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February 3-4, 2018 The Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset BA4 6QN Open Saturday 9:30am - 5pm Sunday 9:30am - 4pm
’Normous Newark Autojumble Upcoming dates… Sundays, January 28 & February 25, 2018
newarkautojumble.co.uk
January 2018 £2.10
Advance tickets: £11, Children: £3
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ISSUE
391
OLD BIKE MART ’’
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Long before computerised image enhancements and ‘elastic’ typefaces made all kinds of imaginative newspaper and magazine designs possible, a common trick of the trade was to mark out a photograph into a round or oval shape – and this was the case with this undated photograph from the Mortons Archive showing a postman on a BSA combination delivering a letter to a pig farm. Photo: Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com
2 NEWS
January 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 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 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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ne of the great joys of editing Old Bike Mart is receiving the many motorcycle club journals that are kindly sent to me each month. Those who edit and write for them are the unsung heroes of motorcycle journalism, providing countless brilliant historical and technical articles, riding memories and event reports – and the layout and quality seems to be improving all the time. Of course some of the larger clubs are in a better financial position than others to offer bigger and perhaps glossier magazines to their members, but no matter which journal you put together, doing the best you can with what you’ve got is what it is really all about. Don’t forget that Mortons Archive is always willing to help when it comes to finding that specific
historic image you might be seeking, one case in point being when Anthony Shields, the editor of Cotton Pickins, the journal of the Cotton Owners’ & Enthusiasts’ Club, saw our November front page photo of a young lady serving herself from a shilling-in-the-slot petrol pump in Cheltenham in 1927. He immediately recognised her motorcycle as either a side-valve, Blackburne-engined 350cc Model 7 or a 500cc Model 8 and wrote in to let us know. One good turn deserves another, I say, and we were glad to
send him a digital image of the photo to use in his own magazine. Remember those Christmas annuals that we once looked forward to so eagerly? Peter Turnill, who edits the Velocette Owners’ Club’s wonderful journal Fishtail, decided that a great way to use up so many of the inevitably stored contributions from club members would be to make the December issue into a 160page, perfect-bound ‘annual’. When the number of pages in Fishtail increases over the standard size, as in the case of the two 100-pagers that are produced each year, the postage cost more than doubles, but
George Formby evening to remember The George Formby Society has branches in several parts of the UK, and listening to the mass ukulele performances and excellent solo acts on stage can be one of life’s pleasures for players and listeners alike. Those who remember the songs in the classic 1930s Isle of Man TT races film No Limit will be familiar with some of the words that might be considered quite risqué even today, and it was with great pleasure that your editor joined
outspoken OBM contributor Fred Austin; the warm and likeable Bob Taylor, otherwise known as ‘Bonneville Bob’ (whose book By-Pass Cowboy traces an often sad but undeniably honest account of his years as a rebel motorcyclist around Manchester); and Alan Coates, who adores BSA Lightnings and whose bikes will be featured in OBM in the near future, at a GFS evening in Worsborough, Barnsley, on Monday, November 27.
What binds all three together is the astonishing amount of work they have done for charity over the years, and thanks are due to Neville Roe of the South Yorkshire branch of the GFS, which meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the Ward Green WMC, 129 Mount Vernon Road, Worsborough, Barnsley S70 4HH (01226 284251) for facilitating the meeting. Details of this and other branches can be found on the official website www.georgeformby.co.uk .
Peter was delighted to discover that sending out this truly bumper issue wouldn’t cost a penny more than that! As a former rider of both Velocette Venoms and a Cotton Telstar, I salute you both – and one idea I have for the new year is to focus on a club magazine each month in OBM.
Ardingly date corrected Upon checking the Wallplanner that went out with last month’s Old Bike Mart, Julie Diplock realised that the wrong date had been sent to us for the South of England Classic Show & Bike Jumble at the South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL (www.elkpromotions.co.uk). This will take place on March 25, and not the March 26 shown.
