Rosco400
Husqvarna
AA Class
This is going to be a long story. Grab a coffee or "adult beverage" and read on.
In 1969 my buddy, Jim, bought a new 360 Sportsman. I was riding an Ossa at that time.
After a ride on his bike, I decided that I, too would like a Husky. So I went to the local Husky Dealer, the legendary Al Perrett, father of Guy Perrett of "Terrafirma" fame.
Prior to my arrival at his dealership, a customer had arranged to purchase 2 new Huskys, a 360 Sportman and a 400 Cross. He wanted to have a street legal 400, so he had Al swap the motors and he took the Sportsman with a 400 motor home. He told Al to sell the 400 Cross with the 360 (8 speed, btw) for him.
Then I appeared. I thought that this was an excellent combo, so I traded in the Ossa, and took the 400/360 8 speed Hybrid home.
So, I rode and raced that bike for a few years. Made a few modifications, etc. until 1973, when I bought a new WR250 from Al. Jim had his eye on my bike for some time, and instantly offered to buy the hybrid, but not having enough money, he offered me his '69 Sportsman and some cash.
His sportsman was street legal, neither of my bikes were, so I accepted the deal.
Now I have the 250WR and a '69 Sportsman, and Jim has the Hybrid.
So one day I take the Sportsman for a ride. I stop at the local gas station and get a fill up. The pump jockey (full serve back in those days) fails to tighten the gas cap properly. I get to the local riding area and head for a steep hill. No problem. But what goes up must come down. I start down this rather steep hill, compression release poofing away, when the gas cap comes off and the full fuel tank gushes out gas all over my legs, the motor, and the compression release ignites the gas and as flames envelope the tank, I bail off the back of the bike and let her go. She rolled down the hill about 50 feet and fell over in a ball of fire, fed by the full tank of fuel spilling out the filler hole.
So after several other riders and I got the grass fire out and the Husky was cool enough to remove from the hillside, I dragged the cremated corpse to my truck and loaded up what was left of her.
The motor, forks, and wheel hubs were salvageable, but pretty much everything else was trash.
I gave the motor to Jim for spare parts for the hybrid. I kept the forks and wheels for a while.
Jim rode the hybrid occasionally for a few years, then one day he parked it in his toolshed next to the burnt 360 motor, closed the door and walked away.
30 years passed by.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this story. The hybrid will live again.
Rosco
In 1969 my buddy, Jim, bought a new 360 Sportsman. I was riding an Ossa at that time.
After a ride on his bike, I decided that I, too would like a Husky. So I went to the local Husky Dealer, the legendary Al Perrett, father of Guy Perrett of "Terrafirma" fame.
Prior to my arrival at his dealership, a customer had arranged to purchase 2 new Huskys, a 360 Sportman and a 400 Cross. He wanted to have a street legal 400, so he had Al swap the motors and he took the Sportsman with a 400 motor home. He told Al to sell the 400 Cross with the 360 (8 speed, btw) for him.
Then I appeared. I thought that this was an excellent combo, so I traded in the Ossa, and took the 400/360 8 speed Hybrid home.
So, I rode and raced that bike for a few years. Made a few modifications, etc. until 1973, when I bought a new WR250 from Al. Jim had his eye on my bike for some time, and instantly offered to buy the hybrid, but not having enough money, he offered me his '69 Sportsman and some cash.
His sportsman was street legal, neither of my bikes were, so I accepted the deal.
Now I have the 250WR and a '69 Sportsman, and Jim has the Hybrid.
So one day I take the Sportsman for a ride. I stop at the local gas station and get a fill up. The pump jockey (full serve back in those days) fails to tighten the gas cap properly. I get to the local riding area and head for a steep hill. No problem. But what goes up must come down. I start down this rather steep hill, compression release poofing away, when the gas cap comes off and the full fuel tank gushes out gas all over my legs, the motor, and the compression release ignites the gas and as flames envelope the tank, I bail off the back of the bike and let her go. She rolled down the hill about 50 feet and fell over in a ball of fire, fed by the full tank of fuel spilling out the filler hole.
So after several other riders and I got the grass fire out and the Husky was cool enough to remove from the hillside, I dragged the cremated corpse to my truck and loaded up what was left of her.
The motor, forks, and wheel hubs were salvageable, but pretty much everything else was trash.
I gave the motor to Jim for spare parts for the hybrid. I kept the forks and wheels for a while.
Jim rode the hybrid occasionally for a few years, then one day he parked it in his toolshed next to the burnt 360 motor, closed the door and walked away.
30 years passed by.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this story. The hybrid will live again.
Rosco
Love the photos in post #15 though 
