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F W Whittle riding a Panther outfit in the 1950 Mansell Trophy trial, battling through Harton Woods and, in the process, becoming one of the few riders who made it through unscathed. Photo: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com
2 NEWS
January 2019
Editorial
www.oldbikemart.co.uk email: info@oldbikemart.co.uk
Editor Dave Manning OBMEditor@mortons.co.uk Designer Charlotte Fairman Production editors Pauline Hawkins, Sarah Spencer Picture desk Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Group advertising manager Sue Keily Divisional advertising manager Billy Manning Advertising Leon Currie lcurrie@mortons.co.uk
01507 524004 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Circulation manager Steve O’Hara Publisher Tim Hartley Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole General queries Customer Service number: 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-6pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm and 24hr ansaphone Archive enquiries Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 Founder Ken Hallworth OLD BIKE MART (ISSN:1756-9494) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $48 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 City Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to OLD BIKE MART, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 City Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com PUBLISHED BY
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short while ago, just after the clocks had turned and the nights really began to draw in, I received a press release which, essentially, told me to stash my riding gear in a cupboard under the stairs and put my bike away for winter. As it happens, the email in question was just explaining the various ways in which I could ensure that my bike would be safe and sound during winter storage, up until the time that the weather improves to a clement condition conducive to motorbicycling. But I felt that there was an unwritten message, suggesting that the winter months are a time that we shouldn’t really be out and about on two wheels… In a somewhat entertaining fashion, the press release not only suggested that we should be putting our bike somewhere warm and dry – and covering it with blankets and sheets to prevent dents and scratches as well as stopping it from being covered in dust and spiders’ webs – but also that the bike in question won’t be used at all during the ‘hibernation’ period. However, in the closing clause, we’re told that the prevention of condensation in the exhaust can be achieved by starting the bike on a regular basis, and allowing it to warm up, a method that is also suggested to ensure that the battery stays in a reasonable, close to fully charged, condition. Now, I was always taught that the only way to get any internal combustion engine up to a reasonable temperature is by using it – not by leaving it plodding away on tickover for ages, but by putting it under load. In other words, by actually riding it.
There was also the mention that the petrol tank should be left full, rather than empty, if the bike is standing unused for a long period. The reasoning is sensible – if the tank isn’t full of fuel, any air in the tank can result in oxidisation of the tank’s internal surfaces (i.e. rusting, providing it is made of steel) – but it ignores the increasingly common issues with modern fuels, that they ‘go off’, after even a short time. While this can make petrol a little less potent, the real issues are with the fuel that sits within the carburettors, with fuel turning into a horrid substance that can only be described as ‘gunge’. These issues would, of course, be resolved if the fuel in question was being used and replaced with new fuel on a regular basis… A mention is also made of the potential for flat spots being created on the tyres, thanks to them being parked in one position for weeks on end. There’s an easy answer to that, which I think you can probably guess, although the suggestion given is that the bike is put on stands so that the wheels are off the ground, or at the very least, the wheels are rotated every few weeks or so. Going to all this effort is all well and good if you know, for sure, that there’ll not be even a single day over the winter months when the sun is out, the roads are dry and you fancy a ride out to blow away the cobwebs. We’re already past the time for the Boxing Day meets and New Year’s Day runs, but you don’t need an excuse to ride your bike, nor a specific venue to travel to. You just need the opportunity to ride. Which is why the idea of putting any bike to bed for the winter irked me so.
