Motor Cycling – Racer Test – THE 123cc TODD BANTAM Jan 29th 1966

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Motor Cycling – Racer Test – THE 123cc TODD ‘BANTAM’ January 29th 1966 ONE of the most successful pairings in Formula Bantam racing is George Todd’s 123 cc BSA, raced by Fred Launchbury. Todd, a 40-year-old project engineer with the British Aircraft Corporation, is one of the country’s leading “Bantam” tuners and Launchbury is…

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Motor Cycling – Racer Test – THE 123cc TODD ‘BANTAM’ January 29^th 1966

ONE of the most successful pairings in Formula Bantam racing is George Todd’s 123 cc BSA, raced by Fred Launchbury. Todd, a 40-year-old project engineer with the British Aircraft Corporation, is one of the country’s leading “Bantam” tuners and Launchbury is one of the nation’s stars in this class.

In its open-class guise – light-alloy tank and rims, and fairing but with some Formula Bantam features like the three-speed gearbox, the Todd-Bantam did 95 m.p.h.

It set the second-fastest 125 speed through the Racer Test electronic timer, beating Ivy’s Honda CR93 and Molloy’s semi-works Bultaco, Woodman’s 107 mph works MZ has top honours.

But none of these machines on Silverstone’s Club circuit, enjoyed the favourable following wind that benefitted the Todd-Bantam. Under neutral conditions, on Silverstone’s Club circuit, we estimate Launchbury would have notched 88-89 mph, an extremely creditable speed for a machine normally associated with telegrams and GPO messenger boys.

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