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Ducati Dirt Tracker

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:52 pm
by CZMX
Hi y'all. I'm new to the group and I want to let you know about a little project I'm about to start on. In 1977, Eddie Wilbanks (Memphis) built a bevel drive Ducati 750 mile/half-mile dirt tracker. Some of the riders were Kenny McDonald, Steve Freeman, Ken Springsteen and others. It was campaigned on the Grand National Dirt Track Circuit from 1978 thru around 1980 and was competitive, even setting fast time in qualifying at the Indy mile one year. It has been sitting in a shed outside Eddie's garage since 1980 and just this month, I pulled it out with the intent of doing a complete restoration on it. It will be on display at the vintage Ducati tent at Mid-Ohio (Vintage Motorcyle Days, July 15-17). It will be shown exactly as it looked when it was pulled from the shed - dust, rust and all. If any of you guys were into AMA dirt tracking back then, I'm sure you'll remember it. It is an historic race bike and is one of only two Ducati mile dirt trackers ever built, the other being the Ron Wood Ducati from 1975-ish. If any of you make it to Mid-Ohio this year, came have a look. Even in it's un-restored condition it is a stunning machine. Eddie designed and fabricated the frame, swingarm, seat, tank, triple trees, hubs, exhaust, rear shock and remote accumulator, as well as did all the tuning. It has NCR heads and cams as well as some other goodies inside that came from the Ducati race shop as well as other suppliers. I'll start the restoration later this year and will be taking lots of pics. I've already taken a bunch of documenting photos and I'll submit some as soon as I figure out how to do it. Now you know. Hope to see some of you in Mid-Ohio in a couple weeks! Thanks, Rusty. [email protected] 615 430 6252

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:36 pm
by Den
It was spotted in the paddock at Road Atlanta August 8, 1979.[p]Image

Dirt Track Duc

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:12 pm
by CZMX
Thanks for the picture, Den! I haven't seen that one. If anyone else has any pics or info on this bike, PLEASE email me as I'm trying to get a handle on how to approach the restoration. Thanks, Rusty.