But riding a motorcycle on even the driest and sunniest of winter days still requires considerations. So, rather than winterising your bike as the press release so helpfully suggested, why not winterise yourself? My British Coal donkey jacket, rigger boots and fisherman’s jumper that once sufficed as winter biking wear don’t seem to keep me quite as warm as they used to, and it certainly isn’t down to the winters getting harsher (with the exception of last year’s Beast from the East). People are perhaps getting softer, but the modern motorcyclist also has the choice of wearing some apparel that is significantly more effective than that available in the past. ‘Base layers’, electrically heated clothing, garments that are actually waterproof (and don’t hold half a hundredweight of water) and winter gloves that still allow you to operate the hand controls are all available nowadays at prices that aren’t going to break the bank. I know that some folk mock the idea of electrical clothing – after all, having to plug your gloves in so that they can recharge isn’t something that comes naturally to many of us, and not being able to go out on your bike “because my jacket’s battery has gone flat” sounds like a rather weak excuse – but given the choice between plugging in a battery and being roasty-toasty warm, or of risking hypothermia, I know which my option is going to be. And that is actually something that I’ll be trying out very soon, having joined the New Age of Motorcycling with the arrival of an electrically heated vest from Keis. Although if you happen to have a bike that is kick-start only, and is somewhat recalcitrant to burst into
life, then maybe you’ll have your own, built-in, central heating system. And a great many classic bikes have their own way of ensuring that your boots and lower trousers remain fully waterproof. But of course, those technological advances in clothing mean that, strictly speaking, we have no excuse to not use our classics through winter. Not that we actually want, or need, any excuse whatsoever. There’s a pleasingly warm glow (however contrary that phrase is) that comes from riding a bike through the winter, and that’s one that is made even greater by doing it on a classic – it seems that some folk struggle to entertain the notion that classics can be used as regular transport just as easily as modern bikes, and heap a huge amount of praise on anyone that does so. And it proves the naysayers who claim – nay, demand – that classic bikes are only for collections and should only be ridden on sunny Sunday mornings in months with four letters, that they’re very, very wrong indeed. Happy new year, and enjoy the issue!
January 2019
NEWS 3
New 2019 Speed Twin
Continuing their policy of using model names from Meriden’s history, the Hinckley Triumph concern now reflects upon the first model to feature Edward Turner’s parallel twin engine in 1938 and has, 80 years since the launch of the original, recently announced a new-for-2019 version of the Speed Twin. Increasing power by nearly half as much again compared to the 2018 Street Twin, the new bike is powered by the 1200cc twin that features in the sports-oriented Thruxton Bonneville, although the Speed Twin has roadster styling. It is actually 10kg lighter than its sportier brethren, with the water-cooled 95bhp powerplant (that itself has shed 2.5kg) in a chassis and style that is a blend of T120 Bonneville and Street Twin, upgraded with the use of high quality components like the aluminium mudguards, tapered handlebars, seven-spoke aluminium wheels, Brembo calipers and cartridge forks. Of course, it also comes with the array of electronic gimmicks and gizmos that are seemingly vital for a modern motorcycle, with antilock brakes, switchable traction control, ride-by-wire and an immobiliser, while practicalities such as LED lights and a USB charging socket add to the appeal and usability.
The frame is based on the fine-handling Thruxton unit, giving a seat height of just 807mm (a smidge over 32 inches), suitable for almost all sizes of rider, while twin upswept exhaust pipes and bar-end mirrors give a look and sound perfect for the British twin. Interestingly – particularly when modern annual mileages are taken into account – the Speed Twin first service
doesn’t come until 10,000 miles are on the odometer. The new bike comes in three colour codes – Silver Ice and Storm Grey, with hand-painted Graphite coach line and white stripe, Korosi Red and Storm Grey, also with the hand-painted Graphite coach line and white stripe, and Jet Black (with no stripes) – and prices are due to be announced later this month!
Classic Dirt Bike Show
More delights revealed! Held over the weekend of February 16 and 17, Telford’s Classic Dirt Bike Show (sponsored by Hagon Shocks) is set to have an expansive and fascinating collection of machinery from 50 years ago, with a focus on an eclectic mix of race machinery from 1969. There’ll be an expansive guide to the show in the next issue of Old Bike Mart, and we’ve told you already about the presence of Jack Burnicle, trails supremo Dougie Lampkin and BSA star John Banks, but you didn’t know that Sammy Miller will also visit, bringing a bike from ’69 also! While the 350cc 1969 Jawa that leaves the Miller museum for the Telford Show is actually a road-racing machine, it will be showing all the intricate engineering underneath the fairing as it’ll be shown in ‘naked’ form, with the water-cooled, rotary valve V-twin displaying the incredible 16-to-1 compression ratio powerplant. This was the bike that Bill Ivy was tragically killed on during practice for the East German GP at Sachsenring. Sammy is also bringing the formidable Excelsior Super Comet 1000cc V-twin that set a world speed record of 163mph in 1930, and while these two bikes are tarmac-related, Sammy brings his own off-road heritage – indeed, at just 85 he still rides trials daily with a BSA C15 he uses on his own, home-built sections at the museum. Sammy was competing in 1969, and while he didn’t win any series that year, at least three of his contemporaries from that year will also be present – will one of them be one of 1969’s winners?
