Old Bike Mart - May 2020

May 2020 £2.20 ISSUE

OLD BIKE MART 419

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Some may recognise this true hero of our times.

It’s Captain Tom Moore, who at the grand old age of 99 single-handedly raised many millions of pounds for the hard workers of the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden. Here, he’s aboard what looks like a 1920 two-speed Scott.

Thank you Captain Tom. You can donate by visiting www.justgiving. com/fundraising/ tomswalkforthenhs • View thousands of evocative images at: Mortons Archive www. mortonsarchive.com

2 NEWS

May 2020

Editorial

www.oldbikemart.co.uk email: info@oldbikemart.co.uk Editor Dave Manning OBMEditor@mortons.co.uk Designer Tracey Markham Production editor Pauline Hawkins Group advertising manager Sue Keily Trade Advertising Team Leader (Classic Division) Leon Currie lcurrie@mortons.co.uk | 01507 529465 For Private Enquiries please visit

www.oldbikemart.co.uk

Marketing manager Charlotte Park Circulation manager Steve O’Hara Publisher Tim Hartley Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole General queries Customer Service number: 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm and 24hr answerphone Archive enquiries Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 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.

Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to OLD BIKE MART, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 City Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921.

715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com PUBLISHED BY

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O

ne month ago I was writing about how events have been cancelled or postponed thanks to the current global pandemic, and about how we could spend the next few weeks making good by spannering, polishing and fixing our classic steeds until the time comes when we’re all allowed out again. At that point, I really didn’t think that I’d be saying the same thing four weeks later…

But yes, the Covid-19 lockdown continues. Non-essential trips have been banned, and yet more events have been cancelled or postponed, although some things continue in the same way as they have always done. Swallows and house martins have returned from Africa, our politicians have had yet another pay rise, and the lawn still needs cutting every week. And, luckily for us, Old Bike Mart is still being printed and distributed and of course, as a subscription-only publication, ‘The autojumble in your armchair’ is delivered straight to your door, month-in, monthout, so we’re continuing almost as normal – although you may notice that this particular issue has slightly fewer pages than was originally intended, specifically due to the fact that fewer people are advertising in these strange times. Naturally, there have been no events that we can report upon, and we’ve also put the ‘Jumbler’ column on ice for the self-same reason. Otherwise, we’re still retaining all the regular features for which OBM has become known, many of which are thanks to you, our wonderful readers.

With shows such as Stafford being cancelled or postponed (as you may be aware, the Stafford Show is now rearranged for August 15 and 16,

while the October Stafford Show is still lined up to run over its normal weekend) and autojumbles are not running until the Government’s say-so, meaning that the ways for us to get hold of the parts that we may need for our projects, or to buy running bikes for that matter, are few and far between. Of course, of the companies that advertise within these pages, many are still open for business and are only a telephone call or mouse click away, but those folk who attend autojumbles to sell bikes and bits as private individuals no longer have the chance to sell their parts.

Except, of course, they do, either on internet auction sites (with the potential issues that those could bring), or via the small ads in your favourite subscription-only classic bike mag (er, that’s Old Bike Mart, in case the reference was too vague!).

And, while that’s a statement that could be read as being rather mercenary of me, please remember that by using OBM to advertise and sell your parts, then you’re helping to ensure that not only will this magazine continue into the future, but also ensuring that there will be businesses and events for us to attend when the Covid-19 crisis is fading into the past.

If you’re wondering what to do with your spare time – and I’m sure that the following are comments along the lines of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, whatever that means – not only can you get busy by twirling your spanners, but there’s research to be done, and knowledge to be expanded, both of which can be easily attained by reading. While I’m clearly going to point you in the direction of magazines such as OBM and our

stablemates (various titles can be bought as subscriptions or even as single issues), there are also lots of suitable books, both from the Mortons book store (www. mortonsbooks.co.uk), and other outlets. Indeed, there are a few suggestions in the News pages of this issue.

And, of course, there’s also the wonder of the world wide web. I know that, strictly speaking, as the editor of a print magazine I shouldn’t be pointing our readers in the direction of the internet, but given my earlier comments, it does have its uses. As mentioned, many of the advertisers in this magazine have an internet shop, and those book publishers I alluded to also show their full catalogue online as well. For those folk whose workshop attributes and abilities aren’t quite as expansive as others, there are also multitudinous online tutorial videos that cover an incredibly diverse array of topics, and it seems that

right now we actually have the time to watch these videos and gain new skills. Every day is a school day, right?

