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February 17-18, 2018 The International Centre, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JH
’Normous Newark Autojumble Upcoming dates… Sundays, February 25 & April 8, 2018
Open Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm
newarkautojumble.co.uk
February 2018 £2.10
Advance tickets: £12, with early autojumble entry:£15/ U12s: FREE
classicbikeshows.com
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392
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After setting a flying-mile speed of 206mph on his mighty JAP V-twin at RAF Honington in September 1968, Alf Hagon (right) is seen with Motor Cycling’s Graham Forsdyke who, under Alf’s tutelage, later became only the second British rider to do a sub-10 second quarter-mile run – the other, of course, being Alf himself! Photo: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com
2 NEWS
February 2018
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 and Angie Sisestean Divisional advertising manager Billy Manning Advertising Matt Hansom mhansom@mortons.co.uk Alan Green agreen@mortons.co.uk
01507 524004 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-7pm, Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm and 24hr ansaphone Archive Enquiries Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423
W
e’ve had some interesting themes in Old Bike Mart during the past couple of years, from old-fashioned bike shops and favourite motorcycling cafes to sidecar outfit antics and rides from hell, and your response has always made brilliant reading – but one we haven’t touched on so far is the plethora of cheap aftermarket accessories that usually came with ‘universal fittings’ that didn’t fit anything at all! In the austere post-war period, those who could afford it might buy a basic 98cc two-stroke machine such as an autocycle, a James Comet or an Excelsior Consort as all-year-round transport, and would soon be looking for legshields (many bodged up their own from whatever materials were to hand) and an upright windshield to keep the worst of the weather at bay – remember those with the swivelly bit at the top?
What they did for the performance against a raging headwind or blizzard doesn’t bear thinking about! A little later came handlebar fairings from Avon and others that necessitated detaching the headlamp and fitting it to the front of the fairing, which in turn meant lengthening the wiring. Few of us used proper joints for the task, of course, and instead simply twisted together the open wires and taped them over! Such fairings, which cost a fraction under £6 from Pride & Clarke in 1960, and could be had on the never-never for a ten-bob deposit, looked quite nice from the outside, but what a mess they were from the inside, with an open-fronted nacelle spewing forth crudely extended wires that could so easily be broken by full-lock applications. The advertising pages of old motorcycling magazines were full
of rear carriers, pannier frames, mirrors (they were never standard until the Japanese came along) and cheap bike covers such as the zip-up ‘Cyclomac’. During that golden road racing era that stretched from the mid1950s until the mid-1960s, attracting massive crowds to meetings all over Britain, many of us aped our racing heroes by fitting dropped bars, clip-ons and rearsets, carburettor bellmouths, megaphone exhausts and racing fairings. In the early 1960s I even fitted a full dolphin fairing to my 50cc Suzuki! And what looked worse than a cheap dual seat that had been accidentally slashed (it didn’t take much!) or whose stitching had burst to reveal that yellow spongy stuff beneath? One of those really naff five-bob plastic tartan or leopardskin seat covers that had you sliding forward every time the brakes were applied, of course!
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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TR3OC quartet receives National Rally awards Members of the Trident & Rocket 3 Owners’ Club took major honours in the National Road Rally class at the Auto-Cycle Union’s recent National Awards. The team award was won by the ‘Triple Trio’ of John Young, Martyn Worlock and Peter Churchill, who all gained platinum awards in a faultless special test
before the ‘Triple Trio’ completed the rally. They’d selected a 540mile route to be completed in 20 hours, visiting the maximum possible number of controls en route. Another TR3OC member, Nic Davies, won the Best Lady award in the National Road Rally. At the awards, the quartet
was joined by ‘Slippery Sam’, the racing Triumph Trident that remains the most successful TT-winning machine of all time. John Young, Martyn Worlock and Peter Churchill are seen at the prize presentation along with Best Lady Nic Davies and, of course, ‘Slippery Sam’.
Wouldn’t it be nice, though, to see such a machine in all its ripped, rusted and faded glory among the glittering restorations at bike shows once in a while – perhaps with an oil drip tray for authenticity? I’m sure many of you have some great stories to tell about the accessories you once bought for your own machines – and I can’t wait to read them.