With a comprehensive line-up of machinery, the search for even more 1969 machinery continues, both for trials and motocross bikes. Top of the wanted list are the 118cc Alta Suzuki as it ties in with the Gaunt and Mclaren Suzukis that are already secured, plus the 125cc Dalesman Puch. And it’d be great if a Sachs Sprite 125cc (with the red frame and silver tank), and a green Ossa Pennine 250cc could be found and presented too. All good detectives should contact Alan on 01789 751422 if they have a sniff of the scent! Of course, there are other bikes aside from those from the ’69 season! Notable inclusions include the Jawa ridden by Welsh Enduro wizard, Dave Jeremiah, to runner-up spot in the Welsh 2 day, and gold at the 1976 ISDT. Now owned by property developer Bill Henson (who took the Best Bike in Show with his 420 Jawa at last year’s show), it has been stripped and rebuilt after being found lying outdoors under a sheet for 38 years! Apparently, after being prepped for the ’76 ISDT by the chief mechanic at Jawa importers, Skoda UK, Anton Svab (who, incidentally, is the only non-Russian ever to win the world ice race title) it was given to Skoda UK’s owner’s sons to play with. When it came to a stop, it was simply covered with a sheet and forgotten! See it in its restored glory at the show. There’ll be more info in the next issue, but for now, the Hagon Classic Dirt Bike Show is at Telford’s International Centre on February 16 and 17.
Sammy Miller and the 350cc Jawa.
A Gaunt Suzuki – as ridden by Martin Lampkin in the ’69 Scottish – will be on display.
Black Lightning – The Rollie Free Story
Can a single image influence a 35-minutelong film? Yes, if the image in question is that of the iconic Roland ‘Rollie’ Free aboard John Edgar’s stripped-down Vincent at Bonneville. While just about anyone with an interest in motorcycles (let alone classic bikes) will know the picture, not many of them will have seen the video footage that accompanies it, and this short film is your chance. With narrative supplied by experts and people who were there at the time (Rollie himself passed away in 1984), it follows the progress of Rollie’s sporting build-up to his speed attempts, from working at a motorcycle dealer to racing boardtracks in the Twenties, and racing Indians at venues such as Daytona. There’s some vocal recordings of Rollie himself, explaining the reasoning behind
riding only Indians before the Vincent, and how he met John Edgar, how Edgar in turn met Phil Vincent and Phil Irving, and how the Black Shadow became the Black Lightning (the ‘fastest Vincent of them all’) that Rollie is famous for riding. There’s some superb period footage, which rather surprisingly includes the Isle of Man TT although the commentary about Daytona, laid over footage of Douglas harbour, is an annoying error! But while the film is only just over half an hour in length, it’s well worth watching, for any classic motorcycle fan or landspeed record enthusiast. Currently, the only way to view it is online, via the video-streaming website, Vimeo – search online at www.vimeo.com – with monthly subscription charges starting at £6.
4 NEWS
January 2019
The Emancipation Run
Motorcycles invited at last!
The Veteran Car Club’s celebratory re-enactment of the 1896 Emancipation Run (which marked the start of the British motor industry), took place in Hyde Park, London on Sunday, November 4. The VCC is considering adopting Class 1 motorcycles, made prior to 1905, in the event entry, so this year there was a trial of a small group of these early machines. The Veteran Car Run was first held in 1927, and 2018 was the first time that motorcycles had been included. The Vintage Motor Cycle Club was approached to support the trial and was delighted to accept and be a part of this internationally renowned motoring event. John Macmillan, from Lanark and a member of the VMCC’s Clyde Valley Section, rode the club’s 1903 Dreadnought, and was supported by his mechanics, Bob Irvine and John Rooney, also from Clyde Valley Section. John said: “Riding the Dreadnought through modern-day traffic was a real challenge, but enormous fun. The bike ran very cleanly throughout and the only real obstacle was the volume of traffic and the occasional long hills. I arrived on Madeira Drive in good time to collect a Finisher’s Award.” Alastair Alexander, VMCC president, said: “The Dreadnought was built by Harold ‘Oily’ Karslake to compete in the early long distance trials like Edinburgh to London. It is powered by a 420cc De Dion engine and there is no clutch and it has rudimentary brakes by modern standards. The bike has to be pushed to start and when you want to stop, the engine stops with you. You need to be fit, like John, to ride it. Harold Karslake gifted the Dreadnought into the VMCC’s care with the proviso that it should be used and not become a museum piece. It is an iconic machine from the dawn of motorcycling and how fitting that the bike should be used in this year’s Emancipation Run.”
