The Classic Motorcycle September 2017

Life’s a beach SAND RACING RA A A BSA M20

PLUS: BSA DB Gold Star Ariel Red Hunter Italian ASI MotoShow Harley Sportster Bob Mac Matchless G50Moto Guzzi Airone Derek Minter BSA history Gordon May

CIRCULATES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD W

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Bonnie e Ultimate T120 Triumph

Snarling beast

Series A Vincent-HRD V-twin Rapide racer

SEPTEMBER 2017

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My friend Jim (a car journalist) and I play an email-based game between ourselves which we’ve called ‘Me want’, where basically we simply send each other a link for the latest vehicle, 90 per cent of the time a motorcycle, that we want. What makes it amusing is how eclectic both our tastes are. Mine are predominantly sparked by things I see in the course of putting an issue together, or being out and about at various events.

So, this month, in no particular order, I’ve lusted after (among many others) a Series A Rapide (never going to happen), a Guzzi Airone Sport (it passed), Matchless G45 (see Rapide comment), a veteran of some kind (though Richard Rosenthal has counselled me, advising I go Triumph, rather than some of my more outlandish suggestions!) while mention by another of our correspondents (Roy Poynting) that he was going to sell his pretty little vintage ohv Royal Enfield had me pondering too. As did the possibility of going beach racing in Australia (see Rapide/G45 comments!).

I’m in the fortunate position though of occasionally being able to throw a leg across some of the machines I dream of, which is wonderful, and does sate the thirst somewhat. But it’s still never the same as it being ‘yours’.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I’ve been doing a few VMCC runs and so on, including a 7am Sunday start for a pre-breakfast canter, and a couple of days on a lovely vintage and veteran event, with 100 miles per day over a weekend. My quite recently acquired 1930 350cc sidevalve Sunbeam had a first outing during the course of those days, impressing and enchanting me somewhat with its willing performance. So although I do get excited by and love the Vincent V-twins, the Matchless production racers, the expensive veterans, the Model 90 Sunbeams, and so on, actually, my basic, small capacity ‘economy model’ (as someone called it!) Sunbeam afforded arguably the biggest smile of the month.

Right, I’m off to email Jim. I reckon he needs a vintage 350cc Royal Enfield…

Additionally, Steve Parrish has asked me to pass on thanks to all (and there were quite a few) who emailed in witth suggestio ons s as to ho ow best to sticck his s Pa antthe er kneepads to the tank. Suffice to say, they are now well anchored!

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

Contributors Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Mike Davis, Jonathan Hill, Stewart Perry, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Phillip Tooth, Alan Turner, Andy Westlake, 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 | SEPTEMBER 2017 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Letters ............................................................. 14 Subscribe and save ........................................ 16 Triumph T120 Bonneville ............................. 18 Vincent-HRD Rapide ..................................... 26 BSA Gold Star trials outfit.............................. 34 Brooklands Double 12 ................................... 42 Moto Guzzi Airone Sports ............................. 44 Australian beach racing – part II .................. 50 ASI MotoShow ................................................ 55 Ariel NH Red Hunter...................................... 58 McIntyre Matchless ....................................... 64 Closer look – BSA part II ................................ 70 Gordon May interview................................... 76 Men who mattered – Derek Minter .............. 78 Roy Poynting column .................................... 80 Jerry Thurston column................................... 82 Sketchbook travels ......................................... 84 You were asking.............................................. 86 Restoration guide – Harley-Davidson

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Sportster.......................................................... 90 Technical feature – Lead acid batteries ....... 92 Classic components – 1928 JAP engines ...... 98 Diary..............................................................110 Next month ...................................................112 Classic camera.............................................. 114

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

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d e r i u q e r e c n a t s i s s A September 1914

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wo motorcycle-mounted scouts come to the aid of a lorry, stranded with a broken rear axl xle, l somewhere in south Yorkshire one would reason, being that Swinton and Mexborough are just north-eeast of Rotherham, on the banks of the River Don. The lorry was ‘conveying supplies to the camp’ from where, one assumes, the scouts had come; the motorcycling press had been at the forefront of the appeals for motorcyclists to join the war effort (war having been declared on July 28, 1914) so much so that just seven days after the outbreak of hostilities, the territorial units were all filled and there was a war office waiting list. The Motor Cycle stated (in the flippant tone of the ‘over by Christmas’ then feeling of

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Two motorcycle scouts stop to help a crippled water wagon in the early months of the First Word War. the day): “Our readers are advised to seek other outlets for their patriotism, e.g. the firing line, where it is reported the coveys of Germans are very numerous, well grown, strong on the wing, and likely to provide excellent sport.”

