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Suzuki
Race and Restoration services is a small business run by
Pete O’Dell and aided by his better half Louise and son
Kyle.
Pete has
been a motorcycle mechanic since 1965 starting his
apprenticeship with W.E Humphreys after being a Saturday
(and school truant) gofer for a couple of years at the shop.
First
worked on a T500 in 1969 and first race tuned one in 1970
for production racing, since then have rebuilt or tuned
over 1500 GT500 and T500 engines and considerable frame
work, so has built up a huge knowledge and expertise with
these bikes.
Never
been without a 500 SUZUKI of some description since 1970
either road or race version including a ex works TR500 MK3,
which he dearly wishes he kept (hindsight eh!)
Pete has
not always earned his living as a bike mechanic , having
pocketed the queens shilling to serve in HM Forces for a bit
of diversity (during which time he exchanged bike work for
washing ironing and boot bulling) and also about a decade
building F1-F300-Le Mans and Indy cars and his own
powder-coating , painting and blast cleaning business, but
never stopped working on bikes.
As well
as racing to international level, Pete has spannered for
other riders from skint clubmen to world champions at club,
national and grand prix level, so understands both ends of
the sport.
Pete has
been specialising in T500 GT500 and TR500 for a few decades
now as he has a perverse love of the old things, having had
his first 500 class win on one, but his expertise is not
restricted to 500 Suzuki, having race prepped just about
anything you can name over the years and was the first in
the world to produce replica works heads and barrels for the
TR250 some 20 yrs ago.
The
business is not profit driven as Pete owns and runs another
bike business
www.MHSS1st.co.uk
which pays the bills and involvement with a Replica frame
building business, but the TR500 is his passion so the
returns are put straight back into producing unobtainable
parts and product development with the ultimate long term
aim to reproduce full replica TR500 MK3’s and Hi-Tac
engines.
Pete has
no time for political correctness and is a blunt and often
cantankerous old git who calls a spade a spade, and who's
favourite quote is “ you cant polish a turd
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