NEWS 3
February 2018
Diamond jubilee tribute to Alf Hagon, superstar of a truly golden era Photo: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com
The two-day Classic Dirt Bike Show at the Telford International Centre on February 17-18 will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of its sponsor, Hagon Shocks, by featuring the biggest gathering of Hagon competition machinery ever seen. It’s an opportune moment to look back over the long and successful motorcycling career of Alf Hagon himself, now in his mid-80s, whose first bike, a 1937 250cc New Imperial, was acquired at the age of 15 and run on methanol because of the chronic post-war petrol shortage. Next came a 350cc Rudge on which, after learning the skills of riding it around local fields with his friends, he entered it in a local grass track meeting in 1947. He went on to use the Rudge in all kinds of events, from scrambling to road racing (including the very first road race at Brands Hatch in 1950) and even sprinting. Alf funded his racing from his employment with a furniture-maker and then an engineering firm, and during his speedway career, which spanned the years 1953 to 1965, he rode for Harringay, Wimbledon, Leicester, Oxford, West Ham and Poole, his favourite track being West Ham. In 1953, he even sampled the Isle of Man TT circuit on a 500cc Norton International after being asked to stand in for an injured rider in a London club team. After reaching eighth position, he had to stop to fix the magneto which dropped him down to 29th. His grass track achievements were legendary, winning the 500cc British Championship in 1954, 1956, 1959 and 1962 and the 350cc title no fewer than seven times, in 1954, and then six times in a row from 1959 until 1964. That meant he was double champion in 1954, 1959 and 1962. The roots of the business now known as Hagon Shocks go back to 1957/8 when Alf started building lightweight grass track and speedway frames for himself and others in his mother’s garden shed.
Alf Hagon set a world-record standing-quarter time of 10.64 seconds on his 1300cc V-twin JAP at Elvington on October 16, 1965. He also set a standing-start kilometre record at 19.90 seconds (112.41mph) and a flying kilometre at 16.22 seconds (137.89mph).
In 1958 he was selected to visit Australia with the English speedway team, and married his fiancée Jean upon his return. As his fame in manufacturing special parts for competition machinery grew, he set up Hagon Products at 350-352 High Road in London’s Leyton East, living above the premises, while continuing with his increasingly busy competition career. At the age of 33, becoming tired of all the travelling his riding demanded, and with a young family and a growing business, Alf decided to retire from track racing and instead take up sprinting. His first straight-line experience had come after Gordon Colquhoun invited him to ride his V-twin Vincent after regular rider Charlie Rous found himself unable to do so. Alf willingly took up the challenge, and even beat George Brown on his supercharged Vincent Super Nero. After talking several national records on a
speedway-framed Triumph twin using just two gears, Alf, who was always obsessed by lightness, decided to build a JAP V-twin rather than a Vincent sprint bike because the JAP engine was much lighter. It showed its mettle straight away, and with each successive development the times came down and down. By May 1967, the Hagon-JAP had become a mighty 1260cc blown machine on which Alf became the first rider to record a sub-10 second quarter-mile time at Duxford, with a 9.93 sec run. Later that year, in October, he achieved a two-way average of 9.95 at Elvington. Alf upped his quarter-mile record to 9.432 at Santa Pod, and in 1968 became the first British rider to do a flying mile at over 200mph when he achieved 206.54mph at Honington. ● Our four-page Telford show guide starts on page 31.
Who’s your motorcycling legend for the Motor Sport Hall of Fame? Twelve of the greatest names in motorcycling history have been shortlisted for this year’s Motor Sport Hall of Fame Awards. The prestigious event will take place at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park in Surrey on June 4, and now it’s up to motorcycle fans to vote who will be the next to join legends such as John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, John McGuinness, Valentino Rossi and the latest inductee, Barry Sheene. The 2018 nominees are Mike Hailwood MBE, Geoff Duke OBE, Soichiro Honda, Casey Stoner, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwanz, Freddie Spencer, Kenny Roberts, Joey Dunlop OBE, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan and Jim Redman MBE. You can vote for your chosen inductees by visiting http://motorsportmagazine. com/hall-of-fame/hall-fame-2018-nominees-announced . All voters will be entered into a special prize draw to win a package for two at the Le Mans Classic 2018, and the lucky winner will also receive a Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronograph COSC limited-edition watch.
John McGuinness, LlanBikeFest’s honoured guest for a second year Back by popular demand at the fourth Llangollen Motorcycle Festival in August will be ‘totally re-charged’ 23-times TT winner John McGuinness, who’ll be guest of honour for a second year. Despite being chair-bound and battling pain from the serious injuries he sustained after crashing in the North-West 200 in Ireland last May, John had such a good time at last year’s LlanBikeFest in the town’s Royal International Pavilion that he’s raring to return. “It’s been a long journey,” he said, “but everything feels good,
and hopefully I’ll be in much better shape when the event takes place on August 4 and 5.” You can follow the event on Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival and Twitter at @llanbikefest – £10 day tickets are available at www.llanbikefest.co.uk and will cost £12 at the gate, with accompanied children and under16s being admitted free. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free by contacting the festival office on 07960 693398 (office@llanbikefest.co.uk).
