Restoring Memories: Mike Edwards and the Tribute to Barry Owen
Guyson was delighted to be featured in the most recent issue of Classic Racer magazine. The article spotlighted the 'Barry the Bike' restoration project, a heartfelt homage to Barry Owen. Mike Spike Edwards, the current custodian of the bike, had acquired it from Barry's son, Rick, and set himself the mission to restore it to its former racing glory in Barry's honour. Barry was a very special person to Mike, who in his own words has picked him out of the gravel on more than one occasion at the track. Barry would always be up for a chat at the end of the day, whether Mike had been racing or coaching. On each page, there's a meticulous account of Mike's methodical process, involving the disassembly of the bike followed by the meticulous rejuvenation, replacement, or restoration of each worn-out component.
Mike started by stripping down the bike to its bare frame, removing all the components and the motor in preparation for a much-needed clean. One of the first major issues Mike encountered was the heavily corroded motor. Committed to restoring it to its previous greatness, Mike sought help from Guyson. At their Skipton demonstration facility, Mike utilized their Euroblast 8 blast cabinet, employing a variety of coarse media to meticulously strip away years of wear and tear. After applying a glass bead treatment, the motor emerged gleaming like new.
During their discussions, Jimmy Thomson (Director at Guyson) proposed using ultrasonic cleaning for reusable components. Initially concerned about the costs, Mike's reservations dissipated when Jimmy generously offered him a complimentary 30-litre GUK Benchtop Ultrasonic cleaning bath. The ultrasonic cleaner effortlessly revitalized delicate parts, leaving Mike impressed.
"Seeing how well some of the parts cleaned up was simply amazing, with minimal effort required on my part."
