Old Bike Mart December 2017

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ISSUE

390

OLD BIKE MART ’’

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It’s a different slant on skiing in 1956 as carefully crafted outriggers provide riders with fun on their AJS and Matchless singles. The split-screen Morris 1000 completes this picture, first featured in The Motor Cycle.

Photo: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com

2 NEWS

December 2017

Pete’s Prattle

www.oldbikemart.co.uk email: info@oldbikemart.co.uk

Editor Pete Kelly OBMEditor@mortons.co.uk Designer Charlotte Fairman Production editor Pauline Hawkins Picture Desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Divisional Advertising Manager Billy Manning Advertising Matt Hansom mhansom@mortons.co.uk Alan Green agreen@mortons.co.uk

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C

hristmas is a time to reflect upon the year gone by and look forward to the season ahead, and in this issue we mourn the passing of motorcycling characters young and old, along with all the happy memories they gave us, as we start to think about what the new year might bring.

One exciting development is the resumption of motorcycle racing at the old Eppynt road race circuit near Sennybridge, in the Brecon Beacons, after a gap of no fewer than 64 years, but once the Christmas festivities are over it won’t be long before we start thinking about all the old favourites as well – and one of the first of these will be the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club’s Pioneer Run from Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs, to Brighton on Sunday, March 18 in which even

the youngest machines entered will be 104 years old!

As I look back over another year of putting Old Bike Mart to bed, I must once again thank all our subscribers and advertisers for remaining on board, and for all those who have given us so much pleasure with their memories and contributions to our readers’ letters pages.

With some magazines, editors struggle to fill a single page with letters, but at OBM, which in so many ways feels just like belonging to a lively motorcycle club and chatting to friends on a club night, the problem is sometimes finding enough space to fit them all!

Among the wonderful contributions that came in for this issue alone are John Finch’s recollections of BSA’s Umberslade

Victor Horsman days recalled

Founder Ken Hallworth OLD BIKE MART (ISSN:1756-9494) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK. USA subscriptions are $48 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 City Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921.

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During a major sort-out of old photos that had been hidden away in his loft for many years, Bruce Preston came across the accompanying image that was taken outside Victor Horsman’s shop in Liverpool.

The BMW, like the Norton and Triumph, dates the picture to post-1970, and the notes on the reverse of the print say that the man on the left is P Budge, who was a director. Victor Horsman himself, then 91, is in the centre, and Bruce’s old friend Alan Broderick on the right.

The notes also record that Horsman was a Brooklands exponent and tuner who held 200 records. It sounds a lot, but there must be some genius out there who could tell OBM readers about them.

When he was in Liverpool, Bruce always visited Alan, who moved to Bill Head in Preston and wrote some great stuff for Motorcycle Sport.

Many readers in the North West will recall Victor Horsman’s dealership in Liverpool, and as the shop signs clearly reveal, there was never an ‘e’ in Horsman.

Hall research centre; Ian Kerr’s great story about James Crosby’s challenging round-Britain ride on a Triumph Tiger Cub (to draw attention to the financial plight of the London Motorcycle Museum, which has some unique Meriden Triumphs among more than 200 bikes on display); Colin Rider’s TT pictures from the very early 1950s; Gareth Tunstell’s obliging last-minute emails about his long rebuild of a Triumph-engined Greeves; and Eric Turner’s memories of building a stunning replica of Ernie Lyons’ 1946 Manx Grand Prix-winning Triumph GP which Ernie himself later described as “perfect in every detail”.

Memories of nightmare rides continue to come in, too – and this month we are grateful to Len Hunt of Colchester and Paddy Winter

from Woodhall Spa for their contributions.

It’s a pleasure and a joy to serve such an involved readership, and thank you one and all.

NEWS 3

December 2017

Historic Welsh road race reborn Pictures: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com

Motorcycle road racing is to return to the anti-clockwise 5¼-mile Eppynt circuit near Sennybridge, in the Brecon Beacons, on August 4-5 next year, with classes including Ultra-Lightweight, Lightweight Supertwin, Supersport and Superstock machines, along with a Zero electric class.

In November 2016, the Parliamentary Committee for Transport repealed the Road Traffic Act that made it illegal to race vehicles on the public highway, and a group involved with Wales’s other road racing circuit at Aberdare Park successfully approached the Secretary of State for Defence for a licence to use the old Eppynt circuit once again. This was granted, along with ACU authorisation to organise the event, which will become known as the Eppynt Welsh Road Race.