Another Skipton Big Bike Sunday After last year’s hugely successful Big Bike Sunday at Skipton Auction Mart, which raised more than £3500 for charity, the Girder Fork & Classic Motorcycle Club will be organising another such event at the same venue on Sunday, June 24. The show is open to all owners of two- and three-wheeled vehicles, from 50cc mopeds to car-engined trikes, and the money raised will go to the club’s chosen charities, Manorlands and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. After all the entries have been positioned by around 10.30am, Big Bike Sunday will open to the public at 11am, and the prize presentation will begin at 4pm. Further details are available from John Hunter (j.hunter359@btinternet.com or on 07960 917483).
4 NEWS
February 2018
CLUB MAGAZINE OF THE MONTH
Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club News – a well-structured read In January’s ‘Prattle’ I indicated that Old Bike Mart might start featuring a club magazine each month. With the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club’s Pioneer Run from Tattenham Corner, Epsom, to Madeira Drive, Brighton, on Sunday, March 18 looming large, this month we’ll take a brief look at the excellent Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club News, edited by Julie Diplock, which has now reached its 889th issue. The Sunbeam MCC, founded in 1924, is always at pains to emphasise that it is for all makes of pre-war motorcycles, and a banner stating this fact appears beneath the club badge on the cover. One of the first things a good magazine needs is a proper structure, and in this regard the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club News is faultless, with a full list of officials, an editorial, news, coming events, letters, obituaries, club meeting dates, an out-and-about section, some cracking features of events and historical matters, and plenty of colour pictures throughout. In its book reviews section of the December 2017-January 2018 issue, the magazine even beats OBM to the line with a review of William Whiteley’s excellent book, The Quest for King Dick. Trials reports, readers’ advertisements and a full listing of club events complete a very professional picture. What makes motorcycle club magazines so special is the amount of sheer expertise club members can offer, and this also is clearly demonstrated in Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club News.
The Sunbeam MCC welcomes all makes of machine from four eras – Veteran (pre-1915), Vintage (1915-1930), Post-Vintage (1931-1939) and Sporting Trials (pre-1965 and modern bikes). Full membership details can be found on our ‘Club Call’ on page 62.
Second classic show at Clifford Arms After staying in all day for the royal wedding on Saturday, May 19, why not treat yourself to a great day out at the second annual Clifford Arms Classic Show at Great Haywood, Stafford on Sunday, May 20? The vehicles, including of course motorcycles, will be on display from 11am until 3pm and no fee is applicable for exhibitors and spectators alike – just a donation to Blood Bikes, the Air Ambulance or The Crohn’s Charity. Last year’s first event raised more than £800. Bikes are lined up outside the Clifford Arms at Great Haywood, Stafford ST18 0SR.
A gathering of flat-tankers A reader who prefers to remain anonymous has sent Old Bike Mart this intriguing photo of a meeting of ‘flat-tankers’ outside a pub (Hunter’s Lodge Inn?) which he thinks might be in Somerset. The riding gear and car in the background might give a clue as to the date. Any answers to OBMEditor@mortons.co.uk please.
Lean and mean – an SOS sprinter called Lena Peter March, who spent much of last year researching the history of the SOS marque, has sent us this picture, taken on January 6, of a beautifully prepared SOS sprinter called Lena. Note the immaculate workmanship, the sweep of the handlebar and that impressive exhaust. Last year Peter reinstated a 1937 250cc water-cooled SOS to running order for Steve Gollings of Villiers Services, and has covered 680 miles on it.
February 2018
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Manchester Bike Show The Manchester Bike Show, including the North West Classic Bike Show, will take place at EventCity, next to the Trafford Centre M41 7TB, over the weekend of March 24-25. Opening times are 9.30am until 5.30pm.
North Wales vintage show Vintage motorcycles will be part of the fun at the Vale Vintage Machinery Club Show at Ty Ucha Farm, Pen y Cefn, Caerwys CH7 5BQ on June 30 and July 1. The show will be open from 10am until 5pm on both days, with admission costing £4 (under-16s free).
Ace Cafe dates Special dates at London’s Ace Cafe this month are the MAG Fred Hill Memorial Ride-Out starting at 11am on February 11, a ride-out to MCN’s Bike Show at ExCeL on February 18 and a 59 Club Day on February 25. There will be Bike Days on February 11 and 18.