Meanwhile, the boater-hatted ‘front man’ of the Bar-La Water ‘Pure Table Waters’ enterprise doesn’t look to be too keen on getting his hands dirty overseas or even at home, while his mate has clearly set-to taking apart what he can and seeing if a fix can be come up with.

Frankly, it doesn’t look a particularly promising situation, what with the truck seemingly beached and our two ‘scouts’ not really appearing to have any tools about them. In fact, they look quite happy sat on

their machines, leaving the water sellers to their own devices.

Though the identity tyy of the truck is hard (nay impossible) to fathom, both motorcycles are identifiable – and what connects them is both fi firrms were to abandon motorcycles in favour of car manufacture within a decade and a half of the picture.

The machine on the left is a Rover, powered by the firm’s own 499cc sidevalve engine, with distinctive indent in the magneto chain cover, white-and-red petrol tank finish, and – the key identifier – the bulge on the right hand side of the tank, where the oil pump passes through. Said bulge dates the Rover to post-1912 too, as the feature came in with the 1913 models (the oil tank is in the petrol tank) and the

Classic aarchive | Scouts on parade

machine is reasonably lavishly adorned too – not only is there a union flag flying atop the handlebars, but also a splendid ‘curly’ horn and acety tylene y headlight. The Rover was available as either direct drive, with Philipson pulley or with three-speed Sturmey-Archer gear.

Rover, well-established and highly regarded bicycle maker, started experimenting with powered machines around 1899, when the firm unveiled a tricycle which was displayed at shows.

In 1903 – following a hiatus since the 1899 showing – a motorcycle appeared, joined by a forecar in 1904, but again, these machines disappeared from the listings by 1907, though there was still a connection with motorcycling, supplying complete cycle kits for use for Swiss Motosacoche (MAG) engines.

In late 1910 Rover launched a smart

3½hp (so 500cc) model, the forerunner of our machine pictured, which was designed by highly-regarded John Greenwood, later to design for almost every model of Pre-Second World War Sunbeam, and also previously in the employ of JAP. The Rover did fairly well, with 500 sold of the 190/11 version, meaning there were hardly any changes for 1912. For 1913, the frame was altered, to incorporate the cylindrical oiltank and gave the famous ‘bulge’ and the machine featured. Rover continued to supply motorcycles to the public until 1916, then the military.

Post First World War, the single was joined by a V-twin, then a neat 249cc ohv lightweight, with gearbox in unit with the engine, appeared. Subsequently enlarged to 350cc, this was the last Rover motorcycle made, in 1927.

Lea-Francis had left the two-wheeled

scene three years earlier to concentrate on car production. Like Rover, Lea-Francis was based in Coventry and, like Rover, its background was in bicycle manufacture.

Lea-Francis (Richard Lea and Graham Francis; the latter’s son, Norman, was later to found Francis-Barnett) made its first motorcycle in 1912, 430cc V-twin powered by a JAP engine – basically the other machine pictured, though it was increased in capacity to 500cc, while the original twospeed gear became three, as well. Civilian production ended in 1916. The 1919 range was as before, though MAG engines were favoured, with 492cc and 592cc machines marketed, before the company ceased twowheeled production in 1924.

On the Lea-Francis, note the lack of taillight too – it’s not possible to see if the Rover has such an item, but most probably nd not, as they weren’t legally required. E THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Neews Events

New ws&Events

Slight at

Stafford

Kiwi ex-World SuperBike (WSBK) star Aaron Slight will be the guest of honour at the 24th Carole Nash Classic Mechanics Show over the weekend of October 14-15.

As fast and smooth on track as he was flamboyant and controversial off it, Aaron will have some entertaining tales to share with the Stafford audience. And with more than a decade of racing in WSBK for both factory Kawasaki and Castrol Honda teams – when the series was arguably at its peak – the friendly New Zealander will have plenty of great races to draw from.

