M
etry in motion Electric drream Poe BEAUTIFUL BSA VTWIN
PUSHBUTTON NO ORTON
MARCH 2017
Youth l Appea TRIUMPH AIMED AT THE
KIDS
The stylish 250cc Trophy single PLUS:
German Ducati exhibition Parrish Panther rebuild Royal Enfield Bullet The amazing Freddie Dixon Norton 500T
Editor’s welcome
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The other evening, I was having a discussion with a friend and we were talking about what the difference is between being someone ‘with a few bikes’ and someone who is a collector. At what point does one leave one group and move into the other? Of course, it doesn’t actually matter at all, but the concept is interesting. To me, the term ‘collector’ conjures up images of display cabinets of silver, or china, or rooms full of paintings. But is a motorcycle collector any different? Well, my point was that many are, I think. Because it’s surprising the number of people with large collections who still ride; which means they are not so much a collector, as someone who just simply has a lot of choices of what to ride. To me, a collector of motorcycles would be someone who buys the machines, drains them of all their fluids, and stands them up on a shelf. And, I reckon, our hobby is mercifully short on people with that mindset. A few examples come straight to mind. The German guy who bought the Flying 8 I rode last year (May 2016 issue) emailed to say he’d been riding it about, plus there’s a guy with upwards of 70 Nortons, but realising he’s struggling to keep on top of them all and the machines in fine fettle, he’s now employed a mechanic too. While there are several people I know locally who have big ‘collections’ and are often out on one of them, on club runs and so forth. Even the owner of the BSA V-twin featured in this issue has emailed me a picture of him on it, heading out for a ride. My friend was worried he was veering into the ‘collector’ side of the hobby, though I pointed out all his machines are ready to go, so I reckon that just makes him someone with a few old bikes, rather than a proper collector. Though not that there’s anything wrong with being a collector anyway, as lots of them ride too! Just a final note to add to the obituary for Ken Hallworth, who contributed a monthly feature to The Classic MotorCycle for many years. Always informative, warm, engaging and possessed of a dry wit, Ken was also generous with his time and knowledge, with The British Motorcycle Directory, written in collaboration with Roy Bacon and published 2004, remaining an essential and invaluable reference source. A real enthusiast who will be missed, but whose contribution will be remembered, condolences are expressed to Irene and the family.
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JAMES ROBINSON Editor
Contributors Mike Davis, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Phillip Tooth, Alan Turner, Phil Turner, Gerry Vogt, Steve Wilson. THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE (USPS:710-470) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd., PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $63 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com
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CONTENTS ISSUE | MARCH 2017 Archive photograph ......................................... 6 News .................................................................. 8 Letters ............................................................. 14 Triumph TR25W ............................................ 18 Subscribe and save ........................................ 26 Newark Winter Classic .................................. 28 Norton Electra ............................................... 30 Royal Enfield Bullets ..................................... 38 BSA J34-11 ...................................................... 44 Ducati exhibition .......................................... 50 Excelsior-JAP .................................................. 54 Glass plates –1923 Eastern Trial ................... 59 Puy Notre-Dame ............................................ 63 Closer look – BMW R50/69 ........................... 66 Dave Cunningham interview ...................... 72 Men who mattered – Freddie Dixon ............ 74 Roy Poynting column ................................... 76 Jerry Thurston column .................................. 78 Steve Parrish Panther project part two ....... 80 You were asking ............................................. 84 Restoration guide – Norton 500T ................. 88 Martin Squires’ sketchbook ......................... 90 Technical feature – Valve timing ................. 94 Classic components ................................... 100 Next month .................................................. 111 Diary .............................................................112 Classic camera ............................................. 114
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POST: The Classic MotorCycle, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ EMAIL: jrobinson@mortons.co.uk
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Calm before the storm
There’s just a few finishing touches to put in place before the show doors are opened. Photograph: MORTONS ARCHIVE
