IN RECENT YEARS, GMEC HAS UNDERGONE MANY CHANGES. LARGELY DUE TO VASTLY CHANGING TRADING CONDITIONS AND A CHANGING WORLD WE HAVE ADAPTED THE BUSINESS TO BETTER MANAGE THESE NEW CONDITIONS. PLUS ITS NICE TO HAVE A MORE RELAXED APPROACH TO THE JOB WE ENJOY.
BELOW IS A SNAPSHOT OF HOW GMEC USED TO BE, THE EXPANSION PROGRAM, AND THE SUBSEQUENT CHANGE OF LOCATION. MORE PICS TO BE ADDED SOON!
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO HAVE BEEN HOME TO THIS ICON!
Ex-Barry Sheene,1979 Dunstall Suzuki GS1000 F1.
NO LONGER ON DISPLAY AT GMEC
This machine was raced by Barry Sheene at the August Bank Holiday meeting at Oulton Park in 1979. UK importer Heron Suzuki was interested in promoting production-based racing and had asked Paul Dunstall to enter Yoshimura-prepared engine factory GS1000s in TT Formula 1 events in 1979. Barry Sheene was the Texaco-sponsored Heron Suzuki team's number one rider in Grands Prix and his dislike of racing heavyweight four-strokes was well known, once referring to them as 'muck spreaders'. Nevertheless, Barry acquitted himself with distinction in his one-off ride at Oulton, finishing a close 2nd to Honda-mounted Ron Haslam. Indeed, the Suzuki star might have won had he not been balked by a back-marker on the final lap!
After spending 15 years in a museum, the yoshimura stamped blueprint engine may well be run again - just not in anger!
It was great to see it on the suzuki stand at the 2016 Barry Sheene weekend at Olivers Mount, and at Donington park, whereby it was re-united with one of Barry's mechanics of the day, who gave it close scrutiny - and was happy to see it!
In addition to the Barry Sheene story, this bike has also had a history - and indeed was ridden more, by the then very popular
rider Bob Smith (British Champion). On the 18/10/2019, purely by accident via an old program. It was discovered that Bob did in fact ride the Dunstall at Olivers Mount on Sept 7th 1979 - a fact previously dismissed! Sadly, Bob lost his life riding in the Gold Cup at the Mount in 1983, another great loss to the motorcycle world!
It was a pleasure to meet Lynda Smith and for her to be re-united with one of Bobs race bikes!
The dunstall sheene bike has now found a new home in California
hopefully it will be equally as well preserved.
WE ONCE HAD THE LARGEST SELECTION OF HELMETS IN YORKSHIRE!!
A GREAT PIC OF ONE OF THE PAST BUSY DAYS.
THE SHEENE SUZUKI. END OF AN ERA. ENJOYING A NEW HOME IN CALIFORNIA!!