The Classic Mechanics Show, the largest show of its kind in the world, majors on the later Japanese and European scene, and promises the usual successful mix of almost 1000 trade and autojumble stalls, stunning club stands and private entries, plus live entertainment in the Classic Dirt Bike area, Classic Racer Grand Prix Paddock, and Restoration Theatre.

Advance ticket prices are £12 for adults, £11 for seniors or £3 for under-12s.

For more details go to www. staffordclassicbikeshows.com/ october or call 01507 529529.

Goodwood Festival

Unique collection of AJW motorcycles heads to Cumbria A collection of AJW motorcycles from the 1920s and 30s has taken pride of place at the Lakeland Motor Museum.

The six AJWs brings the total number of motorbikes on show to almost 90, ranging from a collection of the legendary Vincent motorcycles – spanning

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the 1930s, 40s and 50s – to a display of racing superbikes on loan from Isle of Man TT hero John McGuinness.

The museum is at Old Blue Mill, Backbarrow, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 8TA Visit www.lakeland motormuseum.co.uk for details.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Ian Bain’s fabulous Brough Superior racer was one of the motorcycles run on Goodwood’s ‘hill’ over the

weekend of June 24-25.

Other two-wheelers included several taking part in a John Surtees tribute.

Head for the Eurojumble

Guy Martin poses with the 2017 t-shirt.

Today We Do The Ton Over the past two years, Wemoto has raised more than £26,000 for the Manx Grand Prix Supporters’ Club through the sale of its Festival of Jurby T-shirts.

This year, it’s the 60th anniversary of Bob McIntyre lapping the TT course at more than 100mph, and the 2017 design celebrates his achievement.

All profits go to the MGP Supporters’ Club, a charity which helps to fund helicopter ambulances. Cost is £10.

Visit wemoto.com or tickets are available in limited numbers at this year’s festival.

Jack Ahearn Runner-up in the 1964 500cc GP world championship was just one of the many achievements of Jack Ahearn, who passed away earlier this year in Lismore, Australia, aged 92.

Born in Bondai, Sydney, Ahearn raced for a quarter of a century. He enjoyed much success at home, before coming to Europe, age 29, in 1954, making his TT debut the same year.

He was a member of the continental circus 1954/55, 1958 and 1962-66, but a crash on the works square four 250cc Suzuki effectively ended his racing career.

The biggest autojumble in the south of England is back this September. The 24th Carole Nash Eurojumble takes place at Netley Marsh, near Southampton, on Friday, September 1, and Saturday, September 2.

As well as the jumble, there’s exhibits from local motorcycle clubs and Dorsetbased auctioneers Charterhouse will be hosting a sale, on the Friday.

Also set to return is the popular garage clearout sale on Saturday, allowing one-day traders to come and sell.

Tickets for Friday cost £9 in advance or £10 on the day. For the Saturday it’s £8 in advance or £9 on the day.

Camping passes are available too, allowing you to stay from Thursday through Sunday morning for only £60, including show entry for both days and access to the evening bar and shower block.

Tickets can be bought from www. classicbikeshows. com or by calling 01507 529529.

The event is being held at Meadowmead Farm, Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, between Cadnam and Totton, Hampshire SO40 7GY. For more information or to trade at the event contact exhibition manager Nick Mowbray on 01507 529429 or nmowbray@mortons.co.uk

Brough twostroke?

This illustration appeared in the February/March 1983 issue of The Classic MotorCycle – and is still proving something of a conundrum. The pencil sketch is by J Stevenson of Chilwell, Nottingham and depicts an opposed-piston, two-stroke he’d been shown in Germany, with both pistons operating in the same cylinder, and the two

crankshafts coupled by chain.

On the top of the left-hand crankcase sat a conical coarsepitch-screw supercharger, with a magneto presumably on the right-hand platform.

The name ‘Brough, Nottm’ was cast on the timing cover. Engine capacity was about 300cc.

Any information to Dave Clark at david.clark24@ntl.world

NEWS IN BRIEF  STAFFORD SALE The grid is being assembled for Bonhams’ October sale extravaganza, being held at the Stafford show on October 15. There is some tasty machinery already confirmed, including two each of Series C Black Shadow Vincents and SS80 Brough Superiors.