T
he stands are set, the motorcycles in place, the placards up, and there’s a fair few potted plants in position on the Norton stand in the foreground on the left too, as the final finishing touches are applied here and there before the hordes descend on 1924’s motorcycle show at London Olympia. Norton’s display (front left) is easy to make out; the silver and black machines surround the Senior TT trophy, awarded in 1924 to the Bracebridge Street concern’s Alec Bennett, for victory in the Senior race, on a pushrod 500cc machine, though it could also perhaps be George Tucker’s trophy for winning the
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sidecar TT, on the 588cc ohv works Norton. The two most prominent machines on display from this angle are both side-valves, the one at the back sporting Norton’s new internal expanding rear brake, with the one front right still having the old-type dummy belt rim rear. Behind the trophy is what would seem to be a Model 18, the tell-tale being its exhaust on the left-hand side. The Norton stand was expecting to be swamped over the course of the show, with many an enthusiast, young and old, dreaming of being able to hand over the £80 required for the state-of-the-art sportster, essentially a replica of Bennett’s TT winner. To the right of the Norton stand, as we look, is the Montgomery display, it being possible
to identify the range-topping British Anzani V-twin engined offering, capable of 95mph and yours for £135, though it cost another £10-10s for the BTH electric lighting kit, as displayed. The own-made front fork and the distinctive exhaust system are the giveaways. Other Montgomerys on display included the 349cc Bradshaw-engined ‘oil boiler’ plus JAP-powered machines in 344cc and 490cc variants, and a selection of 175cc lightweights, in belt drive, chain drive and ladies variants, all with Aza engines. Aza was the brand name of two-stroke engine made by JAP. Further back, we can pick out Diamond (far right) then Ivy, OK Junior, Indian and Sun too. Indian, Rudge, Excelsior and of course BSA are
Classic A Archive | Olympia Show
fairly familiar to us too, though the one behind/ to the left of Ivy caused some head-scratching. Eventually, the name of F and H Melen Ltd, was deciphered, the situation not helped by the makers’ wares being covered up. The strange silhouette was explained when the list of exhibitors was gone through; Melen made tradesman’s vehicles of all kinds, with The Motor Cycle explaining; “This year the vehicle is engined with the 343cc Villiers two-stroke unit, neatly housed in the angle-steel chassis, and transmitting power to the rear wheel via a three-speed Burman gearbox with clutch and kick-starter. Steering is effected by a handlebar which moves the front wheels alone, and not the whole box, as is usually the case with pedal
box tricycles. One model has a larger carrying capacity than the other, and is listed at £80.” So, the showgoer with £80 in his pocket could, rather than plump for the new Model 18 Norton, set himself up in business with a Melen trike, though the fact few have heard of Melen means that perhaps the Norton was the more attractive option. In fact, Melen had two goes at powered three-wheelers (it seems they made pedal-reliant tricycles for many years too) the first in the form of a 1912/13 sidecar outfit with 6HP JAP V-twin engine, then these tradesman’s tricycles, 1922-26, initially with a two-stroke Union power plant, before swapping to the Villiers mentioned. Behind the Melen display is another now-
forgotten marque, JD. From 1922 to 1926, this small motorcycle, with a 116cc two-stroke engine, was offered by Bowden Wire Ltd, of NW10, London, with essentially an engine clipped to the inside of the front downtube of a bicycle, driving via a friction pulley on the inside of the rear wheel. A ladies model was offered, too. Olympia had hosted its first Motorcycle (and cycle) show in 1919. Designed by architect Henry Edward Coe, the venue, in west Kensington, opened on December 26, 1886. It’s still going strong, hosting all manner of events from sporting to entertainment to trade shows, and was subject of a £40 End million investment and renovation in 2013.
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Be quick for Bristol The first weekend of February – the 4/5th – sees the 37th Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show, at the Bath and West showground, in Shepton Mallet. Gates open from 10am each day, with more than 80 owners’ clubs attending, plus autojumble, private displays, trade stands and the Charterhouse auction
held in a separate building on the show site. There’s always a few unexpected gems on display, with local enthusiasts, including Douglas sprinter extraordinaire Henry Body, relied upon to bring ‘something special.’ Details from 01507 529529 or www.classicbikeshows.com
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• INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AUTOJUMB LE • Hundreds of classic motorcycles on disp lay • More than 80 owners’ clubs • Trade stan ds • CHARTERHO RH H USE AUCTION
Telford Classic Dirt Bike off-road show
Matchless Silver Arrow has been restored back to its former glory.
