 90 millimeters and a stroke of 78 millimeters, the short-stroke single developed 51 hp.

The Matchless G50 could be bought from 1959, until 1962 a total of 180 copies were built, which were often improved in the following years by converting them to Metisse or Seeley frames. With the owner Strohle it will stay as it is, and it will no longer be sold – the G50 has truly seen enough in more than five decades.

Technical data Matchless G50

Jacek Bilski

The ex-racer of the New Zealand four-time world champion Hugh Anderson has come a long way – today the Matchless G 50 is with its current owner at the foot of the Swabian Alb.

Engine: Air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, two valves, bore 90 mm, stroke 78 mm, 496 cm³, 51 HP at 7200 / min, Amal GP2 racing carburetor, multi-disc dry clutch, Quaife five-speed gearbox, chain drive

Landing gear: Double-loop tubular steel frame, telescopic fork at the front, two-arm swing arm with two spring struts at the rear, duplex drum brake at the front, simplex drum brake at the rear, 

tires front 3.00-19, rear 3.50-19, 

Weight approx. 125 kg  

Contact: www.sma-racing.de

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