Details from www.bonhams. com or 0208 8963 2817.

 BANTAMS STOLEN Three BSA Bantams were stolen from a garage in Oxon on June 27-28. The three machines (blue 1966, registration DWL256; red YKK96J; and grey FSD298) were all fully restored.

Any information to Thames Valley Police 43170 189047.

 BONHAMS AT BEAULIEU Among the motorcycles in Bonhams sale at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on September 2, are a Series C Black Shadow, a Model H Triumph and a neat little ZB32 BSA. Details from 0208 8963 2817 or www.bonhams.com

 STROUD SHOW August 4, 5 and 6 are the dates for the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) annual show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

 BARREL BIKERS SHOW The event is on Sunday, August 6 from 11am, at Cruck Barn, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes MK139AP. Music, bar, trade stands, food, family fun and not forgetting bikes.

Entry is free!

 MECUM SALE

Vintage and veteran weekend Riders and motorcycles stop for a lunch break at Blakeney, on the Norfolk coast, during a VMCC vintage and veteran weekend over July 8-9. The two-day run saw riders undertake 100 miles each day.

The ‘daytime auction’ takes place on August 16-19 at Hyatt Regency hotel, Monterey, California.

Details from mecum.com or 262 275 5715.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Neews E Events vents NEWS IN BRIEF  LINCOLNSHIRE SALE There is a dispersal sale of a collection of vehicles and machinery at Branston, near Lincoln, on September 9.

The auction will see 15 classic motorcycles offered, plus spares, vintage horticultural machinery, stationary engines and vehicles, including a 1934 Hillman Minx and a 1965 Land Rover. The motorcycles include two Ariels and six Francis-Barnetts, one of which featured in FrancisBarnett – The Complete Story

by Arthur Gent. Details from Robert Bell & Company www. robert-bell.org or 01507 522222.

 BORDERS CLASSIC The Borders Classic Bike Show will be pulling the crowds into its picturesque setting at the Lacon Childe School in Shropshire’s Cleobury Mortimer on September 9-10. This is the 30th show, with Colin Seeley as guest for the weekend.

The doors open at 9am both days. All proceeds from the show go to the Lacon Childe School funds, to benefit the pupils. More details from Jim Reynolds 01299 270642.

 DRIFFIELD SHOW Expect more than 1000 exhibits at the Driffield vintage and steam show over August 12-13. The event is held at the showground.

 RABY EVENT Raby Castle, in County Durham, will open its gates for a classic car and bike show on Sunday, August 13.

This is the 25th time the castle has hosted the event.

 H&H AT THE NMM Next sale at the National Motorcycle Museum, by H&H, is on September 2.

David Earnshaw 1941-2017 The vintage motorcycle movement lost one of its biggest characters and supporters with the passing in June of staunch, lifelong enthusiast and authority David Earnshaw.

Winning the Machine of the Millennium Trophy at the 2000 Stafford Classic MotorCycle Show gave David huge delight, being the icing on the cake of his lifelong passion for ‘old bikes,’ his expression for the flat-tank-era motorcycles only.

His 1912 738cc ohv TT V-twin Matchless won him this one-off millennium award.

Born in Doncaster on June 15, 1941, David was brought up in the family home with his two sisters aside the Earnshaw’s fish and chip shop at Thorne, run by his father Edward – or rather, Mr Earnshaw to most folk.

At this point one could detail career, education and other achievements, but for David, family apart, it was motorcycles – namely veteran and vintage motorcycles; his modern mount was a 1937 Triumph Speed Twin.

From before he bought his first old bike aged 12 – a 1921 P&M – until he drew his last breath, his passion for flat-tankera machines was undimmed.

It’s fitting this Cleckheatonbuilt machine was prepared as a motorcycle hearse and driven by son John, carrying David on his final journey.

Edward Earnshaw – a workssupported Royal Enfield rider in the 1920s – was an old vehicle enthusiast, who made replica items such as leather fronted toolboxes and was a regular on the motorcycle autojumble scene. David helped his father and once old enough son John helped David until, more recently, John took over the reins, with dad stepping back but always on hand to give advice.

Aged 16, David entered his first event, standing on the footboard of a seatless

David Earnshaw, on the right, receives the Machine of the Millennium trophy from Phil Read at Stafford in 2000.