Adrian Goding, chairman of the Veteran Car Club said: “I believe that motorcycles will add an extra dimension to this important part of the motoring calendar. No other event has the historical backdrop of the Veteran Car Run and, here in 2018, a new chapter in that history is being added. “Having been involved with the event since childhood on four wheels, it was a great privilege to take up the challenge in this inaugural event on two.” The motorcycles set off at dawn from Hyde Park, followed by more than 400 motor vehicles from around the world. The event is not a race and participants take on the challenge of being able to arrive in Brighton.
The 1903 Dreadnought at the starting line in Hyde Park, London, as dawn breaks over the capital.
John Macmillan in conversation with fellow motorcycle riders on the Emancipation Run.
Left to right. The VMCC’s John Macmillan (rider), Bob Irvine and John Rooney on Madeira Drive, Brighton.
Pip Squeak Run is no small occasion
Following the introduction, three years ago, of a riding event especially for small and inexpensive bikes, the Pip Squeak Run was launched, and the Glasgow section of the VMCC are running this popular event again on April 14. More than 40 riders of sub-100cc bikes joined the fun last time, and organisers Gordon Mowat and John Shaw say that, once again, an interesting route through rural Ayrshire, with only minor challenges, will be on offer. Entries are open to all riders of small bikes, whether or not they are club members. Such has been the success of this event, with riders from all over Scotland and the north of England taking part, that the idea has been ‘cloned’ by other VMCC sections. The Reivers Section are running their own version in Northumberland on April 28, and the Central Scottish section will also be laying on their version around south Tayside towards the end of September. We await news as to whether this fantastic idea takes off further south! For entry details and more information on all three events mentioned, please contact Gordon Mowat at rustynuts@talktalk.net
Paul Goff – up and running again Popular aftermarket parts specialist, Paul Goff, is now up and running in his new palatial headquarters, having had a frantic few weeks moving base. He will be having a welldeserved break after the festive period, but will be fully back to normal from Monday
January 28. Paul’s selection of replacement alternators, generators and magnetos, and parts to suit, remote oil filter kits, LED bulbs, replica Girling shocks and a repair service for Lucas Rita ignitions can be viewed at the website – www. norbsa02.freeuk.com – all of
which are crammed into his new premises. The new address is 49 Chequers Lane, Prestwood, Buckinghamshire HP16 9DR, while the email address and phone number remain the same, being norbsa02@aol.com and 01494 868218.
January 2019
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6 NEWS
January 2019
Banbury Run 2019
Minor changes to annual classic event Sunday, June 16 will see the 71st running of the Banbury Run, and while the VMCC event has considerable heritage, that’s no barrier to change, and this year’s run is set to see some interesting improvements. Following previous years’ arrangements, the 2019 run will be based around the Heritage Motor Centre just off the B4100 in Gaydon, conveniently close to the event’s historic home of Banbury, and easily accessible from the M40. This year, however, there will be no offsite parking, and no shuttle buses between the centre and the car parks – everything will be based on site. Thanks to the addition of a new roundabout, access (and egress) to the site is much improved, and
Sunday’s run is set to operate with more ease and less confusion than in previous years as there is now a separate exit from the venue to the returning route. There are three classes of machine – A, B and C, dependent on age – with route lengths of 40, 60 and 70 miles respectively, and it’s looking likely that there will also be two speeds for the A route of the run – 15mph and 18mph – with a second, higher, speed being brought in due to the reduction in the number of entrants receiving gold and silver awards, essentially because riders have been works, we’ll be explaining more in a forthcoming issue of OBM! riding too fast! The lower speed has The run is now encompassing been retained to ensure that riders the full weekend, and although the of cycle-motors and the like can still be competitive. And, if you’re Banbury Run itself will be on the Sunday, there is also the potential unsure of how the awards system
for a Saturday rideout, with the thought being that it can be for pre-1970 machines, with a round trip of somewhere between 80 and 100 miles with a lunch/coffee stop. The discussions are ongoing, and the VMCC welcomes your thoughts on the matter, and they actually have a live survey asking if this addition to the weekend is viable. There is camping available at the centre on both Saturday and Sunday nights (which can be booked and paid for in advance online), and all riders and spectators gain free entry to the centre’s museum, which has a fascinating focus on the British car industry, particularly those brands that were based in the Midlands. The Sunday run is for veteran and vintage machines (i.e. those manufactured before December 31, 1930) and entries have opened (they went live on January 5) and are open until February 28, although it’s