But perhaps the greatest asset of the internet right now, is the access it gives us to friends and family. While we’re in lockdown, a phone call can mean the world to many folk, and internet access expands that to video calls through software such as Zoom, Skype and Facebook Messenger, and there’s also the many and varied forms of social media, and even a few make and marque specific forums that are still running. So, while we’re confined to our own homes (and garages, workshops, sheds etc.), we can still remain in contact with those folk who are important to us – family, friends and fellow classic motorcyclists.

Enjoy the issue and, above all, stay safe.

May 2020

NEWS 3

The name’s Three. Rocket Three.

T

he fact that a BSA Rocket III will be under the hammer at the Charterhouse auction in May isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but for the fact that this is a three-cylinder Beeza with some interesting history.

Back when the Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, was being filmed, actor George Lazenby (probably the least famous Bond, having only starred in the one Bond film, aged 29) used the Rocket III as transport from his apartment in Bayswater to the film set in Pinewood Studios. As a keen motorcyclist, Lazenby had bought the bike as one of the first Rocket IIIs sold. Although little is known of the bike after the Bond actor sold it, at one point it did have a sidecar attached, and it has since undergone a full restoration with rebuilt engine and

transmission, and new paint and chrome. At that point, the BSA Owners Club were contacted, who relayed the fact that it had once been owned by Lazenby!

Having enjoyed and restored this classic British bike for the past few years, the owner, who lives in Kent, is now selling his beloved BSA Rocket III to help fund the purchase of another property and contacted George Beale at Charterhouse Auctioneers in Sherborne, who advised him it could sell for £25-30,000, with the auction taking place on May 6.

With the Covid-19 virus outbreak, this Charterhouse auction of nearly 100 classic and vintage motorcycles will be conducted live on the internet via www. charterhouse-bikes.com, along with telephone bidding and absentee commission bids.

This will ensure no contact is made at the auction, thereby taking the necessary steps to keep Charterhouse staff and their clients safe and to protect the NHS. For successful purchasers, Charterhouse Auctioneers have instructed well respected and

known specialist motorcycle movers Chas Mortimer Ltd. They will be arranging no-contact deliveries to the successful purchasers under current Government guidelines or will store the bikes for national and international delivery in the future.

www.oldbikemart.co.uk

George Lazenby on his BSA Rocket III.

George Lazenby and his good friend, Telly Savalas, seated.

Surfing for new book titles?

With Mortons Media – the publisher not only of Old Bike Mart, but several other classic motorcycle titles such as Classic Racer, The Classic MotorCycle, Classic Dirt Bike and Classic Bike Guide – adding book prints to its regular fare of periodicals, it seems sense to give you some directions as to where to find the titles in question.

In normal times we would, of course, be directing you to the Mortons stand at shows such as Stafford, but there is a suitable lockdown alternative, providing you

have access to the internet.

By pointing your browser in the general direction of mortonsbooks.co.uk you’ll see the full listing that includes areas of interest including military aircraft, steam rail, historical interest, travel guides and, of course, an impressive variety of motorcycle and scooter publications.

Of the latter, there are a number of new titles in the pipeline for 2020, including Triumph: Pictorial History of the Great British Marque; Scooters, Mods & Rockers;

Colin Seeley: The Machines, The Magic, The Man; The Evolution of the Custom Scooter; and Lambretta & Vespa Street Racers.

Also, if you join the book club you’ll not only receive up-to-the-minute information about the latest book releases, you’ll also get 10% off your first order and receive six free digital bookazines when you sign up. Why not swing by www. mortonsbooks.co.uk to browse the full range, or call 01507 529529.

See also page 4.

Motogiro date change While many events have been cancelled for 2020, some have been postponed to later dates in the hope that things will be returning to what may (or may not) pass for ‘normal’. One such is Italy’s famous Motogiro d’Italia, which is now due to start on Sunday, September 13, and thence run through that week, finishing on Saturday, September 19.

✪ Words found Congratulations to the following entrants in the Wordsearch competition in the March issue of OBM, who used their lockdown time advantageously and won the following:First: John Price from Wolverhampton – Lewis Leathers book.

Second: Alan Smith from Portsmouth – Clean My Ride products.

Third: John Lloyd from near Chester – won a year’s BSA Owners’ Club membership.

In a bid to spread some cheer and find silver linings at an otherwise dark time, Footman James, the classic vehicle insurance firm, has announced an initiative, celebrating the people up and down the country who are heroes to their classic bike community.

Many aspects of the highly sociable classic bike scene are run by volunteers, from bike clubs and bike events, through to motorsports marshalling and even charitable fundraising, so with the Classic Community Champion, Footman James wants to find the people who really make a difference.

The competition is currently included as part of the Merry Motoring series, a light-hearted

weekly newsletter from Footman James providing entertainment and warm-hearted motoring stories from across the internet.

