The Community Behind the Machines
No race team comes together in isolation. What makes this effort distinctive is not only the motorcycles being built, but the web of relationships, shared expertise, and mutual trust that supports every decision along the way. From factory-level technical backing to race-proven performance insight, from precision machining to rider education, this project is the result of long-standing collaborations that deepened at exactly the right moment. What follows is a closer look at the partners who stepped forward early, leaned in fully, and helped transform an idea into a durable, reliable, and genuinely collective racing effort.
Andover Norton
70% of CBE’s business revolves around Norton Commandos and we have been very active in the Norton Community for many years. In June 2024, we ran the Tech Sessions (among other things) at the International Norton Association (INOA) Rally in NH. As part of that gig, we hosted Karl Smith and Ashley Culter, Managing Director and Chief Engineer respectively, from Andover Norton for the weeklong event. It was a great rally and the start of a long term professional and personal relationship.
After the rally they visited CBE in VT and the scheming began in earnest. In early 2025, Sherb visited Andover for a week as we set up CBE as their first “Norton Factory Workshop Dealer”. Later that summer, when the Works Racing Team was in its infancy, the Andover crew immediately pledged technical and parts support. Game on.
JS Motorsports
Jim Schmidt is well known and respected in the Norton world for supplying high end performance parts based upon his extensive racing experience. Over the years, CBE has installed his parts for several customers and we always enjoyed his excellent tech support. Ergo, when it was time to build our own race bike, we knew where to turn. Our first call lasted well over an hour as we laid out our plan and objectives for the team.
His parts selection is a siren song of performance bling. Our primary objective is durability and reliability, not flat out horsepower. This is when the conversation gets very interesting and we start looking for things to list on eBay to fund our “robust” Norton race bike. But it doesn’t end there, his pointers on Norton Racecraft are equally important and we look forward to our continued collaboration.
Green Mountain Gearheads
“We can’t be good at everything”, our late co-business owner Nick used to say. Machining, powder coating, and painting are some of the services we have always “farmed out” to those with the facilities and know how to do it right. For our part, that also means creating very detailed specifications and work instructions so our partners know what to do. Over time, one plus one equals three – these partners start making recommendations based upon their experience and voila’, a better and more consistent outcome.
So it is with the Gearheads Gang. These guys have modern engine machine tools, know how and processes whether you are building a V8 race engine or a muscle car restoration. When Chad makes recommendations, we listen carefully, check with our other expert partners like Andover, and then implement. Because of us, twin cylinder air cooled engines are now kind of a “thing” for them. Walk around their shop and you’ll see Norton, Triumph and BSA heads and cylinders lined up next to the small block Chevys on any given day.
Fishtail Riding School
“Nobody has more fun with 50 HP than the Vintage Gang at CBE”. That was our calling card several years ago when we first decided to saddle up and try this “track day” thing. And yup, it was everything everyone said it would be.
Tim Hafner and Robi Nigel have been doing it for years and were tickled that we’d bring “the old stuff” to the track. Their teaching technique of classroom and follow-the-leader track sessions repeated over the course of a day really helped us all be better riders. And, as their professional photographer said at lunch, “I’ll make you look like you are going as fast as you think you are”. Trud dat. What a rush it was for all of us.
Now we will be working with them to help us prep our new riders for their first track experience and other non-racog members of the CBE guild to enjoy the thrill of finding that apex and rolling it on.
Built to Be Used, Built Together
What ties all of these partnerships together is a shared philosophy: motorcycles are meant to be used, knowledge is meant to be shared, and progress comes from collaboration rather than isolation. Each contributor brings a different strength, but all are aligned around the same goals of reliability, learning, and continuous improvement. As the bikes come together and new riders prepare to take their first laps, this project stands as a reminder that the most enduring machines and the most meaningful experiences are built collectively. The racing will matter, but the relationships, skills, and momentum created along the way are what will carry this effort forward, season after season.