BMCT News Summer 2008

BMCT News Newsletter of The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust

Trustees John Kidson (Chairman) Malcolm Aldridge Steve Bagley Paul Barnes John Handley Mike Jackson Peter Wellings Ian Walden OBE Administration Andy Bufton / MMS Holly Cottage Bishampton Pershore WR10 2NH Tel 01386 462524 Registered Office Rodborough Court Stroud, GL5 3LR Registered Charity Number 509420 Website www.bmct.org Email info@bmct.org

June 2008

New Acquisition 1939 Sunbeam B24S The Sunbeam was advertised as the gentleman‟s motor bicycle, and built to a very high standard by John Marston of Wolverhampton from 1912. In 1918, tragedy struck the family with the death of the eldest son, followed a few days later by that of John Marston himself, and then his wife only days after that. The Sunbeam company was taken over by Nobel Industries, and remained under their control until they in turn were taken over by ICI in 1927. TT success followed in 1928 and 1929, but despite the quality of their machines, Sunbeam found it hard to justify their high price in the austere thirties. In1937 the motorcycle manufacturing arm of the firm became part of Associated Motor-

cycles, formed by the combination of Matchless and AJS, another famous Wolverhampton make.

Based now at AMC‟s plant in Plumstead, London, a new Sunbeam range was launched, featuring a new highcamshaft overhead valve engine designed by Bert Collier which was available as a 250, 350, 500 or 600. The 350cc version acquired by the Trust is a rare Sports model, with high compression piston, polished and ported head, check springs on the front forks, sporty mudguards, chromed tank and a high level exhaust pipe. The result is a good looking bike no doubt seen as a rival to Edward Turner‟s attractive Triumph Tiger 70/80/90 range. Sadly, the „high-cam‟ models did not reappear after the

war, by which time AMC had sold Sunbeam to BSA. In all only about 600 examples had been made, and very few of the Sports model are left on the road. Apart from our bike, there is thought to be only one other in roadworthy condition in the UK. Our intention is to display the machine at various outside events this summer, and at the end of the season it will go to its new home at the London Motorcycle Museum in Greenford.

a previous newsletter led to the museum and the BMCT going their separate ways when the museum ceased to operate as a charity. Funded by the income from the conference and banqueting facilities, the museum went from strength to strength until a severe fire in September 2003 destroyed many of the exhibition halls and a huge number of exhibits, but by working round the clock for fifteen months, Roy

Richards and his team had the museum open “bigger and better than ever” by December the following year. Most of the machines that had been feared lost were restored to their former glory by an army of craftsmen, and were able to be displayed to the public once more.

The Trust’s handsome Sunbeam B24S

Inside this issue: Sunbeam B24S

1

Roy Richards

1

Triumph Bandit

2

Stafford Show

2

New Members

2

W R Richards 1931-2008 Roy Richards, businessman and founder of the National Motor Cycle Museum, has died aged 77.

Roy‟s main business interests were in the construction industry, and his success enabled him to indulge in his passion for collecting British motorcycles, culminating in the formation of the BMCT to establish the museum at Bickenhill which opened its doors in 1984. Subsequent events which have been well documented in

William Roy Richards was born in Birmingham in 1931. He leaves a wife, two children and three step-children.

Triumph Bandit An exciting new acquisition for the Trust is one of the surviving preproduction Triumph Bandits from 1971. The ohc 350 cc twin with twin carburettors and five-speed transmission was part of the range announced in November 1971, designed by Edward Turner (already retired) as his last project, and further refined by Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele. It was to be sold as the Bandit (and BSA Fury with cosmetic changes), with 34 bhp, capable of 110 mph, and it was already included in Trium ph's br ochur es when financial problems forced the model to be cancelled before it could be produced. Several preproduction prototypes were made and some still exist, but most of them have mock-up engines with no internals, which makes our fully roadwor-

thy example all the rarer.

Although production hadn‟t started when the plug was pulled, stocks of parts had been built up ready to start building the bikes, and eventually these filtered through onto the open market, with a significant number of the neat Rob North—type frames being used as a basis for one-off racing machines. Even today, Bandit and Fury bits turn up at autojumbles. Many

components were to be shared with other models in the range, such as forks, wheels, electrics, etc, necessary to make the bike as economical to build as possible. The electric starter, for instance, was the same one used on the Triumph T160 Trident of the same era. This bike was purchased by the Trust from Norman Hyde, a well known industry figure who once worked on these

Stafford Classic Motorcycle Show Large crowds attended the Stafford Show over the weekend of 26-27 April, although it has to be said that those who went on Saturday enjoyed far better weather than the enthusiasts who suffered the rain showers the following day. There were guest appearances by Giacomo Agostini and Kork Ballington, and as usual there were some delectable machines on show, with the Morton‟s Media stand featuring the BMCT‟s recently acquired Triumph Bandit, along with the two magnificent Series A Vincents beautifully restored by our affiliate Sammy Miller. The Bonhams auction attracted a bumper entry of some 230 lots, and Sunday‟s

sale saw a new world record auction price being paid for a Brough Superior - £166,500 including premium and tax for a lovely 1934 SS100.

This is also a record for a British machine, eclipsing the £163,600 realised by an AJS Porcupine at Bonhams in 2000. By contrast, our spending was modest as we managed to acquire the rare Sunbeam B24S described elsewhere which will eventually go on display at the London Motorcycle Museum. Among the concours entries were a very nice SOS which won the prize for the best Villiers engined bike, and an unusual and nicely presented Greeves 250 Sports.

bikes at Meriden, and he has used it on many occasions for club runs. He informs us that the engine is probably unique in that it‟s exactly as it left the factory and has never even had the cylinder head off! The motor starts easily on the kickstart and the 180 degree crankshaft gives the bike an exhaust note reminiscent of a Honda CB350 twin, the bike‟s main opposition in the marketplace. It‟s our intention to loan the machine to Coventry Transport Museum on a long term basis, but it will be taken out occasionally for demonstration at classic bike events like the VMCC Festival at Mallory Park in July. Our photo shows BMCT chairman John Kidson with Norman Hyde at the handover of the Bandit in Millennium Square, Coventry, an event which was covered by the local media.

New Members We are pleased to welcome the following new members to the BMCT:

The Brough Superior SS100 “Two of Everything” that sold for a record price at Stafford

Martin Clark Ricky Dalton John Hayes Michael Lowe Jon Bentley Andrew Reeves Anthony Rapson Matthew Chamley Hugh O‟Neill Kester Roberts Peter Parfitt Nigel Pearson Peter Hart Mr B Lindsay Thomas Davies Keith Glazzard Mr J G Whittle Robert Lavers

We hope you will all make the most of your A very nicely restored Greeves 250 membership and enjoy Sports with Villiers twin engine visiting the museums. seen at Stafford