Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i The Classic MotorCycle

Welcome to the first issue of the 2019 series – so it’s time to wish one and all a good riding (and reading) year to come, indulging ourselves in this classic motorcycling world. This month, I’ve been intrigued by Norton ES2s plus spent far too long looking at the picture of the Crocker coming up in Mecum’s January auction – have a look on page eight, what a great looking motorcycle. Guess what’s at the top of my new ‘lottery win list…’ A week or two back, a friend sent me a message from the barber shop’s waiting room, saying he’d picked up a copy of The Sun newspaper, in which there was a First World War centenary commemoration supplement, with a few interesting motorcycle-related bits in it, and ‘worth…

The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club (founded in 1924) staged its first Pioneer Run to Brighton in 1930. The run has been repeated every year since, except in exceptional circumstances, so, consequently, in 2019 the club will be celebrating its 80th running of the event on Sunday, March 24. The Pioneer Run always attracts the largest gathering of pre-1915 solos, sidecars and tricycles in the world, providing the public with the opportunity to see some 300-plus early machines aged between 105-123 years old, in action on the road and displayed at Brighton. For some time there has been concern about the safety of riders, where the traditional route rejoins the A23. Therefore, 2019 will see a new route. Regulations and further information may be obtained from Ian D McGill (01293 771446…

After 12 years as a much relied upon volunteer, Patrick Failes (81), recently retired from the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. A dinner was arranged for Patrick with Sammy and Rosemary Miller and Patrick’s colleagues and friends from the museum. After 12 years supporting the museum, Patrick will be much missed. His knowledge of motorcycles and motorcycling history was second to none and Patrick always had a little story to impart alongside his massive wealth of technical information. Patrick plans to sell his bungalow and move to Bridport to be nearer family in his retirement.…

“The Triumph Trophy Bible” Including unit-construction Trophy-based Tiger models Author: Harry Woolridge New paperback edition in the Veloce Classic Reprint Series. Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3AR Tel: 01305 260068 E-mail: sales@veloce.co.uk Fax: 01305 250479 Softback, 207 x 250mm (portrait); 144 pages with over 130 photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-845849-74-0 £35; $60 USA; $78 Canada The Triumph Trophy, in production from 1949 until the end of 1983, was one of Triumph’s most popular models, both at home and abroad, with over 113,000 machines being sold. Why, you may ask, was it called the Trophy? Aware of the prestige and publicity to be gained from success in the International Six Days Trial, Triumph works riders gained gold medals…

TYPE Single cylinder ohv CAPACITY 199cc BORE X STROKE 63mm x 64mm LUBRICATION Recirculating from external tank GEARBOX Own-make four-speed in unit with motor TRANSMISSION All chain IGNITION/ ELECTRICS 6V Lucas alternator, coil ignition CARBURETTOR Amal Concentric (originally Zenith) SUSPENSION Own-make telescopic forks, swinging fork rear with Girling units FRAME Full loop WHEELBASE 50.5in SEAT HEIGHT 29in WEIGHT 231lb BRAKES 5.5in SLS drums front and rear TYRES 3.25x16in front and rear TOP SPEED 60mph approx.…

With his retirement on the horizon, we thought it would be a good idea to have a chat with Bob Stanley, the man who has been instrumental in the restoration of many exhibits in Sammy Miller’s museum in the New Forest. “When I started for him in 1972 he only had a couple of Broughs and a Vincent and they were on display at the old Highcliffe Road shop. That was a complex with a large warehouse out the back where the new Bultaco trials bikes were stored and for sale. Were you ever there?” Before my time Bob, but what about you? “I started with Sammy in 1972, so that’s 46 years that I’ve been involved but before that I was working with my dad, who became a horologist…

One of the main problems with mixing and matching components from a variety of sources is identifying what you have. While not essential to the task, it can simplify things if you’re buying bits and pieces. What I didn’t know until reading through Rupert Ratio’s latest book about BSA’s unit singles was that there are two basic types of fork yoke, wide and narrow. Within these two types are variations, but that’s by the by – and what I have are the wider version from the late 1960s. A few moments with a tape measure show that the differences in overall width of yokes – be they Triumph or BSA – amount to less than 20mm (it was a metric tape) and my BSA B40 has the narrow type at…