Rare Matchless highlight of sale On March 4, 2017, Dee Atkinson & Harrison’s sale at Sledmere House, Driffield, Yorkshire, is offering this Matchless Silver Hawk. It is thought to be one of only 60 surviving examples of about 500 made. The estimate is £45,000-55,000. First registered on March 8, 1933 in Taunton, Somerset, to
a Mr A C Thomason, the Silver Hawk later found its way to Kent, then Yorkshire. In 2009 Bonhams sold the unrestored Matchless for £28,000. Now completely restored, the engine has only been run for half an hour, never on the road, so gentle recommissioning is advised. Call Andrew Spicer 01377 253151 for details.
The countdown has begun to the biggest classic off-road event of the year, and so it’s all eyes on the Telford International Centre which will once again host the two-day Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks. Taking place across the weekend of February 18/19, one of the star guests has been confirmed as Honda’s motocross GP general manager Roger Harvey, who is a motocross veteran and 1983 British 125cc champion. Joining Harvey as special guest will be Peter Duke – a former International Six Days Enduro competitor, founder of motorcycle media giant Duke Video and son of
six-time motorcycle world champion Geoff. Clubs and private entrants will pack into the venue, bringing together a fascinating collection of historic off-road machines. Rare racers set to go on display include a 1957 V8 Moto Guzzi and 1964 500cc GP Bianchi, courtesy of the Sammy Miller Museum. Discount advance tickets are now on sale with a one-day adult pass costing just £11 – a £2 saving against the gate price. Those wanting early access to the autojumble on Saturday can buy an early bird ticket for £14 in advance which is a £3 discount. For more information call 01507 529529.
West Kent on Boxing Day The West Kent Section of the VMCC held its traditional Boxing Day Run and provided an excuse for riders all around the south-east to get on their bikes. Leslie Parnham (right) with his Norton 600SS, reminiscences with an acquaintance from his Johnson’s Cafe days.
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Expect glistening examples of some of the key off-road iron of the 1950s.
Ken Hallworth (1942-2016) As Ken and Irene Hallworth launched Old Bike Mart (OBM) in 1985 they could never have dreamt its future profound significance. As long-standing old bike enthusiasts, they spotted a large publishing market gap and their formula of lots of private classifieds, trade adverts, editorial, events diary and more hit the spot. Initial promotion was by distributing copies via shows, clubs and other events on the surmise some would like what they’d read and subscribe to cover distribution costs, while advertising revenue funded publishing. From a skinny newspaper, OBM grew and grew until it stretched the small team. Ken had enjoyed a lifelong passion for motorcycles, from history to restoration, before making them his career. After secondary school he worked in engineering, then as a Ken Hallworth at the completion of his epic round the coast ride, in 1984. Marjorie Cottle stands alongside him, with Jane Baxter doing draughtsman, salesman and the presentation, Jim Baxter on the left. Note Titch Allen behind. into professional motorcycle restoration, often undertaking publishing and enjoy their new ‘Grand Prix Du Peak District’ long night school courses as part home near Ashbourne. Walking, (September 1984). of his training. bowls, charity/voluntary work, He planned and completed Later, he returned to night Morgans and older motorcycles a 3400 mile ride round the school as a mature student, should fill anyone’s life, but coast of Britain on his vintage learning French – not just Ken found enough time to aid Raleigh in 1984, 60 years after a few stuttering words, but Mortons over six months when Marjorie Cottle (348cc Raleigh) fluent speech. they bought TCM plus the EMAP and Hugh Gibson (798cc Replying to an advertisement, archive, and then pen ‘From our Raleigh s/c). The run started he became the first Vintage Motor and finished at Liverpool, as in Archive’ for many years. Cycle Club (VMCC) full-time