Although many airfield circuits that were decommissioned after the Second World War became popular road race venues, many riders yearned for the extra challenge of a ‘pure’ road racing circuit, and the first post-war Welsh TT on the Eppynt course was run in 1948. Over the next five years, up to and including 1953, many famous riders participated, including grands prix and Isle of Man TT stars Les Graham, Ray Cowles, Cecil Sandford, Bill Boddice, Fron Purslow and Maurice McCann, but the record of 70.65mph is held by Syd Barnett, who rode a 350cc Norton during the 1950 Junior race.

The premature demise of the event was caused partially by increased military activity as a result of the Korean War – and tension still remains on that peninsula more than 60 years later!

It's the start of the first race of the day at the Eppynt circuit back in the early 1950s. Note number 2, CA Richards on a Douglas.

The first Welsh TT in 1922 was won

by Capt Clarence P Wood MC riding a 596cc Scott Squirrel, and the curator of the Carmarthenshire County Museum in which the magnificent trophy he won is now housed has generously agreed to allow it to be awarded to the winner of the new Superstock event.

Sponsorship and facilities director Phil Morris said: “The Welsh Road Race is the culmination of an idea formed among a collective of road racing fans, and inspired by the Welsh TT, to stage a motorcycle race on the public roads of the Brecon Beacons once again.”

More information can be found on the www.welshroadrace.com website.

The passenger of LW Taylor's Norton outfit has a startled expression as they corner in a 500cc sidecar race.

There are plenty of challenges in the 5¼-mile road circuit.

Heeling into a left-hander at the Eppynt road races 1953

Lucky Bart wins National Motorcycle Museum’s BSA Goldie raffle prize Netherlands motorcyclist Bart Maatje became the lucky winner of the top prize in the National Motorcycle Museum’s Summer 2017 Raffle – a 1960 500cc DBD 34 BSA Gold Star – when his winning ticket No 9001753 was drawn by road racing superstars Freddie Spencer, Peter Hickman and Maria Costello at the Museum Live open day on Saturday, November 4.

The second prize, a 1955 250cc BSA C11G, was won by James Taylor from Lincolnshire with ticket No 0160289, and the third prize, a luxury classic weekend hotel break for two, went to Dave Cross from Northamptonshire with ticket No 5015751.

The museum has also announced that a 1200cc Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster will be registered brand new to the winner of the special Triumph Winter Raffle.

A brand new 1200cc Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster will be the top prize in the NMM’s Winter Raffle.

Bart Maatje, winner of the top BSA Gold Star prize in the NMM’s Summer Raffle, is seen with one of his motorcycles.

The second prize will be a luxury hotel break and Marco Pierre White dinner for two, and the third a Triumph Visitor Experience factory tour for two.

The draw will take place at the International Classic MotorCycle Show

at Stafford on Sunday, April 22.

Tickets cost £2 each and will be distributed during December with subscription copies of the specialist press, and may also be obtained from the museum on 01675 444123 or online at www.thenmm.co.uk .

4 NEWS

December 2017

NorLake Special was a six-year labour of love John Newson of Oxney Motorcycles has sent us these first images of his just-finished NorLake Special.

More than 20 years ago he bought a 1000cc methanolburning Weslake V-twin engine from Jim Penfold, who’d raced it in sidecar grass track, and with a compression ratio of 14:1, it delivered 117bhp.

When John’s old friend Knuckles died on his Ducati, his widow passed on to him a Triton project with a chromed 1959 wideline frame, and in May 2011, in the ‘old school’ workshop, John eventually started work on the mighty NorLake.

He used as many period parts as possible along with basic hand tools – the 10mm dural alloy engine plates took 27 hours’ labour alone – and six-and-a-half years later, after 570 man hours, the job was done.

With its tall V-twin Weslake engine shoehorned into the Norton wideline frame, the NorLake Special looks a mighty interesting machine.

As he lives just five miles away from the original Weslake factory in Rye, East Sussex, he knows contacts who suggest that only three such V-twin

The nearside of the machine is notable for the extensive belt guard.

engines were ever built and sold on record, but at around that time (1979/80) the company was going into receivership, so it’s possible that up to 20 engines were built but never recorded.