February 2018
Farewell to Ken Davis Ken Davis, an enthusiastic all-round motorcyclist and Barking and East Ham Motorcycle Club stalwart for many years, died in January at the age of 85. He lived in London’s East Ham all his life, and notched up many thousands of miles on various road bikes as well as enjoying a long trials and scrambling career. For virtually a decade, he was also treasurer of the Auto-Cycle Union’s Eastern Centre, and his self-published autobiography came out in limited paperback form only last year. His motorcycling career began in 1949 on a folding ex-military Corgi which had no kick-start, but despite its small dimensions, he rode to camp near Weston-superMare during his National Service. This was later replaced by a second Corgi that did have a kick-start and was supplied for £14 16s 3d on a
part-exchange basis by manufacturer Brockhouse Engineering. This second Corgi was eventually traded in during 1954 for a new BSA Bantam on which Ken covered 20,000 miles in a little over two years. This bike also gave him his first competition ride in a trial organised by the West Essex Club at Thornwood Common in 1955. He later switched to a proper Francis-Barnett competition machine which he used in trials and scrambles alike. When the first Ariel Leaders went on sale Ken, attracted by the clean lines and radical styling, became an early customer. He did many thousands of miles on this and a second Leader, taking part in National Rallies and other longdistance events such as the Exeter and Land’s End Trials.
Ken Davis (centre) receives a Life Long award at a Wakes Colne event.
He had several crashes on the Leaders, none particularly serious, but in his book he recounted the tedious business of buying and fitting new screens! After his trials career was over, he acquired a 500cc Honda twin
£30,000-plus for John Lennon Monkey bike? A Honda Z50A Monkey-Trail bike that once belonged to John Lennon will coming up for auction at the H&H Classics’ sale at the National Motorcycle Museum on March 4, and is estimated to sell for £30,000-plus. Lennon used the bike as an enjoyable way of getting around his Tittenhurst Park estate in Surrey, where he lived from 1969 until 1971. Registered XUC 91H, the little bike was acquired by John Harington from Henry Graham of Hook, Hampshire, who owned a Motor Cycle City business in Farnborough around 1971 and bought the Z50A from the former Beatles star. Vendor John Harington has kept the bike for the past 47 years, showing it at various events. Once owned by Beatles star John Lennon, this Honda Z50A Monkey-Trail bike is being offered in H&H’s Motorcycle Sale coming up at the National Motorcycle Museum on March 4.
Ken’s self-published autobiography came out only last year.
and continued to do high-mileage runs, visiting Scotland regularly and observing and marshalling competitions all over the country.
Brian Hussey – a fighter to the end Former Manx Grand Prix and TT rider Brian Hussey passed away on December 15 after an 11-year fight against illness, reports George Ridgeon. Brian rode in the Manx Grand Prix from 1968 and throughout the 1970s, and also took part in the TT, and he and his wife Sheila celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary shortly before he died. The funeral took place at Cromer Crematorium on January 4.
February 2018
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Date set for VMCC’s 53rd Coventry to Brighton Run The 53rd Coventry to Brighton Run, organised by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Midlands Section, will be waved off from the Coventry Motor Museum by the Mayor of Coventry at 8am on Saturday, April 21. Brighton’s Mayor will be riding pillion from Coventry to the finish. Any make or age of motorcycle can take part – one entrant in this friendly event regularly makes the run on a 50cc Suzuki! – but entries (limited to 120) must be made on application forms available from Bob Badland (07825 840677, email badbobland@hotmail.com). Breakfasts will be served at the museum, and the entry package includes breakdown support, overnight accommodation, secure parking, presentation and evening meal.
Village hall motorcycle jumble This year’s annual motorcycle jumble and bikes for sale event organised by the British Motorcycle Preservation Society will take place at Mochdre Village Hall, Colwyn Bay, North Wales LL28 5HU on Sunday, March 11. It will open at 9am, and admission will cost £3. For more details, contact Chris on 01492 517725.
Classic & Vintage bike show date The Cambridge Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Show will take place at the Cambridge Sea Cadets headquarters, 42 Chedders Lane, Cambridge CB5 8LD, on Sunday, June 24. It will open at midday, and a wide range of refreshments will be available. For further details, call 01223 843802.