Autoped scooter for 40 miles.

In 1959 he completed his first Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Run and subsequently entered every ‘Pioneer’, failing to finish only once. He thoroughly enjoyed 18 Brighton Runs on a Class 1 Rex and was proud to fly the Yorkshire flag when riding P&Ms. Friends Tony Cowley and Steve Jenkin often rode Earnshaw P&Ms, making an ‘official works team!’ More recently, John, also a Pioneer Run regular, drove a 1907 P&M outfit, crewed by his son Jake. A proud moment as three generations of Earnshaws headed for Madeira Drive.

A VMCC Rex and P&M marque specialist, David also delighted in many other makes and models, including the seven or eight Model H Triumphs he restored, and particularly a 6HP 1914 AJS V-twin, which he considered the most accomplished veteran he’d ever ridden.

While teaching metalwork, David met and courted colleague Margaret and this

summer the couple would have celebrated their golden wedding.

David took early retirement and enjoyed the past 25 years restoring veteran and vintage motorcycles to complete more than 60 full projects during his life. He also assisted Ken Hallworth (OBM founder), along with wives Margaret and Irene, publishing the quarterly magazine Old Bike for a decade.

Regularly riding events across the UK, David had completed a 300-mile weekend run in Scotland just days before he succumbed to natural causes while riding a Model H Triumph in the APMC mid-June Ken Hallworth Memorial White Peak Wandering.

Lives are precious, but it is appropriate David’s ended while riding an ‘H’, of which his late friend George Molyneux often stated ‘the Model H Triumph is the only way to travel.’

David leaves his wife Margaret, son John, daughter Judith and their families.

Richard Rosenthal

FROM ONLY

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Book Review Granville Bradshaw: a flawed genius?

Second edition Author: Barry M Jones Published by Barry M Jones, Unit 2, Rustic Crafts Workshop, Bixley Lane, Beckley, Rye, East Sussex TN3 6TH (First published by Panther Publishing Ltd.) E-mail: bjrustic@aol.com www.brenelltape.co.uk Softback, 190 x 250mm, 300 pages, approx. 200 photographs and illustrations.

ISBN 978-0-9556595-4-6 £25.

Granville Bradshaw was an engineer and inventor of extraordinary vision.

His now legendary and often revolutionary designs for early aeroplanes and engines, such as the Dragonfly, pioneering cars and motorcycles, including the ABC, and his interesting oil-cooled engines, quickly brought him fame and success. His designs for gambling machines made him a fortune, which he then managed to lose as a victim of a shares swindle.

His life spanned the entire development of aviation and motor industries, from the very early days through to the 1950s.

Lancashire-born in 1886, Bradshaw was apprenticed to a large engineering company.

He progressed through the various departments to the drawing office, where he trained as a draughtsman.

Elder brother Ewart had a profitable sideline buying and selling bicycles and motorcycles, fostering in Granville an interest in powered vehicles which he learned to repair.

He began riding motorcycles in 1900 at the age of 14 – as you were allowed to in those days.

In his enthusiasm to boost the power of his brother’s 2¼hp Peugeot, the piston seized, causing the barrel to fracture. With a new casting out of the question, he made a drawing and persuaded the works foreman to turn one up,

complete with fins, out of a steel billet.

Disillusioned by heavy engineering and interested in new-fangled aeroplanes, he joined the Star Engineering Company, helping to design the Star Monoplane, and learned to fly at Brooklands in 1909.

His innovative flair for design produced some outstanding results with radial aero engines during the Great War, for which he was awarded the OBE. While at Sopwith’s in 1918, Bradshaw designed and built the then very advanced ABC flat-twin motorcycle, allegedly in 11 days.

In 1923 he designed the new ohv ‘Panther’ engine for Phelon and Moore (P&M), followed later by the radical Panthette 250cc transverse V-twin, and in 1939 the 500cc vertical inline twin Panther machine.

This is a really detailed, carefully researched and absorbing book that places Bradshaw’s engineering genius into the context of his time.

Following further research this second edition adds to the first and includes a new 10-page chapter on Walter Lawson Adams – a pioneering multi-talented aircraft and mechanical engineer with whom Bradshaw sometimes collaborated.

Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

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Neews Events THE WAY WE WERE IN

SEPTEMBER 1917

This 700cc parallel twin Velocette was put together many years ago.

Colin Peters has managed to rebuild it and complete the cycle parts.

Quarter century not out for Elk Elk Promotions is celebrating 25 years of promoting shows and jumbles around the Romney Marsh area. In recent years, the venue has been settled on a large field just south of the village of Hamstreet. By mid-morning on the most recent occasion (June 25), an impressive area of the grass was covered by lines of visitors’ bikes.

Voting slips were given to everyone who was exhibiting in the show, so the results were truly by popular choice. With all the slips returned, counting began and by early afternoon the coveted rosettes started to appear on the chosen. Best 1950s bike went to Vince Gill, who was enjoying the result of a four-year restoration of a Norton ES2.

Competition in the 70s class saw history repeat itself as old showroom rivals BSA and Norton went head to head once more, Lightning versus Commando.

Both had much to commend them, but Small Heath got the

verdict, thanks to Dave Harding’s Lightning.

Colin Peters had a recently completed Velocette parallel twin.

The origin of the engine is unclear, but the bought parts were all 1940s and 50s components, so presumably that was when it was done. The result linked two KSS engines side by side and historical research is continuing.

Colin decided to complete the job by installing the engine in an MAC frame.

It was no surprise that ‘Best Club Stand’ went to the BSA Bantam Club. The organisation successfully promotes interest in BSA’s lightweight, in its many forms, with quite a few examples surrounding the club’s gazebo.

Another enjoyable day notched up: the opportunity to secure a bargain, and a location among some great biking roads.

It’s a tried and tested formula, good for 25 years so far and certainly still counting.

Alan Turner

Following a single-page article published on August 28, featuring Campion and Douglas sidecar outfits fuelled by coal gas, The Motor Cycle staff had studied the practicalities with a Zenith V-twin outfit and the featured Campion.

The JAP V-twin-Campion outfit had a 50 cubic foot gas envelope, bearing the legend ‘Campion Coal Gas Motors,’ mounted on framework above a standard Campion 5cwt sidecar chassis. Although some users fixed the gas envelope directly to the chassis, locating it well above allowed the outfit to still carry passengers or commercial goods.

1942

Via the pages of The Motor Cycle, Archie Cooks of Cheltenham had asked as to the existence of a Cykelaid.

Reader Private RF Currie*, serving in the Middle East Forces, responded thus.

“Mr David Partridge of Tolladine Road, Worcester, has an example in full running order.”

He added: “I hope this information is correct as I’ve been out of Blighty

1967

Six times world champion and former Honda team captain Jim Redman had been racing a 250cc air-cooled, twin-cylinder two-stroke

A tap to the bottom of the envelope released gas into a rubber tube linked to the carburettor.

Approaches here differed, with some venting gas through a drilling into the carburettor body or via the air intake.

Either way, the air slide was always positioned fully open or removed, leaving the remaining slide to control the engine.

Leakage from the gas envelope was minimal, although it was advisable (!) not to smoke nearby. A fully charged envelope, from a household supply, proved sufficient for 15 miles of motorcycling with the Campion outfit.

for some time. I believe the nameplate on David Partridge’s Cylaid states it was made by The Sheppee Co of York.**” * Private RF Currie was Bob Currie, later Midlands editor of The Motor Cycle, who wrote the ‘Past Times’ column and founded The Classic MotorCycle ** Bob would much later write the plate stated The Sheppee Motor Co.

Yamaha in South Africa, with wins at the Swartkops circuit, Johannesburg. He was currently importing Yamahas into South Africa.

1992

Dave Harding’s award-winning BSA Lightning was one of the last pre-oil-in-frame models.

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2017

Stunning times were recorded at the inaugural Lyme Sprint (Cheshire) run by the Manchester and High Peak district of the VMCC on September 20. A total of 95 motorcycles posted times on the strip set out on one of the estate’s private roads.

Jim Poole (1969 Norton

Commando) clocked FTD of 8.85 seconds. Of the many class victors, John McMahon (Triumph) took the 501750cc class and Henry Body (1929 600cc Douglas) made the journey from Somerset to win the Douglas trophy.

Richard Rosenthal.