The bigger question BMW R51SS Following our telephone conversation, here are some pictures of the BMW R51SS. It was displayed in the Faulkes-Halbard museum in East Sussex. Mr Faulkes-Halbard bought this machine in the late 1970s and it remained in the museum until recently offered at auction, when I bought it. The auctioneer’s description stated ‘1939 BMW R51 Racing – delivered new to AFN Ltd, Isleworth. Race prepared to R51SS specification to include close ratio gearbox and large RS500 factory type petrol tank. Believed to be prepared by Jock West.’ Friends have informed me that Dave Treen from Hastings (also in East Sussex) raced a BMW like mine about 40/45 years ago in VMCC racing, but this may be a coincidence. Jeremy Ewen, email, London. Thank you for the photos…

Vintage Tyres’ new tyre-fitting branch at Bicester Heritage, the UK’s hub of historic motoring excellence, is now open. The tyre-fitting kit is freshly-installed and they are ready to supply and fit tyres to your car or motorcycle from the 1890s to the 1990s. They are in Unit 94 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week from 10am. Bicester Heritage is just four miles from junction nine or 10 of the M40 in Oxfordshire. More information from 01869 243528 or bicester@vintagetyres.com…

The funeral service for Stephen John ‘Herman’ Goddard took place on Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Three Counties Crematorium, Braintree. The cortege was led by his wife Barbara on Steve’s favourite bike (a BSA Rocket III) and approximately 50 other motorcyclists followed on behind. Steve was formerly a ‘rep’ for the National Chopper Club and raced in pre-65 scrambling as he became more and more involved in the old bike world, trading as ‘Steve’s Classics,’ spending time finding, fixing and rehoming bikes and parts for more than 20 years. He will be sorely missed.…

1919 Motorcycle factories around the world were quickly reconstructing their businesses as they restarted production lines. While board rooms, managing directors and company accountants were seeking the fastest path into motorcycle production to secure home and exports orders, some leading designers believed makers should first spend time designing new machines rather than rehashing prewar or wartime models. Mr Granville Bradshaw, designer of ABC motorcycles, presented this case: “The question of reconstruction is one of vital importance to the motorcyclist, the production departments and the designer; and, in my opinion, the motorcyclist should come first. “There is an enormous gap, stored with knowledge, between the years 1914 and 1919, and, I think, the motorcyclist should benefit “The production man’s idea of carrying on with 1914 designs for 1919 is surely fallacy,…

Born on May 12, 1895, in Monmouthshire, near Newport, Harry Baughan was to lead a life which encompassed soldiering, engineering, riding, manufacturing and organising, a diverse career which led his 1968 obituary (in The Motor Cycle) to declare him: “One of the greatest trials all-rounders in the history of motorcycling.” Henry Percival Baughan (HPB) was the third of three brothers born to Florence and Samuel Baughan, who was to work for the Great Western Railway (GWR) until he retired. Harry’s oldest brother John was eight years his senior, though the two were close and it was John’s acquisition of a motorcycle (a Triumph) which set the path for Harry’s life. After schooling, HPB was employed as an ironmonger but war interrupted and he enlisted as a private at the end…

I don’t claim to know everything about motorcycles, so I try not to be dogmatic about things I’m unsure of. Some other people, however, (not TCM readers, obviously) seem intent on spreading what the Trump administration calls fake news. I don’t mean tired old urban myths like ‘I met somebody whose friend looked in his shed and found an old Harley that once belonged to Elvis Presley,’ or trivial stuff like ‘my bike’s faster than yours’ which could simply mean their speedometer is more optimistic. And I’m not even referring to more serious matters such as whether you are better off with magneto ignition or a battery/voltage coil set up. These things are coloured by your personal preference and memories of which has caused you least trouble in the past.…