February 2018
Barry Harper, 1954-2018 Widely known on the classic bike circuit and at club runs and autojumbles, Barry Harper of Upminster passed away in January after being treated in hospital for a lung condition. His passion for bikes began when his father gave him rides around the garden on the tank of a single-seat 125cc Royal Enfield, and in the 1960s he graduated to occasional rides along the road on his father’s new Honda 50. Barry passed his test at 16 on a Triumph Tiger Cub. An Ariel Leader and Norton Navigator followed before he spent a couple of decades away from motorcycles. Returning to classic bikes in the early 1990s as a way of enjoying himself while raising a young family, he restored a 1971 BSA Firebird to concours condition, and it won awards at Bristol, Stafford and other shows. Becoming a little embarrassed at winning
awards with the same bike, he restored a BSA Hornet that had been exported from the UK in the 1960s and used as a desert racer. He later picked up Mk III and Mk IV BSA Spitfires and a 1968 Firebird. An engineer by trade, Barry worked for the Ford Motor Company for 42 years, going all over the world, and this background proved hugely helpful during the restorations. He was a stickler for obtaining the correct genuine parts, and always cherished kicking over a newly built machine and hearing it splutter into life again after the work was done. He loved riding, whether it be round the corner to the ‘caff’ at North Weald Aerodrome or across Dartmoor, Exmoor or the Yorkshire moors – and even down to Spain during the summer. As well as being social secretary for the East London branch of the BSA Owners’ Club, he
A moment to cherish as Barry Harper picks up a show award for one of his BSAs.
judged at national club shows, including the BSA Field Day, and was known for his willingness to advise and help others with their restorations. He leaves his wife, Jane, and two children, Bex and Dan, and will be hugely missed.
A chat between races – those were the days! After reading the exciting news about the Eppynt road racing circuit in South Wales being used again, Vince Chivers sent us this great shot of riders in their dark leathers having a chat between
races at what he thinks was Aberdare Park. He can identify Mike Hailwood, Ray Cowles and Dan Shorey, but wonders if any readers can help with the names of the rest.
A picture from a different world… Sent in by reader Brian Reynolds, here’s another lovely old picture to ponder. It was taken outside the charmingly named Slaughter Pike Garage just outside Bourton on the Water on the Fosse Way around 1920, and belongs to the man who
ran the garage a few years ago. Brian asks whether the motorcycle at the forefront is still around, and whether it’s a Royal Enfield Model 180. In the background, it appears as if the fire tubes of what looks like an old ploughing engine are getting a good rake-out.
February 2018
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10 NEWS
February 2018
February kick-off for NMM Friends’ exclusive activities This year’s special activities for Friends of the National Motorcycle Museum will start with a free Museum Workshop Training Day in the Compton Suite on Saturday, February 24. Two sessions presented by Classic Bike magazine’s Rick Parkington of ‘Rick’s Fixes’ fame, and the museum’s own restoration team will be on hand to discuss some of their own tricks of the trade. The first of several Classic Bike Tours dates, when scheme members will get a chance to ride some of the most exciting and valuable classic motorcycles in the museum’s collection, will be Saturday, March 24. Those taking part will receive an induction and training off the main roads before being escorted around the Warwickshire countryside by advanced motorcycle instructors. Machinery on offer will range from a BSA B31 to a Brough Superior SS100, with each class of machine having its own ‘hire’ fee, including insurance costs and lunch in the museum’s restaurant. A week later, on March 31, the first of 2018’s ‘Try a Classic Bike’ days will take place, with the dates of further such sessions being announced in due course. During these sessions, Friends will be able to ride a number of ‘laps’ on a wide variety of motorcycles in a ‘closed roads’ environment in the museum’s grounds. The bikes will include a selection of
Participants in a Classic Bike Tour day are briefed by an expert instructor before setting off on some of the National Motorcycle Museum’s precious machines.
veteran and vintage machines with lever throttles and/or hand gear change as well as mouth-watering machines from the 1940s to the 1960s including Brough and Vincent. Morning or afternoon sessions are offered at a nominal fee of £10. Videos of the above events can be viewed at www.thenmm.co.uk . You can become a Friend of the National Motorcycle Museum for annual subscriptions of £29.95 for adults aged between 18 and 65; £27.45 for senior
Prescott Bike Fest becomes a two-day extravaganza who has already created the world’s fastest Such has been the success of the Prescott shopping trolley and the world’s fastest Bike Fest that, for the first time, this year’s hearse, ‘Dead Quick’. event at the famous Gloucestershire hill The BikeFest will have extensive climb venue has been extended to two days, and will take place over the weekend displays of historic, modern and racing motorcycles, with a Paddock Specials of April 14-15. Track action will be confined to Sunday, ‘Show ‘n’ Tell’ spot featuring the best in road, race, factory and shed builds but if you fancy your chances at ‘running along with wacky, jet-powered and the hill’ yourself, get your application in record-breaking machines. quickly, because it’s always a sell-out. If Musical entertainment will be second you’d rather just be a passenger while to none all weekend, and a huge marquee someone else does all the work, a thrilling passenger ride experience is also available. will feature more than 20 regional guest beers. Although nothing to do with old Trade and club stands will be busier motorcycles, an innovation this year will than ever, and a Blood Bike Village will be an ‘Electric Avenue’ on the Saturday, underline the serious side to the event, showcasing the latest in electric road and for all proceeds will go to the Nationwide race technology. The display will feature Association of Blood Bikes and regional an innovation zone with the universities’ blood bike group Severn Freewheelers, latest electric vehicle projects along with special displays of Formula E and TT Zero. one of 27 blood bike groups around the UK that provide a free out-of-hours The new electric Harley-Davidson will courier service for medical essentials. also be on show. This life-saving service is run by Zef Eisenberg and the Mad Max volunteers and operates between NHS Race Team will be returning with three facilities, with Severn Freewheelers alone of their best, including a new V8 and the dealing with around 400 calls per month 235mph Madmax that holds the record on emergency response BMW R1200Ts. as the world’s fastest jet-turbine Since the event was founded, Bike street-legal motorcycle. Fest has raised well over £200,000 for Other extreme machines will include the latest project from ‘Madcap McKeown’, the charity.
