Description
The renowned road racer/ engineer Roland Pike built two Pike-BSA machines for the 1952 Isle of Man TT. One was a 500cc and the other a 350cc; the same bike. Both were frames of his own design fitted with BSA Gold Star engines.
Roland Pike’s exploits as a racing and engineering enthusiast had caught BSA’s eye in the early 1950s, which is why they offered him a role as head of the development department where he contributed to the development of the BSA Gold Star. Roland Pike is also noted for his development work and involvement in the 1954 Daytona Race. BSA arrived at Daytona with six motorcycles and finished with five first places.
The 500cc and 350cc Pike-BSA TT Gold Stars were still under construction when he joined BSA, and were therefore completed in BSA’s development workshop. The two bikes subsequently contested the 1952 TT, but Roland did not have any luck with them.
The Junior 350cc suffered a broken pushrod and the Senior 500cc lost its gear lever and had to be withdrawn.
That was Roland’s last race. Being so busy at BSA with the Gold Star development, we no longer had the time to race, and the Pike-BSA machines were thus exhausted.
The 500cc was sold to Dennis Lashmar, a Pike family friend and winner of the 1949 Clubmans TT 1000cc on a Vincent prepared by Stan, Roland’s brother.
The 350cc was sold in February 1953 to an unknown Scot who registered it. At the end of 1953, Dennis Lashmar bought the 350cc back from the Scot and owned both Pike-BSA machines.
Dennis Lashmar used both bikes for Grand Prix racing in 1954. In 1954, he took part in the Isle of Man TT, the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutch TT and the German Grand Prix. At the German Grand Prix held at Solitude on 25 July, Dennis Lashmar sadly lost his life in the 500cc race. After the accident, Stan, Roland Pike’s brother, flew to Germany and brought back his van with two bikes to England.
The 350cc is later mentioned in some late-50s race results in the hands of N. Clarke and J. A. Scully. Then, around 1970, it was found as a crate near Hull, UK, and was bought by a Dutchman who did not rebuild it but kept it intact in his garage.
In 1997 it was announced and the new owner meticulously rebuilt it to restore its former glory and it took part in some races over the years. In recent years, the Pike-BSA TT Gold Star has been exhibited in the owner’s lounge, who has now decided to sell it.
Here lies the chance to own a fully documented racing motorcycle with an incredible provenance. The owner has gone to great lengths to research and document the history of this fascinating machine. In many ways, a story closely linked to the history and development of the iconic BSA Gold Star.
Roland Pike would later supply Dennis Lashmar with experimental parts from the development department for test work. For example, the 350cc Pike-BSA’s rocker cover is the same one mounted on the Daytona bikes of 1954. This is clearly a Race Shop item, as it has never been seen on any other BSA.
Roland Pike is also extensively described in a ten-page chapter dedicated to him in Mick Walker’s book “The BSA Gold Star.”
Many period photographs and race information relating to this bike are included in the sale, together with Roland Pike’s original tool box. Adding to the bike’s unique story, the tool box comes from the United States and is authenticated by Roland Pike’s daughter.
The original green logbook is also present, clearly showing the frame number, so if one wishes to register the bike for road use, it is entirely possible. The original frame-number inspection stamp is clearly visible on the frame and accompanies the journal. It would make for a truly unique road-going race vehicle or an incredibly well-documented showpiece.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.