NEWS 3
January 2018
Classic Dirt Bike Show set to be one of the best yet The countdown has begun for the biggest classic off-road event of the year, the two-day Classic Dirt Bike Show at the Telford International Centre sponsored by Hagon Shocks over the weekend of February 17-18. This year’s guest speakers at the traditional Saturday evening three-course dinner will be Gerrit Wolsink, Colin Dommett and Peter Duke. Wolsink is the Dutch fivetimes winner of the 500cc United States Grand Prix of Motocross, who also finished second in the 500cc world championship in 1976 and 1979, and third in 1975 and 1977. Riding for Gloucester’s Cotton factory, Colin Dommett competed in the International Six Days’ Trial and in scrambling, and latterly became the voice of the classic scrambles scene behind the commentator’s microphone. Peter Duke, founder of the Duke DVD empire and the son of the late Geoff Duke, has also been a successful off-road rider and ISDT competitor. All three, along with former Maico rider Roger Garrett, will be interviewed during the show
Former Cotton factory rider Colin Dommett guides a two-stroke Kawasaki between the big rocks.
by Jack Burnicle. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of what has now become Hagon Shocks, and to celebrate, the Classic Dirt Bike Show will feature the biggest collection of Hagon competition motorcycles ever assembled. To reserve a seat at the dinner, costing £33 per person with a vegetarian option available, call 01507 529529 or visit www. classicmagazines.co.uk/cdbsde . Sammy Miller will be taking along his legendary Ariel (GOV 132) and the factory AJS (187 BLF) on which Gordon Jackson achieved his famous single-dab victory in the 1961 Scottish Six Days’ Trial.
Sammy Miller’s superb big four-stroke Ariel trials machine GOV 132 will be at the Classic Dirt Bike Show.
Dutch rider Gerrit Wolsink will be regaling the audience with tales of his world championship motocross days. Mortons Archive photo.
Sammy shows off both his own Ariel and the factory AJS on which Gordon Jackson scored a one-dab victory in the 1961 Scottish Six Days’ Trial.
‘We’ll miss his dry Yorkshire humour in the paddock’ – the sad passing of Don Padgett Don Padgett, a regular competitor in the Manx Grand Prix during the 1960s and 70s, and who with his elder brother Peter put their motorcycle dealership of Padgett’s of Batley well and truly on the road racing map, passed away on Monday, November 13. Troubled by health problems during recent years, Don had divided much of his time between his adopted home at Onchan, on the Isle of Man, and Portugal. Padgett’s of Batley has been synonymous with road racing for generations, and from 1965 until 1980 the founding brothers, along with Peter’s sons Clive and Gary, were regular competitors in the Island’s Southern 100 held each July on the Billown circuit. Peter and Don first lined up beside each other on the Castletown starting grid in 1965 on what were to become the famous Padgett Yamahas. Peter rode each year up to and including 1970, when he took a
best eighth place in that year’s 350cc race, but Don, after taking a sabbatical in 19689, achieved his best Southern 100 results in 1972, with a third in the 350cc race and a second in the solo championship race. He competed in the Manx Grand Prix between 1964 and 1977, finishing second in the 1974 lightweight event. Don’s career came to a premature end after an accident at Mallory Park, although he did ride in two Classic MGP races in the 1980s, the last being the Classic Junior Manx in 1984, when he finished 12th on an Aermacchi. After Don moved house to the Island, where he lived for the rest of his life, a Padgett’s branch was opened there. His dry Yorkshire humour will be much missed in the paddocks, and his nephew Clive said: “We will all miss him so much.” OBM’s condolences are extended to the Padgett family and all in the racing fraternity who knew Don so well.
Don Padgett is seen in action in the rain in this Mortons Archive photo.
Eppynt road race comeback extended to three-day event The organisers of the Eppynt Welsh Road Races due to take place in August have confirmed that the event will now be run over three days instead of the two that were announced at November’s Motorcycle Live event at the NEC, Birmingham.