The public are invited to submit their nominations via the Footman James website, and the weekly winner will receive a Lego model of their choice (up to £150) alongside a £150 donation to their charity of choice.

The first Classic Community Champion to be crowned is Reverend Adam Gompertz – nominated for being a pillar of his local classic community, and for organising two monthly meets in Shrewsbury and Enville, with the money raised from these going to charity.

More details can be found at www. footmanjames.co.uk

4 NEWS

May 2020

Bill Crosby RIP

I

t is with deep regret that the family of William Charles Crosby, known to all (in polite society) as Bill, have to tell you that he passed away in hospital after a brief illness. He left us on Sunday, March 29, a month before his 88th birthday. This no doubt irked him somewhat as, if he had reached his 88th birthday, he could have started

telling everyone he was nearly 89!

Proprietor of Reg Allen (London) for 60 years, he was a Triumph Motorcycles (Meriden) main agent and also nurtured scramblers, sidecar racers and 24-hour production racers with his sponsorship, knowledge and enthusiasm. In 1999 he opened the only motorcycle museum in

Bill, centre, with the part-time staff at Reg Allen's.

London – the London Motorcycle Museum – and continued that for 20 years until London overheads forced closure. For the last year or so he had attempted retirement but his head remained firmly in motorcycle mode until the end.

In the current situation his funeral will be, by necessity, a small family affair but there is a JustGiving page –

JustGiving/donations/ BillCrosby – in his memory which will remain open until after his memorial party, to take place when all this current hoo-ha is over.

It is in aid of the British Legion, as Bill said that the time he spent in the army was the best of his life, second only to motorcycling, and that wartime sacrifices should never be forgotten.

Colin Seeley: The Machines, The Magic, The Man The life of legendary motorcycle racer, manufacturer and racing team boss Colin Seeley is celebrated in a fully illustrated new volume by James Robinson, editor of The Classic MotorCycle, sister magazine of OBM. Seeley died on January 7 this year, aged 84, and the book pays tribute to his memory with a wealth of superb photographs from the vast Mortons Archive.

Having learned to ride on his dad’s Vincent Rapide and passing his test at just 16, Seeley became an apprentice at a motorcycle shop near his home in Crayford, Kent, and quickly developed an affinity for bikes that would endure for the rest of his life.

He began racing motorcycles by entering an endurance event at Brands Hatch in 1954 on a BSA Star Twin, later switching to scramblers and then sidecars.

His first Grand Prix was the Isle of Man TT in 1961, where he finished sixth.

Throughout the ‘60s he took part in British and world championship sidecar

competitions and took his first win at the 1964 Dutch TT. After retiring from competition, he switched to building his own frames in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s – many of them raced to great success.

Seeley also worked with Bernie Ecclestone in Formula 1, and the two had an interesting relationship to say the least.

Published by Banovallum Books, an imprint of Mortons Books, Colin Seeley: The Machines, The Magic, The Man chronicles the life and times of a true racing hero and legend of the motorcycle industry and is available to order for only £7.99 from www. mortonsbooks.co.uk

Classic Engines, Modern Fuel While many folk with classic motorcycles are just running fuel through their ageing carbs with little or no thought to how it might affect the running of their machinery – and often with no issues – some folk are looking into things a little closer.

There’s little doubt that modern petroleum does have an effect on certain components, and this is clearly something that’ll become more of a problem in the future. Fortunately, for those who want to be prepared and overcome any potential (and actual) problems, Paul Ireland has written this 152-page A5 book that aims to cover all of the issues that modern fuels can give, particularly to ageing classic cars and motorcycles.

While many of us will be relying on hearsay and advice from friends with regard to what fuel we use, whether we use any additives and what parts we choose to replace, if any, being fully informed on the subject can allow us to justifiably ignore any off the h pub b or internet ‘experts’ who might offer advice such as ‘just add a dash of transmission fluid to the petrol and wave a magnet under the carb...’

It's priced at £15.99 and available from www.velocebooks.com or www.veloce.co.uk

6 NEWS

May 2020

Long distance in the Dales T he Middle England Classic Vehicle Club’s Durham Dales Long Distance Trial was run on March 15 and, with that timing, proved to be one of the last events before the big coronavirus shutdown. It was run in good weather and the rivers had subsided to a reasonable level, allowing the whole entry to enjoy a good day’s fun.

While currently there are no events being run, the organisers hope that there can be two more bike-only LDTs this year, both on a Saturday – July 18 and October 10. Being realistic, it may not be possible for the July one to be run, so all entries received for it will automatically be carried over

to October, by which time everyone is hopeful that the crisis will be over...

