Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i The Classic MotorCycle

This month has involved a bit of extra work, as we put together the Gold Star supplement, provided free with this issue. Lots of people helped out, so thanks to everyone involved, particularly all at the National Motorcycle Museum for putting the BSAs at our disposal. We hope you enjoy the fruits of those labours. It was really interesting to do, as I confess my Goldie knowledge was little more than surface-deep, and as with these subjects that inspire lifelong passions (see the likes of Dave Flintoft and Phil Pearson, plus our own Mr Rosenthal, and his son, Peter) the enthusiasm is often, to me, not only inspiring, but infectious too. Predictably I came away from collating it scheming ways to buy a Gold Star, trying to decide which model…

If you’ve got a classic bike you think the world should know about and fellow enthusiasts would appreciate, now’s your chance to get it on display. The 37th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle show at Stafford is the biggest of the season, and organisers are keen to hear from more owners of quality, restored classics for the private entry category so they can be shown off in all their glory for the thousands of showgoers to savour. The event takes place over the weekend of April 22/23, with Aussie Superbike star Troy Bayliss the guest of honour. The call for private entries reiterates the desire to have top-class machines lined up – they’re the first thing visitors see when they come into the show hall. So how do you apply?…

The green V-twin special had caught my eye on a couple of occasions at local meets and it always stopped me in my tracks as it didn’t conform, and I like things that don’t conform. “Looks fantastic. But what the hell is it?” had been my first impression to myself. At first sight, the bike, with springer front end and V twin motor had, to me, seemed like some kind of prewar Harley EL ‘Knuck’, until I spotted the Velocette badge on the fuel tank. Then, via our local MoT man in the know Dave ‘Tiddler’ Rogers, I manage to track owner and builder Steve Boakes down to his home workshop somewhere in the Chilterns. The green V-twin is sitting there among Steve’s machinery and tools for metal and woodworking,…

Finances must have been tight in 1937 for Phelon & Moore Ltd of Cleckheaton , Yorkshire, because the makers of Panther motorcycles couldn’t afford a stand at the biggest event of the year – the Earls Court Show in London – even if they wanted to. What is more, the range had been slashed to only four models for the 1938 season: the 250cc Model 20 and 350cc Model 30 Red Panthers, and the 350 cc Model 85 and 600 cc Model 100 Redwing Panthers . Sold exclusively through London agent Pride and Clarke, the three-speed Red Panthers were as cheap as chips but they were solid, dependable motorcycles. The four-speed Model 85 Redwing was a tuned version of the Model 30 with highly polished twin exhaust ports. Its engine…

Based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the Ulster Grand Prix (UGP) was first run in 1922 on the 20.5 mile Clady Circuit. In the years up to the Second World War, the circuit crossed the grass landing strip of RAF Aldergrove (1918-2009) which was designated operational in 1925. During the Second World War, RAF Aldergrove expanded over part of the UGP’s Clady Circuit, a problem the postwar organisers resolved by omitting this section, shortening the circuit to 16.647 miles. In 1953 the event moved to the 7.401 mile Dundrod track, where it remains. Historians identify the two Clady Circuits as the ‘long’ and ‘short’ form followed here. Its name is derived from Clóidigh – washing river. While handicapping played a significant role in the UGP’s earlier history it soon was…

01 Engine The crankshaft assemblies are pressed up, with a roller big-end, and supported by ball-race main bearings in stiff alloy castings that adequately supported both crank and gearbox. Outer covers of polished alloy gave the engines a very clean appearance. The 125 and 150cc engines had a 54mm stroke; that of the 175 was 62mm. A deeply-spigoted barrel had a 54mm bore (125) or 59.5mm for the 150 and 175cc capacities. The cylinder casting included the push-rod or camchain tunnel. A generously finned alloy cylinder head supported the valve mechanism. A finned rocker box cover often confused the casual observer into thinking the bikes were two-strokes. According to the bike’s specification, Dell’Orto carburettors in various sizes were fitted. The engines are generally reliable, although valve guides have been known…

MARCH 4 Rufforth Autojumble. Rufforth Park, York. Tel: 01904 738620. www.rufforthautojumble.com The ZZ Tops Tribute Show. The Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville, Leics, LE67 3FA.www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Dee Atkinson & Harrison Classic Car, Motorcycle & Automobilia Auction. Sledmere House, Sledmere, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 3XG. www.dee-atkinsonharrison.co.uk or www.auctionhouse.uk.net/hullandeastyorkshire MARCH 5 Malvern Drive-In Classic Bike & Car Autojumble. Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls and Outside, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6NW. www.classicshows.org Tel: 01484 667776 Email: info@classicshows.org Huddersfield Autojumble. Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1RG. Tel: Jeff 07795 505388 Email: jeffpff@hotmail.co.uk Penrith Autojumble. Penrith Auction Mart, Skirsgill, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DN. Tel: Ian Sherrard 07836 331324 (day) or 01772 323654 (6pm–8pm) Email: info@garstangautojumbles.co.uk.www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk Ace Cafe London. Trike Day in aid of NABD www.ace-cafe-london.com MARCH 9 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes. Ribchester, (meet main…