John has reduced the compression to 8.5:1 with decompression plates and longer pushrods, and Boyer Bransden ignition is fitted.

Charging is through a belt-driven Kawasaki GPZ750 alternator, and a Commando belt clutch and a bulletproof Quaife Q4 motocross gearbox cope with the powerful plant.

Registered as a reconstructed classic, the NorLake Special is now all set to roar across the Romney Marshes!

We'll miss you, 'Tinware Man' Alan Fondly known as The Tinware Man at such events as the Stafford shows, the Founder’s Day Rally, Kempton Park and the Netley Marsh autojumbles, Alan Fergus Swainson passed away at the beginning of October with his family at his bedside.

Born in 1937 and a talented craftsman, Alan was respected for his exceptional metalwork skills and had many a story to tell, including trips to the battlefields of France on his various motorcycles with neither maps nor any knowledge of the French language.

A member of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club and AJS & Matchless Owners’ Club, he was a lovely man who will be sadly missed.

We are grateful to Grace and Clyde Cardy for this obituary.

On a trusty wartime Matchless Alan Swainson, who passed away on October 1, was pictured at a military event in Normandy.

Museum Legends online shop updated The Museum Legends online shop at the National Motorcycle Museum has been updated just in time for Christmas.

The museum's website www.thenmm. co.uk lists hundreds more items than could ever be showcased in a traditional printed

How about making someone a Friend of the National Motorcycle Museum as a festive gift?

version of a mail order catalogue, including lots of classic motorcyclingrelated items, NMMbranded clothing and a massive online motorcycling bookshop.

This is especially true of the more than 4500 photocopy sets of technical publications from the NMM’s Bruce Main-Smith archive, all of which can be viewed and purchased online.

Also featured is the Friends of the National Motorcycle Museum membership scheme which brings many opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere, and membership can make a perfect Christmas gift.

Charlotte, of the Museum Legends online shop, is ready to process your orders.

December 2017

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6 NEWS

December 2017

Tragic year for Top Gun Racing It is with great sorrow that OBM reports the passing of popular and gifted road racer Dan Hegarty following an incident at the Macau Grand Prix.

During his racing career Dan, who rode for Top Gun Racing and came from Bingham, Notts, became one of the elite group of racers to lap the 4.25 Southern 100 Billown circuit on the Isle of Man at more than 110mph.

It’s been a tragic year for Top Gun Racing, as Dan’s team-mate Gavin Lupton also succumbed to injuries sustained at the Ulster Grand Prix earlier in the season.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Dan’s wife Lucy and their two sons.

commitments intervened and he had to stop manufacturing them.

He has now ‘retired’ to his garage and has started making the Draughtmate again, and more information can be found on the draughtmate.com website or by calling 07904 561717. Steve is also offering OBM readers a 10% discount on the price when quoting DRA101.

Sussex club hands £4000 to children’s charity The Sussex British Motorcycle Club has been raising money for local causes for many years, and this year’s beneficiary, the Worthing-based registered children’s charity Kamelia Kids, was recently handed a cheque for £4000 raised by participants in the club’s Engineerium and Bulldog charity runs.

Dan Hegarty (left) and Gavin Lupton kneel at each side of one of the Top Gun Racing machines during this year's Southern 100 races on the Isle of Man. Photo: Mark Falconer.

The £4000 cheque is handed over outside the Kamelia Kids day nursery.

Brough Club’s 60th rally will be a week-long event Many Brough Superior-related places will be visited during the Brough Superior Club’s 60th rally next year – a week-long event stretching from Saturday, August 18 until Sunday, August 26 and starting from Brooklands.

Participants will visit Dorset and Clouds Hill along with the new BS importer, tour Brough-related places in Nottingham, ride to RAF Cranwell and travel via the

Garage Draughtmate is back Do any readers remember the Draughtmate, which kept out garage door draughts during the winter, and could be rolled up whenever you wanted to get the bike out?

OBM reviewed the product, which hung from the top of the inside garage door opening, five years ago, and maker Steve Tuthill had many happy customers before work

National Motorcycle Museum to Middle Aston House, between Oxford and Banbury, where the main part of the rally will take place.