Happily, Ken and Irene 1924, with Marjorie on hand to national secretary. Times at the celebrated their golden wedding perform formalities. VMCC were tough, as the club months before he died on Despite the time-consuming was in financial difficulties, but December 21, 2016. Despite nature of publishing OBM, Ken, Ken and then president Ivan a truly wintry day and an along with his friend David Rhodes helped put the VMCC approaching blizzard, a full Earnshaw, aided and abetted by on a better footing, although house greeted Ken’s cortege, their wives Irene and Margaret, essential difficult decisions took launched Old Bike in spring 1992. accompanied by six classic some swallowing for sections of Aimed at the pre-1950 motorcycle motorcycle-mounted outriders, the membership. Leaving the on arrival at Macclesfield enthusiast, the quarterly ran VMCC, Ken went on to serve as crematorium, on January 12, for 32 issues and remains president at a later date. 2017. treasured today. Aided by his growing library, He leaves his wife Irene, son Mortons Media Group bought Ken began writing features for Robert and two grandchildren. OBM, allowing Ken and Irene to The Classic Motorcycle, including Richard Rosenthal. step back from the hurly burly of
ASI MotoShow 2017 The fabulous ASI MotoShow takes place on May 12-14, 2017, at the Varano Circuit near Parma, Italy. Admission for the public is free, with track action constant and varied over the three days. Check www.asifed.it for details.
NEWS IN BRIEF ARIELS IN SARDINIA
ARIELS SARDINIA THE
IN
The Ariel Sardinia Rally will take place on May 3-10, covering 775 miles. Organising club is the AMI – Ariel Motorclub Italia, Via Fiume, 2 21047 Saronno (Va), Italia. Telephone 02.967.02.789 or email arielclubitalia@libero.it A.M.I. A
.M.I. - Ariel Ariel Motorclub Motorclub Italia Via Via Fiume,2 Fiume,2 21047 Italia 21047 Saronno Saronno (Va) (Va) ITALIA ITALIA - Tel. Tel. 02.967.02.789 02.9667.002.789 - Fax Fax 02.967.89.510 02.9967.89.510 - E-mail: E-mail: arielclubitalia@ arielclubitalia@libero.it libero.it
BRIGHTON SPRINT The Brighton National Speed Trials will return to the seafront this year on Saturday, September 2. Regulations and entry criteria are at www. brightonandhovemotorclub. co.uk
THE TOP PRIZE Winner of the VMCC’s June to December 2016 raffle of a 1961 Velocette Venom 500cc was Mr Bill Russell, with ticket number 203601.
BANTAMS IN SCOTLAND Lachlan Macleod has become the first Scottish rep of the BSA Bantam Club. Contact him via lachlanmacleod99@ icloud.com
HOGHTON TOWER SPRINT The Lancashire event is on May 2. If you want to take part, call 07925571722 or have a look at www.hoghtontower. co.uk
RACE, ROCK AND RIDE Following a successful debut in 2016, Race, Rock ’n’ Ride, sponsored by Principal Insurance, returns to Santa Pod Raceway on May 20/21.
NORTON NIGHT AT BOURNE The Bourne Motor Racing Club will host an evening on February 9, 2017, at the Corn Exchange, with Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton Motorcycles (UK) Ltd. Entry is free to BMRC members and £5 on the door to guests and visitors. Doors open at 7pm and Stuart will begin his presentation at 8pm. For more info see www. bournemotorclub.co.uk.
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How to build a 130mph Goldie engine Words and photographs: PHILLIP TOOTH Philip McGurk became the first man to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit at over 100mph with a BSA Gold Star engine when he covered the 37.73 mile course in 22 minutes 24.43 seconds. His 101.030mph second lap of the Senior Classic TT brought his average for the four laps to 99.943mph, just three seconds outside the magic 100. Through the Sulby speed trap his speed was 129.30mph. McGurk finished 14th in a race dominated by Paton twins, the MV Agusta triple, and Manx Nortons. McGurk was entered by Dave Hardman, whose Featherbedframed special used a shortstroke engine developed and built by Phil Pearson, a Norfolk engineer who has been working on Gold Stars for nearly 50 years. While a 1956 DBD34 delivers about 42bhp at the crank, the Pearson engine puts out over 50bhp at the rear wheel. How did he do it?