The thing that struck first about this picture, of Theodore Clark riding a 348cc Raleigh in a 1924 South-Western Centre ACU open sporting trial, was that he was wearing a pair of dark-tinted sunglasses. Apparently, sunglasses were around as earlier as the 13th century, although it was much later when they became commonplace, with the real ‘boom’ in 1929/30, making Clark a few years ahead of the time. Clark is riding through the ‘curious old market place of Dunster’ though he’d ensured a miserable trial, his Raleigh beset by magneto problems perhaps brought on by the unceasing rain, and then, just to cap it all, he had a puncture near the end and had to ride the last 14 miles on the wheel rim. But he was still one of…

Winter classic The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic, being held at Newark showground on January 5/6, welcomes American ex-racer Freddie Spencer as guest of honour. He’ll be interviewed on stage by ex-TT winner Steve Plater. There’ll be a whole raft of classics on display, owners’ clubs and a sprawling autojumble. Ace Classics calendar Triumph specialist Ace Classics’ 2019 calendar is available now. Beautifully photographed, it’s a must for the Triumph fan. It’s only £10 plus P&P – visit www.aceclassics.co.uk or 020 8698 4273. Rachael’s TT Milestones Our monthly contributor Rachael Clegg’s cult Milestones calendar is now available, containing its usual mix of surrealist photography and TT fact. Produced on lovely, heavy art paper, it costs £25; go to www.rachaelclegg.com…

Entries are open for the 2019 commemorative regularity rally which celebrates the 106th anniversary of the staging of the motorcycle road race between Durban and Johannesburg that was staged annually between 1913 and 1936. Motorcycles are therefore limited to those manufactured before the end of December 1936. This regularity rally has attracted fields of as many as 130 competitors. It carries international status and has drawn entries from as far afield as Europe and Australia. The 2019 event will start from the Colony Shopping Centre in Hillcrest, outside Durban, on Friday, March 15, and finish the following day at the Classic Motorcycle Club premises in Germiston the following afternoon. The route is approximately 310km on day one and 328km on day two, making a total of 638km. Entries will be…

BONHAMS VEGAS Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is the location for Bonhams’ Las Vegas sale, on January 24, 2019. Visit www.bonhams.com TORRENS TROPHY The Royal Automobile Club’s Torrens Trophy (in memory of Arthur Bourne, aka Torrens, the editor of The Motor Cycle ) nominees have been announced – they are sidecar racers Ben and Tom Birchall, road racers Peter Hickman and Leon Haslam, and three-times speedway world champion Tai Woffinden. BRISTOL SHOW APPROACHES FAST The Royal Bath and West Showground hosts the 39th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show over the weekend of February 2/3, 2019. ROCKINGHAM CLOSES ITS GATES After a somewhat patchy career, the chequered flag came down on the Rockingham race circuit on November 24, with a…

ENGINE: 348cc, air-cooled OHV single BORE AND STROKE: 71x88mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 9:1 MAXIMUM POWER: 30.3bhp@7000rpm IGNITION: Lucas CARBURETTOR: Amal GP LUBRICATION: Wet sump CLUTCH: Wet multiplate GEARBOX: Four-speed FINAL DRIVE: Chain FRAME: All-welded steel duplex SUSPENSION Front Telescopic, rear Swinging arm, twin shock TYRES Front 3.25x19, rear 3.25x19 BRAKES Front SLS 8in drum, rear SLS 7in drum SEAT HEIGHT: 30.5in WHEELBASE: 54.7in WEIGHT: 380lbs FUEL CAPACITY: 4 gallons…

The first belongs to a recently acquired machine. One of the reasons for picking this particular machine was that it had been road registered, whereas many of its sisters hadn’t – it’s not a big deal, but it makes things easier. When I paid up and collected the documents, I was surprised to find that what I was given was one of the old blue sheets, still in the previous owner’s name. Nothing remotely suspicious – it had been dutifully filled in and signed (albeit in 1997) and the details written in tied up with the current owner, it just seemed that he hadn’t bothered to send it off to Swansea. I was satisfied that all was good and completed the deal. Not quite sure what to do in this…