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One of motorcycle racing’s first true superstars– Geoff Duke, known simply as “The Duke” by his circuit peers and fans, was a six-time World Champion (racking up 33 Grand Prix victories along the way), who dominated the ’50s racing scene, winning three of his titles on Snortin’ Norton bikes. After bringing home the championship three years in a row for Norton (’50, ’51 & ’52), in ’53 he moved on to race for Italy’s Gilera– not exactly an endearing move with the British fans and press, but nonetheless ‘The Duke” continued his winning streak, and would eventually find himself racing Nortons again down the road.
Duke’s racing prowess was a boost for Norton, who struggled to regain their racing foothold against the evolving postwar technology as their single cylinder machine was up against the advanced, more powerful multi-cylinder engines being cranked out by the Italians and AJS on home soil. What Norton did get right was their legendary shock-absorbing “featherbed” racing frame. The name was coined when Isle of Man TT racer Harold Daniell was quoted as saying that it was like “riding on a featherbed” as compared to riding on a “garden gate” when compared to conventional racing frames. Their featherbed frame technology, with a lower center of gravity and shorter wheelbase, combined with finessed engine placement to further maximize bike handling, were crucial in keeping the Norton Manx competitive– the mother of all badass cafe racers that are still loved today.
Ultimately, Norton frames were paired with Triumph engines by motorheads looking to create hybrid bikes that became known as “Tritons” – effectively combining their respective strengths to create fierce racing machines.
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1952– The legendary Geoff Duke astride a 500cc Norton bike at the Dutch TT, Assen, the Netherlands. via
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1951, Northern Ireland, UK– The line-up for the start of the Senior World Championship motorcycle race in Ulster. The winner was British motorcyclist Geoff Duke (No. 55) on a Norton bike. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1951, Ulster, Ireland– Motorcycle racer Geoffrey Duke walks past fans to the officials’ stand after winning a race. Duke was the first to wear a one-piece leather, seen above. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1950, Isle of Man, UK– British motorcyclist Geoff Duke races on a Norton bike in the Tourist Trophy Races. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1950, Isle of Man– Mechanics work on two Norton motorcycles before the start of the Tourist Trophy Race. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1950, Isle of Man, UK– British motorcyclist Harold Daniell takes a corner fast on his Norton bike in the Senior Tourist Trophy Race. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1950, UK– British motorcyclist Geoff Duke is congratulated by his opponents after winning the Senior Tourists Trophy Race on the Isle of Man. His average race speed was 92.27 m.p.h. Other members of the winning Norton team pictured are 40 year old Harold Daniell (left, wearing glasses), a triple winner of the event; John Lockett (shaking Duke’s hand) who came third and Artie Bell (far right) who was a close second. Duke was the first to wear a one-piece leather, seen above. –Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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1955, Dundrod, Belfast, Northern Ireland– Flashing by at speed competing in the 500cc event at the International Ulster Grand Prix is John Hartle (Norton) who finished second in this class. 17/8/55. MJH.M.3. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
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Tritons–130-mph road-going racebikes with genuine track quality, speed and handling. via
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For almost forty years, the Manx Norton dominated motorcycle road racing. World champions Geoff Duke and Mike Hailwood used its combination of reliability, fine handling and outright speed to win countless races all over the world. Now, almost fifty years after production of the 500cc 30M model ceased, Norton has reproduced this iconic motorcycle to exacting specifications. via
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