No fewer than 217 Broughs, including replicas, turned up for the 50th rally 10 years ago, and while it is unlikely that we’ll see the same number next year, many will be arriving from the continent and some, with or without Broughs, from the USA and Canada.

Distinguished gent Adam wins a brand new Triumph Thruxton R Triumph has handed over a new Thruxton R motorcycle sporting a full racing fairing to one of the most dapper gents from this year’s running of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in the UK. The DGR was run around the world on September 24 to raise awareness of men’s mental health and prostate cancer, and Adam Crick, who took part in the Bury St Edmunds ‘edition’ of the event, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I

found out I’d won. I’ve always been a Triumph fan, but when I took part in this year’s ride, I didn’t expect this!”

Click on www.triumphmotorcycles. co.uk/distinguished-gentlemansride to find out more about the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride and Triumph’s support of it.

Adam Crick (right) picks up his new Triumph Thruxton R from Scott Lock, branch manager of Triumph Norfolk.

December 2017

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8 NEWS

December 2017

Youngest machines in Sunbeam Club’s Manx Norton auction 79th Pioneer Run will be 104 years old! estimate left behind Founded in 1924, the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club inaugurated the Pioneer Run to Brighton just six years later in 1930 – and next year’s event, the 79th, will take place on Sunday, March 18.

Since the Run’s inception the Second World War, the 1974 fuel crisis, the nationwide foot-andmouth outbreak and adverse weather in 2013 have interfered with this hardy annual, but it remains very special in the veteran motorcycle movement and always attracts the largest gathering of pre-1915 solos, sidecars and tricycles in the world.

For the public, the opportunity of seeing so many ancient machines in action heading for Brighton, a destination of great historic significance to the motoring and motorcycling world, is not to be missed, and it is anticipated that 350 or more entries will be received.

Promoted under an Auto-Cycle Union international permit, the event attracts regular entries from France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Eastern Europe and the USA, and it is sobering to reflect that next year, every one of the

Estimated to sell at between £15,000 and £20,000, an unrestored 1960 350cc Manx Norton formerly ridden by Ben Noble from Driffield was sold for no less than £31,360 at a classic car and motorcycle auction conducted by Dee Atkinson & Harrison on November 4.

The bike had everything going for it – a great race history from 1960 until it was laid up in 1996, including a huge file of all of Ben’s races, along with his race leathers and helmets – and Ben himself was there to see it go.

machines will be between 104 and 122 years old.

The 2018 Pioneer Run will be started from Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs at 8am by the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, and from there the 47-mile route will follow the A217 through Reigate to join the A23 at Gatwick before diverting

Have Autowheel, will travel – but imagine being propelled by a device like this for 47 miles!

A forecar passenger takes the full brunt of the cold March wind in last year’s event.

Clad in a trench coat, a participant in last year’s Pioneer Run cranes forward on his Royal Enfield.

to Handcross, Cowfield and Henfield before rejoining the A23 at Pyecombe Hill.

The riders will continue through Brighton to Madeira Drive, where the first arrivals will be expected at around 10am.

Awards will be presented by the Mayor of the City of Brighton & Hove and the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell at the Sunbeam MCC’s marquee at 2pm.

Next year’s event is being sponsored by Bonhams Auctioneers, The National Motorcycle Museum, The Classic MotorCycle magazine and Bascomb & Drew.

Regulations, entry forms and further information can be obtained from Secretary of the Meeting Ian D McGill, The Oaktree, 13 Victoria Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 9BN (01293 771446 or email acsociable1@sky.com, and for entry packs, look up the Sunbeam MCC’s website www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk .

Even without matched numbers, this 1960 500cc BSA Gold Star attracted a winning bid of £16,800.

Interest came from all over the country, but it was exFormula 3 TT star John Kidson, acting on behalf of the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust, who bought it for the Isle of Man Museum in Douglas, where it will be displayed for all to see.

A non-matching-numbers 1960 500cc BSA Gold Star made £16,800; a 500cc Seeley replica £8900, a 1987 Honda RC30 £18,480; a 1930 overheadvalve Ariel Model LF £4480; an unrestored 1953 BSA A7 £3920 and a very well restored 1924 AJS Model 20 £6270.

Two unrestored barn finds, a 1939 BSA B21 and a 1936 BSA W6 were sold for £5380 and £3470 respectively, all prices inclusive of 10% buyers’ premium and VAT. The next such auction will take place on March 3, and the contact for that sale is Andy Spicer on 01377 253151.