The National Motorcycle Museum still has tickets on offer for its winter raffle draw. Museum director James Hewing said: “We have an amazing first prize for our current winter raffle, a brand-new Triumph Thruxton R 1200cc, (retail value £13,800), with factory fitted Track Racer Kit, which will be registered new to the lucky winner in April 2017.” Second prize is a lovely 1954 AJS Model 18 (a ‘matching numbers’ tele-rigid) and third prize is a luxury weekend break for two at www.windmillvillagehotel.co.uk The draw will take place on Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Stafford show. Tickets are £2 each and may be obtained via the museum on 01675 444123 or www.thenmm.co.uk…

The rare 1914 Feilbach 10hp Limited, pictured, was the stand-out lot in Bonhams’ Vegas auction, selling for $195,000, which equates to £156,000. The rare 1130cc twin had been assembled after the company closed, and was the personal property of Charles Feilbach, son of the company founder. Other interesting prices included $150,000 for a Vincent Black Knight and $69,000 for a 1937 Indian Sport Four, among others. Have a look at www.bonhams.com/results/ to see the full list and descriptions.…

The B1107 in Norfolk wouldn’t have been my first choice of road for my first ever outing on two of the finest examples of the British 650cc twin – narrow, bumpy, busy – but the rasp from the exhausts of Mathhew Hilton's Super Rocket echoing off the Thetford Forest pines that stood either side of us, goaded me to keep pace. I started to wish I could hear what the Norton 650SS (also Matthew's) I was on sounded like from behind... It didn’t take long for my mind to start wandering and wondering how many other Brit-twin pilots I was following in the wheel tracks of, and how many of them had earned their café-racer stripes on these bends. There’s a fair chance some of those would’ve been earned on…

The National Motorcycle Museum houses the largest collection of British motorcycles in the world, with over 1000 machines from 170 different manufacturers spanning no less than three centuries. Of the 1000-plus machines in the collection there are around 850 on display at any one time. During the latter part of 2016, the five display halls of the museum were reconfigured. While there to photograph machines for our Gold Star supplement, we took the opportunity to take a look round. So what’s on display and where? Museum foyer The Foyer of the museum is free to enter and also contains a large number of machines as well as the museum gift shop and admissions desk. At the moment, it contains the following special displays – the museum’s collection of sidecar outfits…

Did you ever ride a DMW trials bike back in the day? I ask Sammy Miller. “No,” comes the immediate and pithy reply, “I’m just glad some of my opposition had to!” A rather unkind comment you might think, but I know exactly what he means. Like many other DMWs this early-1960s trialler features some good ideas, but bears several indications it was produced by a company lacking extensive financial resources or a top development rider, and you needed at least one of those attributes to turn an also-ran into a winner. But DMW was always a bit of an oddball. Founded by Midlands grasstracker W L (Smokey) Dawson in the late-1930s, Dawson’s Motorcycles Wolverhampton initially made swinging arm conversions. During the war however, ex-HRD man Harold Nock had formed…

The task facing Richard Bourne, assisted by his brother Robert, was daunting – bringing to publication the memoir of their father, who also happened to be editor of the biggest selling motorcycling publication in the formative years of the British industry and had written the manuscript himself. Additionally, when said parent, thanks to his involvement with the ACU, could count and call on most if not all of the industry leaders as friends, contemporaries and even equals, the editing of these memoirs had to be a careful enterprise. In this task Richard, aided by Robert, has admirably kept the flavour of his late father Arthur ‘Torrens’ Bourne flowing through the self-published book Behind the scenes in the vintage years. It helps of course that Richard is a journalist and used…

If a chain sprocket is bolted or riveted to a hub, it is easily replaced. Even if no ready-drilled part is available it is easy to obtain a plate wheel, machine or have machined as appropriate with regard to centre hole, fixing sites and decorative/lightening holes and then bolt or rivet as per the original. Likewise, replacement cast rear brake drums, complete with sprocket teeth, are available for many later so-fitted classics. But this solution is a ‘no go’ possibility for project New Imperial Model 30. Reader response implies some of you need more detail. So instead of writing the New Imperial Model 30’s rear wheel sprocket was retoothed, here’s more detail: By design, the Model 30’s rear wheel cast iron sprocket structure bears three vanes for the rear hub…