perhaps best to apply sooner rather than later, as entries are limited to 500, and the allocation will soon be filled! Incidentally, the entry fee is reduced for those riders on veteran machines (those built before 1915), and more information, including entry forms, can be found at the website at www.banbury-run.co.uk
January 2019
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8 NEWS
January 2019
Middle England club goes long distance
Thanks to their ever-present energy and enthusiasm, the Middle England Classic Vehicle Club are expanding their programme of events for 2019. Pleased with the feedback that their Durham Dales LDT had received, last year they also ran a bike-only LDT and, thanks to its success, the MECVC are adding a third long distance trial. All three will count towards their new annual LDT championship with all entrants automatically included. Each round will use some different sections. The dates arranged so far are The Durham Dales LDT on March 10, starting near Stanhope, and the MECVC Bike-Only on July 14, again starting in Weardale. The date for the third event hasn’t been set yet, but will probably be in October.
Having declared that clubs who run similar events are welcome to join the championship, Airedale & Pennine, who run the Yorkshire Classic Trial, have jumped at the chance of their event being included, making four rounds in total for 2019. Their event is on May 19. The concept is for a good day out, not too difficult or serious but with an element of competition in great countryside. It’s worth it for the ride around, with total mileage being between 70 and 100 miles! The bike classes are simple, any bike can be used – any age, type or capacity. Most folk use trail bikes, and although modern trials bikes are more than welcome, they enter in the ‘Guest’ class, to stop it becoming too serious. Usually there are 15 to 18 sections.
A Royal Enfield single is punchy enough to lift the front for some of the lumpier regions covered by the events.
They are non-inspection and the graded system of marking is used, keeping them from being too difficult. A timed section or two are usually thrown in as tie-breaks only. If you fancy just a bit of gentle off-roading, or if you’ve got a competitive nature, these events could equally be for you. You do need an ACU registration card, which can be arranged via the club (only £12 per year). A lunch stop is usually included at a burger van. More information is available from the club’s website (at www. durhamdalesclassictrial.org.uk) or Facebook page, or ring Bernie the chairman. If you want to speak to someone who has experienced these events as a rider, you can ring Graham Lampkin on 07989 446131.
The LDT routes take in many old highways and byways, some of which are rather more moist than others.
It’s not all about bike control and reliability – beautiful scenery also plays a large part!
January 2019
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10 NEWS
January 2019
Perthshire Perambulations
Peter Remington and the enthusiastic team from Westmorland Motor Club are pleased to announce that everything is in order for the 2019 Bob MacGregor Memorial Road Run, which will take place on Tuesday, April 30. This year’s event will be dedicated to the memory of Westmorland Motor Club stalwart, John Holmes (pictured), who sadly passed away last year. John was especially well known for his unique, superbly engineered and completely home-brewed ‘special’ trials bikes which many people in the classic ‘feet-up’ scene will be familiar with. What is perhaps less well known is that John was a most accomplished trials rider who, during a long and enjoyable career, achieved more than most. His genuine modesty meant that few people realise that he won several Scott Spoons (no mean feat) and also had an incredible result at the extremely wet and demanding 1965 ISDT held on the Isle of Man. Not only was he one of the very few British finishers (and a privateer) but he took home to Cumberland a bronze medal. An absolutely fantastic achievement and testament to John’s ability and determination as well as the reliability of his 175 CZ. He will be sadly missed at this year’s ‘Bob MacGregor’ and it will be a poignant day for the Westmorland boys. The preference on the run is for pre-’75 motorcycles, but anyone with something special is most welcome. As in previous years, the start and finish will be at McLaren Hall, Main Street, Killin, Perthshire, FK21 8UH (37 miles north of Stirling). Taking place at the end of April, it is the ideal opener to a week of classic motorcycling in the Scottish Highlands followed, on the Thursday, by The Moidart Peninsula Road Run and then, on the Friday, Kinlochleven
The late John Holmes with one of his JH Specials, this one fitted with a Tiger Cub powerplant.