Formerly ridden successfully by Ben Noble, this 1960 350cc Manx Norton made £31,360 at the November 4 sale.

December 2017

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10 NEWS

December 2017

2017 Torrens Trophy nominees announced In no particular order, the three nominees chosen for the Royal Automobile Club’s 2017 Torrens Trophy are three-times consecutive World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea; Sam Sutherland, who this year became the first Briton to win the Dakar Rally since its inception in 1979, and motorcycle racing hero Leon Haslam.

The club took to the main stage of Motorcycle Live at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on Saturday, November 18 to make the announcement, and the trophy will be presented at the RAC’s Pall Mall Clubhouse in the new year.

The Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee consists of chairman and

former bike racer Barrie Baxter, Royal Automobile Club member Ben Cussons, motorcycle journalist Mat Oxley, former racer and commentator Steve Parrish, club member Richard Bourne (son of motorcycle journalist Arthur, in whose memory the trophy is awarded) and, new to the committee, Maria Costello MBE. Maria has held the Guinness World Record for the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course.

It was the Royal Automobile Club that formed the Auto Cycle Club in 1903, and that went on to become the Auto-Cycle Union in 1947.

The Torrens Trophy recognises an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the cause of safe and skilful motorcycling in the UK; to have made an outstanding contribution of technical excellence to further the cause of motorcycling, or to have shown outstanding skill in international motorcycling sporting events in the UK. First awarded in 1978 in memory of Arthur Bourne, who wrote a column under the name of Torrens and was also a vicechairman of the RAC, the trophy has been awarded only nine times in its history, and only when the club feels the achievement justifies it.

Stylish AJS Tempest Roadster takes a bow Based on the chassis of the 125cc AJS Cadwell, a classically styled touring version called the Tempest Roadster, featuring a more upright riding position and larger fuel tank, is now available at £2199 on the road and including VAT. The specification also includes electric starting, alloy wheel rims, 37mm diameter front forks, a stainless steel exhaust, combined disc brakes, electronic fuel injection and a comfortable plush dual seat.

A neat luggage rack that will accept many proprietary boxes is also available as a low-cost accessory.

Seventeen-year-old learner legal, the bike has an ultra-smooth balance-shaft YB-type four-stroke engine with a five-speed gearbox and has a maximum speed of about 60mph. A kick-starter is also fitted, and the light and manoeuvrable machine is easy to lift on and off its centre stand or lean on its side stand.

It is available in Silver Fox or Jet Black paint finishes, and you can visit www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk for more details.

Classic styling and that traditional gold-lined AJS fuel tank make a pretty picture.

You certainly get a lot of bike for £2199, and with its upright riding position, 16-litre fuel tank, comfortable dual seat and excellent brakes, the AJS Tempest Roadster will suit older riders just as much as raw beginners.

The lightweight roadster is also available in the alternative paint scheme of Silver Fox.

Eastern Centre trials star Derek Clampin dies at 94 With the loss of Derek Clampin after a short illness at the age of 94, the Eastern Centre (Region) of the Auto-Cycle Union has lost not only a long-time trials competitor but also a former centre president and administrator.

Derek had been a member of the ACU for 70 years, all of them under the banner of the Castle (Colchester) Motorcycle Club.

Derek’s competitive career began in 1948 when he entered

the Royal Enfield Cup Trial on a borrowed 350cc Ariel and finished second. He bought a new BSA B32 for £162 10s, and one of his favourite events was the famous Beggars Roost Trial in Devon. In his early days he took his girlfriend Jean, who later became his wife, on the pillion from Colchester to the venue, and then removed the lights and changed sprockets to compete in the trial.

He rode successfully in Eastern Centre trials, and after

A young lad in short trousers and wellies looks on as Derek shows great balance on the first trials bike he owned, a BSA B32 that cost him £162 10s.

being runner-up in the 1952 centre championship, took top spot the following year.

During the 1950s Derek represented his club at Eastern Centre board meetings, and was eventually elected to the centre’s competitions committee.

In later years, he served on the main ACU Trials and Enduro Committee at Rugby, and at various times represented the UK at International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) events abroad.