citizens aged 65 or over; £19.95 for juniors aged up to 17; and £49.95 for a family ticket for two adults and two children. To join, call the NMM on 01675 444123, go online to www.thenmm.co.uk or email shop@thenmm.co.uk .
Mike Estall wins Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub Club’s new trophy Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub expert Mike Estall, now in his 80th year and author of the invaluable book, The Tiger Cub Bible, has become the first recipient of a brand new award presented by the Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub Club. Made by a club member, the award consists of a clock mounted on a Tiger Cub primary chain case, and it will be awarded annually to the individual or organisation considered to have contributed most to the furtherance of the interests of owners, including the restoration of existing examples and the preservation of the marque in general. Mike’s Register of Machines has also become essential reading for Terrier and Cub owners.
Death of Southern 100 stalwart George Costain Colby, Isle of Man, road racer George Costain, whose main claim to fame was winning the 1954 Senior Manx Grand Prix just two days after Castletown’s Derek Ennett had won the Junior to make it the MGP’s first Manx ‘double’, passed away on Tuesday, January 9 at the age of 88.
Alan ‘Kipper’ Killip MBE (left) and George Costain show off their special framed photographs during the diamond jubilee of the Southern 100 road races in 2015.
That ‘double’ was probably a deciding factor in the foundation of the Southern 100 races the following year, when Derek won the 250cc race but George failed to finish the 24-lap five-hundred. George started his TT career in 1955, riding for ace tuner Reg Dearden, on whose Norton he had won the Senior Manx, and completed 10 TTs in total, with a best placing of 13th in the 1956 Senior, gaining nine silver replicas in the nine races he completed. When George finally hung up his leathers, away from his Castletown butchery business he joined the Southern 100’s racing organisation in 1961, and was a TT travelling marshal from 1961 until 1970. In 2015, when the Southern 100 celebrated its 60th anniversary, George and fellow ex-racer and long-time official Alan ‘Kipper’ Killip were each presented with a special framed photograph.
Mike Estall proudly holds the new Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub Club award for his painstakingly researched Register of Machines and The Tiger Cub Bible.
The shield bearing Mike’s name is the first to be attached to the trophy.
February 2018
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February 2018
Diary Dates
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Make a date for these upcoming events in your classic calendar...
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FEBRUARY 2018
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Rally With a Chalet: Pontins, Coastal Road, Ainsdale, Southport, PR8 2PZ. www. southportoriginalcruisers.webs. com. original.cruisers@hotmail. co.uk. Tel. 07732 696438. 2 MARCH ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE 2-4 NI Motorcycle Festival: Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Sprucefield, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, BT27 5RF. www.motorcyclefest.tv. info@ nuttravel.com. Tel. 028 70351199. 3 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 3 Rufforth Autojumble: Rufforth Park, York. Tel: 01904 738620. www.rufforthautojumble.com 3-4 The 38th Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show: The Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN Tel. 01507 529529. www. classicbikeshows.com/event/ carole-nash-bristol-classicmotorcycle-show/ 4 Ace Cafe Bike Day: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 4 SCRMC Ltd Haggis Gathering at Lanark. Tel. 01294 833320. agnescadger@tiscali.co.uk 5 FEBRUARY ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC 8 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, GB Antiques, Lancaster. Tel. 01772 782516. 10-11 Welsh Dragon Motorcycle Rally: Snowdonia, North Wales. www. conwymotorcycleclub.org.uk 10-11 The Footman James Great Western Autojumble: Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN. Tel. 01507 529529. www. bristolclassiccarshows.com 11 Sunbeam MCC Gordon Jackson Trial: Bagshot Heath, Surrey. Contact Neil Sinclair 07885 660939. sinclairndp@ hotmail.co.uk 11 Ace Cafe Bike Day: Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com
Ace Cafe London, MAG’s Fred Hill Memorial Ride-Out: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 15 MARCH/APRIL ISSUE OF CLASSIC RACER 15 CLASSIC DIRT BIKE ISSUE 46 16-18 The MCN London Motorcycle Show: ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL. www.mcnmotorcycleshow. com. Tel. 0844 873 7346. 17 Stunt Fest: Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com. Tel 01234 782828. 17 Scorton Auto & Bike Jumble: Scorton, North Yorkshire Events Centre DL10 6EJ. Tel. Bert 07909 904705. 17 Victoria MCC 3rd Birthday Party: The Victoria Club, Norton East Road, Norton Canes, Staffordshire, WS11 9RT. www.victoriamcc.co.uk. victoriamcc123@gmail.com 17-18 The Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks: The International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH www. classicbikeshows.com/event/ the-classic-dirt-bike-show/ Tel. 01507 529529. 