Newly manufactured “Apart from the crankcases, which are from a 1954 BSA B31, and the Gold Star rockers and oil pump, everything else is newly manufactured – including my own castings for the cylinder head and barrel,” says Pearson. He machined and polished oval flywheels and fitted a 5.8in Carrillo rod and a BSA pattern Wiseco forged piston to give a 10.4:1 compression ratio. With a balance factor of 66%, the crank assembly uses a 35mm diameter JAWA crankpin and an INA needle roller bearing, while the drive side crankcase has been machined to take an outrigger bearing (two roller bearings running on a 30mm shaft) although the original ball race is still used to locate the crankshaft in the crankcase. The timing side mainshaft has been increased from ⅞in to 25mm and fitted with a modified bearing. With a bore and stroke of 90 x 78mm (stock DBD34 is 85 x 88mm) the Pearson Goldie needed a short-stroke barrel
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The Pearson workshop, showing Phil with one of his new cranks for the DBD34 Gold Star.
with a stronger bottom flange. To compensate for the rocker angle resulting from the shorter stroke, the pushrods have balls at both ends. Cams are standard Clubman DBD34, but with lightweight followers. Instead of being offset to the right, Pearson’s cylinder head uses a central inlet port, 3.5mm wider than standard, and a larger inlet valve with a 5⁄in stem that is machined down to ¼in under the head. A centre-port engine won’t fit in a BSA frame, but there’s plenty of room in a Norton Featherbed. Although the exhaust port is at the same angle as the stock DBD34, like the inlet port it has a larger valve guide boss. The cylinder head bolts have been changed to through-bolts which secure the head and barrel to the crankcase, while the four small bolts running through the barrel into the head are grade five titanium. Sparks are provided by a PVL crank ignition.
Roland Pike Pearson’s engine work is inspired by Roland Pike, a road racer who became development engineer at BSA from 1952-57 and is credited with much of the development work on the Gold Star.
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MARCH 2017
Crankcases were originally 1954 BSA B31.
“Roland contacted me in the early 1990s when he heard that I was making new crankshafts and suggested that I make a short-stroke version as he had experimented with them in 1954,” says Phil. “He gave me some prototype drawings and designs, and I used them to make my first 350cc short-stroke using a round crank assembly but without an outside flywheel like Roland had used.” That engine was raced by Dennis Gallagher in the Isle of Man Grand Prix. “Dennis said that it wouldn’t pull up the Mountain, so I realised that the flywheels were too light and made some heavier oval ones – they had
to be oval to clear the piston. That engine would still rev to 9000rpm. The next year, Dennis said that I’d flattened the Mountain – he could pull 8000rpm in top gear all the way up!” Pearson’s latest 500cc engine has an oval crank assembly that is 2lb (900g) heavier than a standard DBD34 crank, but lighter than the oval crank that was used in the production 1954 CB Gold Star. With a 1.5in Amal GP carb, the engine delivered 48.9bhp at 75200rpm, measured at the back wheel. Using a 40mm Gardner flat-slide carburettor increased power to 50.7bhp at 7433rpm, with 37.6 lb ft torque (5.2kg/m). The fastest pushrod single ever to lap the TT course is Steve Lindsell’s Seeley-framed Royal Enfield Bullet. Lindsell, who first raced a Bullet in the 1981 Manx GP, now preps the Flitwick Motorcycles for his son. Olie Lindsell averaged 103.547mph for the four-lap Senior Classic TT. “When I stripped the engine after the TT it was still in perfect condition,” says Pearson. “Now I’ve got to find a few more horses to catch that Enfield.” Phil Pearson is at www.bsagoldstar.co.uk