So be sure to put both dates in your diaries; you may get two events but there should be one at the very least. Regulations (with an entry form) for the July event are available from the club’s website (at www.mecvc. org.uk) and Facebook page (search for M-ECVC Middle England Classic Vehicle Club), or email Graham Lampkin at glampkin@btinternet.com – you can be confident and send it in sooner rather than later. If you have any concerns, look at the positive comments that entrants put on the Facebook page about the March event, and there are plenty of pictures as well!

8 NEWS

May 2020

Angus McPhail RIP

T

he world of motorcycles lost one of its most eccentric geniuses when coronavirus claimed Angus ‘Ag’ McPhail in April.

He was best known in drag racing and sprinting circles, particularly for Jade Warrior, that had him stretched out on his stomach ahead of a supercharged two-litre four cylinder engine that at used a Cosworth cylindeer head on a homebrewed barrel and upper crankcase, cast as one. It drove a big car slick through a torque converter and, in the 1980s, he was the first Englishman to get into the sevensecond bracket for the standing staart quarter mile without using nitro-methane for fuel. Google ‘Jade Warrior’ to see him in action and prepare to be amazed.

He was born in Pinner and made his mark early on with a 1930s 250cc BSA that went better than it should, but him serving an apprenticeship at the De Havilland aircraft factory in Hatfield meant access to advanced knowledge and materials. He built a Formula Junior single-seater racing car there and was renowned for getting special parts made; a set of close-ratio gears for the Volkswagen gearbox would have cost close on £200 in the 1960s, but not with his connections! Plans for the car didn’t advance far when he got involved in bike sprinting and he sold the Macon design to Tony Houghton, who went on to build a series of them.

He had a lesser-known second hobby with the manufacture of small bombs, using a blend of fertiliser and sugar sealed in steel tube with an Airfix model jet engine fuse. If he wanted a long delay, he’d light a fag and wrap the fuse around it, which could give up to 10 minutes’ delay while we all got out of the area.

He made a special underwater versio on with the fuse fed through a long plastic tu ube and the bomb suspended on bent welding rod, then hung over the sluice gate on the ornamental pond in posh suburban Pinner. The idea was to blow the gate out an nd drain the pond, butt although it went off witth a huge tower of water – think of a small antisubmarine mine – and all the ducks were up and away in panic, the gate held. He gave up being an urban terrorist before he was discovered, and concentrated on bikes.

His first sprinter was the kneehigh Ariel Arrow-powered Ag’s Barrow, breathing methanol through a big carb and later tried on a model aircraft fuel containing nitro-methane, but that wasn’t any faster. The bike had a tubular space frame, with alloy panelling bonded by aircraft adhesive and rivets – like Formula One racing cars had been using. It was quick and got a front cover picture in The Motor Cycle with an enthusiastic write-up by technical editor Vic Willoughby. He also gave time to help me and John Cruttenden build a 500 Triumph sidecar outfit that won the sidecar

The unique, and very successful, Jade Warrior.

class at the 1964 Ramsey Sprint at the TT, then decided to get serious with the Macon three-wheeler.

Lambretta front wheel, driver and crewman lying side by side with fuel tank, supercharger, 500 Triumph engine and Norton gearbox in line down the centre spine, with two Mini wheels on the rear axle.

It took world and national records, standing quarter-mile times in the low 13 seconds before it was sold to Dave Green, who put a 650 motor in and took 750 world and national records.

He never stopped thinking of ways to build something better and faster and his next three-wheeler had room only for driver and ballast, with the first version of his four-cylinder engine driving twin rear wheels via a torque converter. I drove that for an MCN feature and it was a very stable and fast ride.

Lessons learned with that led to the

ultimate head-first projectile, Jade Warrior.

By that time he was working closely with Mick Hand and then Keith Parnell, whose 750 Triumph was modified to give ground effects with a skirt like Formula One cars of the time used, in this case the exhaust gases sucking the bike down and giving much better traction. That careful development work gave Keith the bike to make him the first English rider to get below nine seconds for the quarter mile. When the same technology was applied to Jade Warrior, Angus reckoned it gave something like 1000lb of downward thrust, a nominal bike in some people’s eyes, but all it had was two wheels and a huge amount of engineering knowledge; he was a big draw at bike events in Europe, with crowds looking on in wonder.