18 Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum Numbfinger Run: Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum, Maltings Road, Battlesbridge, Essex SS11 7RH. Contact Dave Evans davejoolivia@googlemail.com 18 Huddersfield Autojumble: Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RG. Tel. Jeff 07795 505388. Email: jeffpff@hotmail.co.uk (provisional date) 18 Ace Cafe Bike Day: Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 18 Ace Cafe London, Ride-Out to MCN Bike Show at ExCeL: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london. acecafe.com 18 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Chipping: meet village centre car park. Tel. 01772 782516. 21 MARCH ISSUE OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS 23-25 20th Frozen Balls Up – Oddballs MCC: Sleap, Harmer Hill, Shropshire, West Midlands, SY4 3HE. www.oddballsmcc. co.uk. ticketsale_rally@hotmail. co.uk. Tel. 07779 866869.
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’Normous Newark Autojumble: The Showground, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www. newarkautojumble.co.uk Tel. 01507 529529. Ace Cafe London 59 Club: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london. acecafe.com MARCH ISSUE OF CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE
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LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Blue Anchor, Bretherton. Tel. 01772 782516. APRIL ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY Rufforth Autojumble: Rufforth Park, York. Tel: 01904 738620. www.rufforthautojumble.com Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show: Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. www.scottishmotorcycleshow. com Malvern Drive-In Classic Car & Bike Autojumble: Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls and outside, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW. Tel. 01484 667776 www. classicshows.org Ace Cafe London, SidecarTrike-3Wheeler Day in aid of NABD: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london. acecafe.com MARCH ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC Kempton Park Motorcycle Autojumble: Kempton Park, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ www. kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk Tel. 01507 529529. LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Annual Lunch: Ferrari’s, Langridge. Tel. 01772 782516 to book. Kenley Autojumble: The Portcullis Club, Kenley Airfield, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham, Surrey. CR3 5FX. Tel. 07772 169524 or 07971 823314. www.facebook.com/ KenleyAutojumble Ace Cafe London British and Classic Bike Day: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com Scorton Auto & Bike Jumble: Scorton, North Yorkshire Events Centre DL10 6EJ. Tel. Bert 07909 904705.
17-18 The UK Spring Motorhome & Caravan Show: Newark Showground, Newark NG24 2NY. www.motorhomeandcaravan shows.co.uk Tel. 01507 529529. 18 Straightliners: Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA. www.straightlinersonline. co.uk. Tel 01484 718164. 18 Wistanstow Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show and Autojumble: Tel. 07792 983020. Email: wistanstowbikeshow@hotmail.co.uk 18 VMCC (Essex section) Cobwebs Run from Tesco, Maldon. Tel. Dave Iszard 01621 892206. 18 Sunbeam MCC, 79th Pioneer Run, Epsom-Brighton. Contact Ian McGill 01293 771446. acsociable1@sky.com 18 Ace Cafe London, Overland + Adventure Bike Day: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london. acecafe.com 18 Huddersfield Autojumble: Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RG. Tel. Jeff 07795 505388. Email: jeffpff@ hotmail.co.uk (provisional date) 18 Wirral Egg Run ‘Tribute Rideout’: The Dips, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH45 to end in Claremount Farm CH63 4JB. www. wirraleggrun.org. info@wirraleggrun. org. tony2tellys@blueyonder.co.uk. Tel. 07984 622423. 21 APRIL ISSUE OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS 22 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Springwood picnic site, Nr Whalley. Tel. 01772 782516. 24-25 Manchester Bike Show: EventCity, Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Traffordcity, Manchester M41 7TB Tel. 01484 482005. www.manchesterbikeshow.com 25 Classic Motorcycle Show: Cafeplus, Baldock. Tel 07963 609143. 25 Ace Cafe London, Scooter Sunday and Raleigh Chopper Meet: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 25 National Hill Climb at Hartland Quay: Hartland Quay, Devon. www.ncha.co.uk 25 South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble: South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TL. www.elkpromotions.co.uk 28 APRIL ISSUE OF CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE 28 VMCC (Essex section) Wrinkly Run from Tesco, Maldon. Tel. Grace & Clyde 01621 855899. 30-01 Festival of Power: Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7XA. www.santapod.com. Tel 01234 782828. 31 South Midlands Autojumble: Rosson-Wye Livestock Centre, Oveross, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 5QQ. Tel. 01989 750731. 31 LE Velo Northampton gathering: Plume of Feathers, Weedon Bec, NN7 4QR. Tel. 01604 499858.
