Please Note: the seller states that the bike is in running condition but the fluids have been drained for display inside his house and he will not be able to provide a running video for this auction.
Sheldon “Shell” Thuet was one of America’s best race builders and tuners – his long career involved extensive work with Indian, Royal Enfield, Yamaha, and some of his own creations with riders like Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Hank Scott, and Tom Horton. He earned a spot in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.
Per the AMA: “In the early 1970s, Thuet began tuning Yamaha twins for Keith Mashburn in the AMA Grand Nationals. That led to Yamaha contracting Thuet to build its XS650-based flat track racers during the 1973 and ’74 seasons. He sold his dealership to concentrate on the Yamaha racing effort. Young Kenny Roberts rode the Yamahas to victory in the AMA Grand National Championship in 1973 and 1974. While Thuet was working with Yamaha, the company published a booklet on competition tuning of Yamaha vertical twins. Thuet provided the technical expertise. When Yamaha focused its racing budget on road racing in the mid-1970s, Thuet’s contract with the company was not renewed. In the late-1970s, Thuet became an independent tuner again and went on the road with Hank Scott and later, Ted Boody. He and his wife, Maggie, traveled the country in a motorhome, following the racing circuit. Maggie was famous for handing out tuna-salad sandwiches to struggling young riders.
Two up-and-coming riders who rode under the Thuet Racing banner in the late 1970s were Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey. Thuet’s machines helped launch both young riders’ racing careers. Lawson and Rainey would eventually go on to become multi-time world champion road racers. Rainey smiled when he talked about Thuet. “He was sort of a gruff kind of guy,” Rainey said. “As kids, we were maybe a little intimidated at first by him, but under his grizzled exterior he was a person who cared a lot about the guys who raced for him.””
This example is Shell Racing Specialties Frame #000, Engine #:1T1-101971. The seller acquired it ten years ago from a private party in California.
During his ownership, the seller has kept the bike on display and not ridden it. There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown.
The owner has previously sold a 1978 Harley-Davidson MX250 as well as a 1975 Rokon FT340 Automatic Flat-Track Racer with us here at Iconic Motorbikes.
There is not much information available about Shell’s creations, though there is an active Facebook group dedicated to Truet’s work. Per the seller: “In 1980, Shell Thuet built 5 customer TT500 frames, frame numbers #001-005. This Shell TT500, Frame #000 is the only Shell-built team bike. It was raced by Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey in the Astrodome and Santa Fe TT Nationals. In 1979, Eddie Lawson also raced the bike in the ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers Race at Carlsbad Raceway.” The pictured bike below is the same bike being auctioned:
This bike bieng ridden by Wayne Rainey (#8) at Santa Fe Speedway in 1979:
The seller says this bike was also raced by AMA Camel Pro Series rider Hank Scott, National #14 and member of the AMA Hall of Fame. You can find several great photos of Hank on Shell’s bikes here at the Slide Rule Museum.
Paint work by Hal Tacker.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on new Dunlop dirt track tires.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
The seller states there are no cosmetic blemishes.
Currently located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this Yamaha is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any Shell Racing stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