hosts the world-famous Pre-’65 Scottish Two-Day Trial. The Bob MacGregor Run is a circular route of about 130 miles based around Killin, Blair Atholl and Loch Rannoch. Riding on A and B roads, it takes in some of the most spectacular Highland scenery imaginable, and follows in the tyre marks of Scottish Six Day Trial riders from the 1940s and ‘50s. For enthusiastic ‘mud-pluggers’ on trail, trials or enduro machinery there are a few miles of optional off-road available too. The Bob MacGregor Memorial Road Run is all about like-minded enthusiasts
Fishtail carburettors The most recent copy of Fishtail – the Velocette Owners’ Club magazine – came complete with a copy of ‘Amal Carburetters (sic) – A practical guide for Velocette single cylinder motor cycles.’ And, although aimed primarily at Velocette owners (as it would be, given the magazine that it accompanied), the carburettor guide contains a wealth of detailed information and advice concerning the selection, dismantling, fettling and assembly
of the various models of the ubiquitous Amal carburettor that were fitted by so many other marques, including pre-monobloc, monobloc, concentric and TT carbs. Fortunately – for classic motorcycle fans who’re not Velocette owners – you don’t have to be a subscriber to Fishtail to get yourself a copy, as it will shortly be available for purchase from the Regalia Store on the club’s website at www.velocetteowners.com
It really is Ricardo Many of us are a tad cynical when it comes to advertisements, and there’s certainly no shortage of folk happy to poke fun at large companies who make mistakes. So, in that context, it’s nice to be able to point out something that’s good – such as the Peter James Insurance advert in the last issue. It shows an image of a gent working on a classic motorcycle, but this is no generic, mocked-up picture of a model with a bike. This is a pic of Ricardo, who owns and runs the Motorcycle Museum (and restaurant!) in the very picturesque village of Guardalest, a few miles inland of Benidorm in Spain. Admittedly, the picture had been taken from the digital source of Adobe Stock, so the designer of the advert in question would have no idea that the chap doing the fettling was of such standing in the world of classic motorbikes!
getting together to enjoy motorbikes, camaraderie and splendid scenery, and The Westmorland Motor Club looks forward to welcoming everyone to Killin in the spring. If previous years are anything to go by then entries (which are limited) will fill up quickly. So if you wish to join in the fun, get in touch with Peter Remington as soon as you can. Haste ye back! For further information or an entry form send an SAE to Peter Remington, Kenbrig, Levens, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8DT or email premington2@gmail.com. Alternatively telephone 015395 60695 or mobile: 07891 076320.
Proofreading pooch
Further constraints upon the OBM budget have forced the publication to resort to proofreading work being farmed out to the local dog pound. Any rumours concerning the new Old Bike Mutt range of kibbles and biscuits should be taken with the greatest of cynicism. Thanks to Deb Wildsmith for the picture.
Tortoise and Hare charity donation At the end of their 18th annual general meeting, presentations and social evening – held at the Britannia Inn, Wells – members of Wells Classic Motorcycle Club were joined by the mayor, the town crier, marshals and helpers from the 8th annual Tortoise and Hare Run, alongside numerous members of the public, in order to present Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance with an impressive donation of £4500 from the club’s Tortoise and Hare fund. This large donation was made possible by the massive support that the club received from its sponsors, brochure advertisers and entrants, along with much work by many club members. Catering for riders of motorcycles and scooters of all ages, the event regularly attracts entrants from various parts of the country to ride with the club in some outstanding countryside. The date for this year’s event is Sunday, June 2, new members are always welcome and the club's details can be found at www.wellsclassicmotorcycleclub.co.uk
January 2019
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12 NEWS
January 2019
South of England Classic
A ‘Dominating’ event in West Sussex The first Ardingly show of 2019 is set to celebrate 70 years of the Norton Dominator, with the help of Surrey Norton OC. Sunday, March 31 is the day, the South of England Showground is the venue, and Norton’s first twin cylinder engine, as designed by Bert Hopwood, is the focus. The 500cc Dominator Model 7 was introduced in 1949 at a price of £220-19s-8d, with the Featherbed-framed Dominator 88 being released in 1952. This was followed by the 600cc Dominator 99 in 1956, with the model finishing in 1970 with the 650cc Norton Mercury. Popular as a basis for race machinery, the Domi lent itself well to performance boosts from specialist tuners such as
Dave Degens and Paul Dunstall. Degens will be attending the show, together with some original Domiracer machines as well as a host of road-going Dominators. Indeed, the organisers are inviting Dominator owners along to the show, and owners can gain free entry if they display their bike – just visit the website at www.elk-promotions.co.uk to download a free entry form (before March 1). Opening at 10am, entry is £6 for adults, and there’s also available space for prospective autojumble stands at just £10, although these must be pre-booked. There’ll be five indoor halls full of club stands, traders and autojumblers, with hundreds of motorcycles on display.