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LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Slaidburn: meet main car park. Tel: 01772 782516. Scooter Show: White Lion, Baldock. Tel: 07963 609143. Ace Cafe London, Bike Day: Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london. acecafe.com Reading MAG Easter Bike Show: Reading Abbey Rugby Club, Peppard Road, Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8XB. readingmag.org.uk. leebrown398@ hotmail.co.uk. APRIL ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show & Bikejumble: Ashford Market, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0HB. www.elk-promotions.co.uk MAY ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY Sammy Miller Museum, Adventure Bike Ride In. www.sammymiller.co.uk
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Isle of Wight Vintage and Classic Bike Show: The Winter Gardens, Pier Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. PO38 1SZ. Tel: 01983 752861. 7-8 Cardiff Motorcycle Show: Llanishen High School, Heol Hir, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5YL. Tel: 01443 435125. www. southwalessunbeammcc.co.uk 7-8 KICKBACK: Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG. www.thecustomshow.com. lorne@rwrw.co.uk. Tel: 07758 068072. 8 Normous Newark Autojumble: The Showground, Drove Lane, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble. co.uk Tel: 01507 529529. 8 Kenley Autojumble: The Portcullis Club, Kenley Airfield, Victor Beamish Avenue, Caterham, Surrey. CR3 5FX. Tel: 07772 169524 or 07971 823314. www. facebook.com/KenleyAutojumble 8 Forfar Classic and Vintage Autojumble & Show: Strathmore Hall, Forfar Livestock Mart, John St, Forfar, Angus, Scotland DD8 3EZ. Tel: 01241 852369. 8 BTSC Croydon Club Run: Blue Haze, The Feathers, Merstham, Surrey. Tel: 01883 623049. 8 Malvern Festival of Transport: Three Counties Showground, Wye Halls, Avon Hall and outside, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW. Tel: 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org 8 Salisbury MAG’s 17th Spring Surprise Motorcycle Show: Salisbury Market Square and Guild Hall Square, Wiltshire. Tel: 07450 992298. salisbury.mag-uk.org 8 Ace Cafe London, British + Classic Bike Day + BSA Special: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 12 LE Velo Lancs & S Lakes, Burnsall. Tel: 01772 782516. 14-15 Prescott Bike Festival: Prescott Speed Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD. www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk. gordon@bikefestivals.co.uk. Tel: 01452 260063. 15 VMCC (Essex section) Early Easter Run: Costa Coffee, Stanway Tollgate Centre. Tel: Brian Irwin 01376 342885. 15 Salisbury Motorcycle & Light Car Club Five Valleys Charity Motorcycle Run: Contact Dave Weston 01264 364186. Email: dweston49@btinternet.com www.salisburymotorcycleand lightcarclub.co.uk 15 Ace Cafe London, Kawasaki Sunday – Let the Good Times Roll: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, N Circular Rd, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD. london.acecafe.com 15 Sunbeam MCC 4th Oxon/Bucks Run: Chinnor, Oxon. Contact Andy Middleton: 01844 352844. apmiddleton@btinternet.com 15 11th Suffolk Classic Motorcycle Show: Stour Valley Business Park, Brundon Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 7GB, just off the A131. Tel: John Walker 01787 881803. 18 MAY ISSUE OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS 19 MAY/JUNE ISSUE OF CLASSIC RACER 20-22 National Youthbike Blues and Bikes: Cabourne Parva, off A46 near Caistor, Lincs. elliot.mitchell@ gmail.com. Tel: 01522 869407. 20-22 A Newt in Shining Armour Rally Team Sober: Woolley Edge Campsite, Woolley Edge, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 2LS. www.teamsobermcc.co.uk. rallysec@teamsobermcc.co.uk. Tel: 07919 846164. 21-22 The 38th Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show: Staffordshire County Showground, Weston Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0BD www. staffordclassicbikeshows.com/ april/ Tel: 01507 529529.