Featuring in a special supplement with the May 12, 1955, issue of The Motor Cycle was the account of Cyril Street and his friend Brian, who took part in the Deuxieme International Trophée Cannes-Geneve-Cannes, on a brace of BSA Golden Flashes, one of which can actually be spotted in the accompanying picture, sporting a GB plate and the registration number OOV 694. The event was run by the Moto Club de Cannes and was simply put, a ‘…fast night run on good roads, a break in Geneva, and then, the next day, zestful riding over the French Alps to Cannes.’ Although there was a start in Cannes, there were others in Geneva and Paris. It appeared though that Cyril and Brian left everything rather to the last minute and after…

What is believed to be the only original/unrestored 1912 Henderson known in America, complete with original paint and tyres, sold at Mecum’s Las Vegas sale for a staggering $490,000. The in-line four, featuring a 59 cubic inch F-Head Four Cylinder engine, came out of the Doc Cleveland collection. Its unique condition, and the fact it was a first-year model, undoubtedly led to its appeal. Second and third big sellers in the sale were Hendersons too, both restored examples from 1913, selling for $150,000 and $127,500 apiece. A 1923 Indian Chief, formerly owned by Steve McQueen, made $100,000. There’s plenty more at mecum.com/motorcycles/results…

In 1967, when the Royal Enfield factory in Redditch closed, the Enfield Cycle Company Ltd was purchased by Norton Villiers Ltd. Norton Villiers contracted Enfield Precision Engineers to carry on production of the Royal Enfield Interceptor. Enfield Precision Engineers had been producing virtually all the postwar Royal Enfield twin engines from the early 1950s and shipping them to the Redditch factory to be built into complete motorcycles. In 1971, Enfield Precision Engineers finally closed its doors and was sold to Matt Holder (of Scott, Vincent, and Velocette fame), with all its rights and documentation. Also in 1971 Veloce Ltd, which by then was operating the spares business for the single cylinder Royal Enfields, went into liquidation and was purchased by Holder. Fast forward 45 years, and while Matt Holder is…

For a few minutes, I stood by the information desk at the Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show. A man approached the desk: “Where’s the Lawrence Brough, please?” he enquired, and received the requested directions. A short time later, the scenario was repeated. And again. And again. Apparently, it went on all weekend. The draw and glamour of Lawrence of Arabia endures, it seems. So there was little doubting the motorcycle which was, for many, the highlight of the show. It was Brough Superior SS100, registration number UL 656, the penultimate (of seven) example of the Nottingham made V-twin owned by the famous soldier and statesman. Incidentally, UL 656 was actually the registration number used erroneously on the SS100 that Lawrence, as depicted by Peter O’Toole, is riding in the…

If the First World War saw the dawn of mechanised warfare, the Second World War, with its blitzkriegs, massive tank battles on the Russian steppes, and vast seaborne invasions culminating in D-Day, brought its full fruition. Motorcycles played their part. Their primary First World War function as machines for messengers had been mainly usurped by improved wireless communications. But the troops’ portable radios were always unreliable, especially, as at Arnhem, in wooded terrain, and radio telephone (R/T) lines were vulnerable to shelling and bombing. So along with convoy duties for motorcycle outriders, there were often still dispatches to be delivered in war zones. On the home front, as well as all of the above, there was the unobtrusive but massive traffic resulting from the ultra code-breaking operation. Bletchley Park took…

The history of motorcycling is littered with glorious failure. Admittedly, some is more glorious than others – say, perhaps, Phillip Vincent’s determination to engineer (over-engineer) the most sophisticated motorcycle in the world, which, from a commercial point of view was always going to end in financial meltdown. Witness also the Velocette LE – a sound idea which supposedly cost Velocette something like £1,000,000 (all the firm’s war work profits) to bring to production but was, again, over-complicated and under-developed. There are plenty of other examples too; a small firm pinning its hope on a big idea that will make its fortune (see Ascot-Pullin, Wooller, OEC et al) which were never going to work, to a big firm making a costly decision (BSA/Triumph group scooters come to mind) that just doesn’t…

The world of refinishing motorcycle parts has moved on a long way since the early days of the British industry, and the early days of the restoration hobby too for that matter. Once Steve Parrish got the restoration bit between his teeth and the Panther had to come apart for some engineering work, then it made sense to refinish the frame and cycle parts. “I wasn’t going to do it, then I thought well, it’s apart, it will have to come apart again if I wanted to paint it, so I had it done,” said Steve. As have many restorers, engineers and mechanics, Mr Parrish has a network of people who do all sorts of things mechanical for his bikes and vehicles. One of these contacts being Morley Brothers in…