Outboard Motor Challenges Grand Prix Motosport

Kim Newcombe was an innovative, New Zealand born Grand Prix racer from the '70's, who had a promising career ahead of him before a tragic and avoidable racing accident claimed his life at the age of 29.
Newcombe was racing bikes in New Zealand and Australia and working as a marine engine mechanic. Inevitably, he got into racing boats and discovered the Konig racing outboard motor. This was a 494c.c. flat-four with a boxer layout used in hydrofoil racing. Newcombe loved the simplicity and power of the motor and eventually met the engine's designer. One thing led to another and soon Newcombe and family were living in Europe, where Kim worked in the Konig factory. While there, he became involved in a project using the Konig motor for a motorcycle and soon had a prototype bike ready to roll.
Of course, it was a boat motor and was set up to drive a propshaft directly, with no transmission in between. In other words, there was a lot of work required to modify the engine, including tilting it

so they could get a gearbox under the back. It was also laid out so the cylinder heads pointed front and back, making it very slim but also long and low.



The motor!

Since outboard motors use the water they run on to keep them cooled, the bike had some over heating issues but Newcombe came up with a smart solution with a liquid cooled magnesium sump which was bolted to the bottom of the engine.

Engine detail

The New Zealander in action

Once his prototype bike was built and ready to test, Newcombe hit the race track and competed in several Moto GP events. He was actually able to challenge the power house MV Agusta bikes that were dominating at the time, with the likes of racers Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read. In fact, Newcombe came second to Read in the 1973 500c.c. Grand Prix World Championship, which included a first place finish in one race and a second place in another.

But, in a strange twist of fate, during a non-competitive event at Silverstone raceway, tragedy struck. Newcombe walked the track prior to the race and noticed the danger on one particular corner, subsequently requesting hay bales be placed there for rider protection. His request was deemed unnecessary and was denied. Later that day, Newcombe lost control on the very same corner, hitting the concrete barriers and suffering massive head injuries. He died three days later, leaving behind his wife and two year old son.

The Konig