1959 Dominator 500cc 88SS in cafe racer trim, as converted back in the Sixties – a rocker’s dream bike!
Viva Las Vegas
Roll the dice and grab a rarity!
Last issue we told you about the comprehensive number of bikes that have been shipped across the Atlantic, from Sweden to America, to be rolled into the auction halls of Mecum’s 28th annual Las Vegas Vintage and Antique Motorcycle Auction, taking place from January 22 through to January 27. The bikes in question – no less than 235 of them – have been extracted from the MC Collection in Stockholm, Sweden, thanks to the collection’s curator – Christer R Christensson – reducing the number of machines in his care prior to a move to the collection’s new home at Tidö Castle, just outside of Västerås in Sweden (about 100km from Stockholm). The new museum will be opening in the spring of 2019, and you can find more details from the website at www.tidoslott.se. As you can see from the pictures here, the collection is a diverse one, both in terms of the type of bike, and of their age. One might wonder how such an eclectic variety of bikes came to be gathered in one place, and that is thanks to Christer’s fascination with bike design and, in particular, the ways that bike design could differ so much, even within one manufacturer’s range. Much of the collection was of bikes that were originally sold from new in Sweden, some of which had stayed with the family of the original buyer ever since, while about one in five of the bikes had been imported in order to be in the collection. And, of the machines that had needed any restoration work, it had been undertaken back to a standard that matched the original – there’s no over-the-top show quality chrome or deep, glossy custom paintwork here! But there are also a considerable number that are in as-original condition, with no restoration
ABOVE: This 1929 Royal Enfield Premium Model is of 350cc capacity with overhead valve operation, and was equipped with the company’s much-vaunted seven-inch hubs.
Of a diminutive 175cc capacity, this Moto Morini ‘Settobello’ was nonetheless rather highly specified for a 1954 machine, with a double overhead cam single cylinder engine good for in excess of 70mph!
This is one of the bikes that deserves to return to Sweden, what with it being a 250cc OHV Eiber built in that country in 1927, by Svensk Motorindustri Nils Eiber in Örkeljunga.
having taken place. An incredible fact, especially for such as the 1919 Excelsior seen here. While the auction is in Nevada, the current auction climate dictates that bids can be made from anywhere on the planet, and there’s no telling just where bikes may be shipped to
after they’ve been sold. Some may even make the return trip to Sweden, while a few will most certainly be heading to the United Kingdom! You can see the bikes due for auction at www.mecum.com/motorcycles and we’ll be reporting on the results of the sale in a future issue.
An immaculate example of Kawasaki’s ultimate head-banger, this 500cc H1 triple is just one of a number of historic Japanese machines from the MC Collection.
One that’s perhaps more likely to stay in the Land of the Free is this Excelsior. Built in 1919 it is in original, unrestored condition, with the original factory paint, and had been imported into Sweden in 1921.
This elegant 100cc single is a 1952 Imme R100. As the tank logo suggests, Imme is German for ‘bee’, and the buzzy two stroke has many interesting features such as an exhaust running through the swinging arm, and a single-sided front end.