He left De Havilland and worked

on the Ford GT40 project from their base in Slough, putting in silly hours and building his own projects at the same time. When that ended, he set up as a self-employed gas fitter and engineer, again working silly hours either on the business or in his garage at the bottom of the garden. In recent years he’d been working with old team-mates Mick Hand and Keith Parnell on Keith’s son Lorcan’s Honda-powered compound turbo bike that is running in the six-second bracket and beginning to make rivals take serious notice. With the loss of such a vital element you might think that progress will stall, but I wouldn’t suggest you put money on that. I suspect there will be an even greater wish to succeed, simply to honour the memory of an inspiring team member taken by a damned little virus long before his time.

Uncle Jim Reynolds

10 NEWS

May 2020

Gone missing While most of us are currently missing out on riding our bikes and going to events – with only those folk who’re riding their bikes to work in the currently glorious weather getting their two-wheeled fix – we shouldn’t automatically assume that the lockdown is being adhered to by everyone, particularly those light-fingered felons in our

community. And although we may be spending more time at home, unfortunately that isn’t enough to dissuade thieves from taking what isn’t theirs…

Additionally, there’s also that fact that police are currently being diverted by other priorities. John from Hastings informs us that his local TV news has stated

that, because of coronavirus, the police would only attend major incidentss.

As John points out, su urely that’s just telling every thief in the country to help themselves? Aside from the fact that the police’s statement seems rather irresponsible at this time, it is a timely reminder for us to do

eve erytthing we e can to keep our pride and joy safe and under lock and key.

Stay safe, and keep your bikes locked up with all their details and documentation separate, and just as safe!

Tony Rutter RIP

W

e’re extremely sad to report that at the age of 78 on March 24, Tony Rutter passed away after a period of deteriorating health.

Father of popular racer Michael, Tony will, for many, best be remembered for winning the world TT-F2 championship four times on a Ducati, although he also held seven Isle of Man TT wins, nine North West 200 wins and two British championship titles. Clearly, Tony was a man capable of not only taming the notorious Isle of Man Mountain circuit, but also adept on short circuits too, with his first British championship win coming in 1971 with the 350cc crown.

Raw talent and determination saw his career – on the national and international stages – continue through the Eighties, with podium places coming on a Suzuki GSX-R in 1985, although a crash at Spain’s Montjuic Park that year resulted in nasty injuries

Tony Rutter leaving Governor’s Bridge shortly before winning the 1974 350cc TT.

that prevented him from racing at the same high level in subsequent years, although he raced until 1991, by which point he was supporting Michael in

Mallory Park, 1979, with Tony aboard a 498cc Suzuki.

his racing endeavours.

For this magazine editor, the hard-working Midlander will be forever remembered as the ‘TR’ who manhandled some

Aboard the big, bad, bruising 996cc Formula 1 Honda four, Rutter howls away from Quarter Bridge in the ’79 TT.

Slow Burn – The growth of superbikes and Superbike racing 1970 to 1988 Slow Burn tells how the big names of the motorcycle industry used Superbike racing to test their street bike designs, with the beginnings in the 1970s with the F750 class, and its development into what became the Superbike class that vied with Grand Prix to be the most spectacular motorcycle race series on the planet.

While a book such as this could easily be little more than a list of race results, Slow Burn has some fascinating behind-the-scenes information and detail, featuring some of the greatest riders of their time – Wayne Gardner,

Mick Doohan, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Eddie Lawson all started out on big, unruly superbikes, and learned how to powerslide their way around some of the world’s toughest tracks.

While the cut-off year

fearsomely fast machines around the TT, and the man who (arguably) saved Ducati with his string of wins on the F2 machine.

of 1988 pre-empts the British domination of the World Superbike championship with Carl Fogarty, Neil Hodgson, James Toseland, Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea, there’s still plenty of Brit content, from Doug Hele’s triple-cylinder development, and Pete Williams, John Cooper and Percy Tait playing their part before Phil Read and then Ron Haslam enter the stage on Formula One steeds.

Priced at £25 for the 256 pages (with 102 colour pictures), and written by the wonderfully named Bob Guntrip, it is available from Veloce Publishing at www.veloce.co.uk

Racing classic motorcycles, first you have to finish While most biographical tomes are written by successful sports people who’re known to the general public, this book is written by Andy Reynolds, who’ll probably not be known by anyone except those folk who closely follow classic motorcycle racing. And, in another difference to the usual sports autobiography, this one is somewhat better written than many books from famous folk!

Despite being aboard two-wheelers from the age of 16 in 1964, Andy’s race career began in 1977, after a few years sprinting in the late ’60s/early ’70s. The first bike was a 350cc Aermacchi, eight years old at the time, although at that point Andy hadn’t realised that he would stay on bikes of that era for the rest of his race career, which ran until 2016!

Costing £15.99, it’s available from www. velocebooks.com or www.veloce.co.uk