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1983 Race Inc. RA-9 

This is “THE HOLY GRAIL OF RACE INC” this extremely rare “RACE INC” prototype frame was supposed to be a “Raleigh Rampar-9” that was never sold or marketed.

It was meant to be sold overseas but never made it. THIS ONE IS THE ONLY “Rampar-9” KNOWN IN EXISTENCE, WHICH MAKES IT THE RAREST RACE INC IN THE WORLD ALONG WITH THE “Rampar-10”!  It has “PK RIPPER” serial numbers and dropouts. It is a Race Inc RA-9 prototype built for Raleigh that NEVER hit the market. Once again it is the RAREST Race Inc in the world! (Confirmed by Karl Schmidt and Brian Hays). Karl had the ONLY “Rampar-10” that ever existed and this frame is the ONLY “Rampar-9” that is known to exist in any collection! Same as the “Rampar-10” but with a one inch shorter top tube. This frame has a 17 ¼” top tube, and a 4” head tube. As far as the “PK RIPPER” serial number- It is the same dropout used on all the “PK RIPPER” looptails so Bill Bastian still had some laying around in late 83 when this frame was built. These RA-9 and RA-10's were only made for a short time in late 83 and 84 before RACE INC went under. “SE RACING” took the “PK RIPPER" in house in 82, so Bill Bastian must have had dropouts still around or needed some and got some from Scot Breithaupt. The rear end is identical in geometry to a 1980 “PK RIPPER” from the seat tube back. The coolest part is the “SUPER RARE”Spanish bottom bracket shell which is the same diameter as the head tube. As far as my research “COOK Bros.” was the ONLY company that made the threadless bottom bracket to fit this in the early 80’s (Good luck finding it). But you would be CRAZY to build this one! This frame belongs in a museum or framed on the wall as I had it displayed. Also notice the unique weld bead on the inside of the chainstay loop behind the bottom bracket lug- but NOT along the bottom, which differs from the standard “PK RIPPER” rear end. This has ONLY seen on very few early frames way before the RA-9 and RA-10. Could this be a Europe specific model used by a early “SE RACING” team member? The “PK RIPPER” serial number is PK 72368, which seems to be one of the last “PK RIPPER” serial numbers stamped (higher than average), and is one of the highest numbers I have ever seen on any actual looptail “PK RIPPER” myself.