January 2019
Bespoke headwear We don’t normally associate the legal necessity for helmet usage on a motorcycle as being something that we can customise. While motorcycle racers have often used their own designs for eye-catching helmet designs – and that certainly isn’t a recent thing, as fans of John ‘Mooneyes’ Cooper can testify – it’s not something that has really been a factor in the purchase of new motorcycle headwear, particularly outside of the race replica market. However, times they are a-changin’, and thanks to Newark’s Moto Tattoo it is now possible to specify a brand new, classically styled helmet with your own personal design; unique and on a style of lid that suits your preferred ride. Moto Tattoo have three styles of helmet, all within the Force brand – open face, classic full face and modern full face – with the option of choosing one of many ‘off-the-shelf’ in-house designs that the company offers, or a bespoke design specifically created for you – either supplied by you, or designed by the Moto Tattoo team to suit your desires. Thanks to Moto Tattoo’s own process, the design that you choose is applied to the helmet without the need for the helmet to be stripped or sanded, and without adding weight, and the design is created by a team that have been creating helmet designs for a number of other manufacturers over many years, so you know that the end result will be visually appealing and will work as a helmet design. The two full-face helmet designs – the ‘performance’ and ‘retro’ – are available right now, with the retro full-face lid being available as the visorless ‘Blitz’ or the visor-equipped ‘Bomber’, while the open face is due very soon indeed, in fact probably by the time you read this issue. A factory-designed scheme starts at £170 for the Blitz and £200 for the Bomber, while a full custom-designed Blitz is £260, and the Bomber £299. The Performance helmet starts at £119, while prices are yet to be announced for the open-face helmet. More information, and a mind-numbing variety of designs, can be found at the website at www.mototattoo.com
NEWS 13
14 BIT ON THE SIDE
January 2019
New year quiz
With the excesses of the season behind us, and the January sales well under way, we thought it might be a good time for a little light-hearted entertainment with a new year quiz. Collated by Mick Payne, it’s a sort of sidecar-focused ‘Mustymind’.
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here are no prizes, just a few sidecar-oriented questions to test your knowledge of the subject. I’m sure some may find it very easy, although I hope it will test many. I’ve compiled it without using the internet, just using it to confirm a few points and really hope it will be completed sans computer. Here we go then, answers below.
1. What famous manufacturer was responsible for the Gloria model sidecar? 2. Designed primarily as a luxury sidecar hauler, whose machine featured an Austin 7 engine and gearbox with twin rear wheels? (see pic 1) 3. Who are the two famous characters in pic 2? One is a co-driver. 4. Fred Watson founded what company in 1912?
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11. A Sidecar is also a popular cocktail. What are the ingredients? 12. Who set a Sidecar World Land Speed Record in 1972 with a Triumph Trident? 13. What was often credited with the demise of the motorcycle combination? 14. Watsonian lost an important contract in 1981 that caused their contraction. What were they making?
16. The Birchall Brothers set a new lap speed at this year’s TT. Was it sub-18, sub-19 or sub-20 minutes? 17. First used in 1919 with Chater Lee, Triumph and BSA motorcycles, whose Road Service Outfits patrolled the roads?
1 18. TV episode ‘Not Yet, He Ain’t’ in 1966 saw a Harley outfit ridden by which hero? 19. What was the ambitious Canterbury Belle?
5. Watsonian’s popular Meteor model was based on what Second World War item? (see pic 3)
20. During 1934/35 Theresa Wallach (pic 5) and Florence Blenkiron rode a Panther and sidecar from London to where? The first ladies in the world to do so.
6. What year was the first Sidecar TT? (see pic 4)
21. Bonus question, why do you ride one?
7. When and where was the first sidecar designed?
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15. Who make the Sidecar Triple Duty?
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8. Initially Clyno sidecar outfits were fitted with Vickers machine guns in the First World War. What was the military unit called? 9. From what country do Dusting sidecars come from? 10. What prestigious car manufacturer started out building sidecars?
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ANSWERS 1. Triumph, 2. George Brough, 3. Dave Molyneux and Stan Dibben, 4. The Patent Collapsible Sidecar Company, 5. De Havilland Mosquito long range fuel tank. 6. 1923 7. France in 1893, for bicycle fitment. 8. The Motor Machine Gun Service 9. Australia 10. Jaguar 11. Brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice (shaken not stirred) 12. Norman Hyde 13. The Mini. 14. Hard tops for Land Rovers and sports cars. 15. Avon Tyres. 16. Sub-19 minutes. 17. The AA. 18. Batman 19. A sidecar doubling up as a boat. 20. Cape Town. They even rode north again as far as The Sahara! 21. If you do ride one your answer can only be correct!