Although his first love was for the larger British four-strokes, he successfully embraced the emergence of foreign lightweight two-strokes such as the Bultaco Sherpa, and was equally involved in the organisation of events, particularly the Phil King national trial organised by the Castle Club.

His most recent riding event was last year’s Pioneer Run in which he rode a 1913 Bown that he and Dave Bickers had restored.

Active almost to the end, Derek remained enthusiastic about motorcycling, particularly trials, and followed events virtually every weekend.

Many riders, organisers and followers of the sport will miss him and his affable approach to all, and we are grateful to A H Kenny for this obituary.

Flat cap, fag alight, Derek plonks his way through a slippery section at a Kickham Trial on a big Matchless single.

Up she rises! Derek was still enjoying himself well into his later years, as can be seen from this dramatic shot taken at Thorrington.

12 NEWS

December 2017

Happy 50th birthday, Norton Commando!

Ian Kerr reports on a great exhibition staged by the Norton Owners’ Club to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the marque’s most successful machines at Ardingly, West Sussex, at the end of October.

E

ven though another big classic event was taking place at Peterborough on the same weekend, thousands flocked to the South of England Showground at Ardingly to help the Norton Owners’ Club celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Norton Commando in unseasonably balmy weather on October 28-29.

The now-iconic machine was launched to the public at the 1967 Earls Court Show, and was a great sales success both on the road and in racing, where it achieved many honours.

Although many top riders from the era campaigned the parallel twin, the name of Peter Williams, a rider of note who was also heavily involved in the development of the racing machines, always stood out – and he was the obvious guest of honour at the event.

Peter took along copies of his recently republished and updated autobiography Designed to Race, and joined noted collector Mike Braid, who had some of the machines from his Norton racing collection on display, in a question-and-answer

session that went down so well that the testers and designers from the AMC Plumstead factory who’d also turned up didn’t get a chance to tell their own stories.

However, they were available afterwards, and were happy to chat and give an insight to what life was like at AMC. Among the many Commandos on display was Peter’s innovative original 1973 JPN monocoque, a genuine Thruxton Commando, an original 1963 500cc Dunstall Domiracer, one of the first fastback Commandos made and a Seeley Commando that was ridden by Dave Potter in 1973.

The JPN monocoque Norton was built and raced by Peter Williams in the F750 races in that same year, and he won a Formula 750 TT on the Isle of Man and three out of six Transatlantic rounds with that bike, while his team-mate Dave Croxford became the British 750cc champion on it!

In the Norton line-up was one of only two prototype ‘Unified Twins’ known to exist.

The twin-carb-head engine is now mounted in an N15CS frame and is a complete running machine.

Originally, during testing,

Guest of honour Peter Williams took along copies of his updated autobiography, Designed to Race.

Norton Commandos in all their different road-going forms were on display for visitors to feast their eyes upon.

the engine was mounted in a Model 77 chassis.

While the Norton marque may have dominated the main show hall, plenty more makes were present, and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club displayed an immaculate Yamaha XS650 alongside a Brough Superior to illustrate the diversity of the club, which embraces newer machines as well as the classics.

Another machine that attracted a lot of attention was a Francis-Barnett in off-road trim, and while the marque might be better known for its two-stroke machines, the rare ‘Stag’ scrambler machine

is fitted with a 248cc Blackburne engine, Matchless Teledraulic forks and a period swinging-arm conversion, and had been restored to a very high standard.

While the main hall was packed with hundreds of bikes on display, the outside space and the other four halls boasted the autojumble stalls of many smaller vendors, as opposed to the many dealers’ entries normally found at other events.

With plenty of variety and good quality food on offer, the Ardingly show was another great event and one to look out for in the future.

Dave Potter’s Gus Kuhn Commando turned many heads in the Norton exhibition.

To the delight of the crowd, some of the racing Nortons were fired up outside.

As well as the Commandos, Nortons of all kinds were on display.

To prove the diversity of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, a Yamaha XS650 was displayed alongside a Brough Superior.

This Williams John Player monocoque was a big hit with visitors.

Boasting a 248cc Blackburne engine, Matchless Teledraulic forks and a period swinging-arm conversion, this Francis-Barnett Stag scrambler was another big draw for visitors.

This Levis, BSA and MZ were pictured in one of the exhibition halls.

The big beating heart of a Norton Commando.