Riders’ liaison director Steve Plater said: “With 200 road race competitors already registered to ride in the inaugural races, the organisers have negotiated an extra day in the interests of safety.” The event will now take place on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, August 3-5, with Friday being used for all riders to learn the new 5.25-mile course, followed by practising. The Saturday and Sunday will then be dedicated to two full days of racing. Steve added: “Ticket sales are already better than we expected
with seven months still to go before the Brecon Beacons come alive with the sound of music – racing motorcycles on full chat.” Full details can be found on the www.welshroadrace.com website and via social media including Facebook.
4 NEWS
January 2018
Greeves enthusiast pines for his old bikes OBM reader Richard Deal is anxious to track down some of the motorcycles he once owned and, if any of them is for sale, to restore and place in his Greeves collection. Along with his brother Eric, Richard used to travel to trials all over the UK, including the Scottish Six Days’ Trial in which he eventually entered three bikes under Greeves, finishing in the top 50. The first bike that Richard is seeking is his 25DC twin (982 WEV) which he bought from Jack Hubbard of Braintree, Essex, around 1962 and rode to all the big scrambles to watch Dave Bickers and Geoff Smith doing battle. Next comes the Greeves Scottish (610 RMC) which brother Eric gave him when he was about 14, and in one of the accompanying photos Eric is seen riding it in the Beggars Roost Trial in Derbyshire as Richard was too young to enter. Two AJS bikes which Eric bought brand new and used in the Scottish between 1960 and 1962 are also sought. TKP 686 and WKL 643 were also used in all major trials including the Clayton Trophy.
Beaming with pride, a young Richard Deal is seen on his Greeves 25DC twin 982 WEV.
Eric (right) entered the Greeves Scottish (610 RMC) in the Beggars Roost Trial in Derbyshire after giving the bike to Richard.
The 350cc AJS TKP 686, used in the Scottish Six Days’ trial in the early 1960s, is another of Eric’s old trials irons that Richard is looking for.
And finally, Eric enters a formidable-looking bog on the other Ajay, WKL 643.
Unearthed in a Somerset barn A collection of British motorcycles dating from the 1930s to the 1950s has been dragged from a Somerset barn, and the machines will go under the gavel at Charterhouse Auctioneers’ classic motorcycle auction at Sherborne on February 4. “Most are complete but will require some recommissioning work before they are put back on the road,” said Charterhouse’s Matthew Whitney. “Others will just need a wipe-over with an oily rag, and some are full-blown restoration projects.” The earliest of the seven motorcycles is a 500cc 1930 Triumph CSD, closely followed by a 1935 500cc JAP-engined Cotton, and each is estimated to make £3000 to £5000. Post-war machines include a 1949 Scott Flying Squirrel, a 1952 Ariel Square Four and a 1957 Norton Model 50, the latter with ape-hanger bars! For information about this and further new year sales, Charterhouse can be contacted on 01935 812277 or by email at bikes@charterhouseauction.com .
Dating from 1949, this Scott Flying Squirrel is another older restoration that could once again look the bee’s knees.
This 1930 Triumph CSD, an older restoration requiring recommission and with no reserve, is expected to sell for £3000 to £5000 at the February 4 Charterhouse auction.
Just look at that glorious frame! This 1935 500cc Cotton-JAP 25J is a rare single with great possibilities, but again has no reserve, requires restoration and is expected to sell at between £3000 and £4000.
January 2018
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6 NEWS
Triumph outlook encouraging On December 18, Triumph Motorcycles Group Limited announced its financial results for the year ending June 30, 2017 – and all the figures seem to be pointing in the right direction. Turnover was £498.5m compared with £407.6m in 2016, resulting in a before-tax profit of £24.7m compared with £16.6m for the previous year. Research and development costs were higher, at £29.2m compared with £26.9m, but 63,404 motorcycles were sold against 2016’s total of 56,253. The percentage of motorcycles sold in overseas countries was also slightly up, from 85.3% to 86.1%.
Basingstoke Transport Festival Up to 1000 vehicles, including classic and vintage motorcycles, will gather at Basingstoke’s War Memorial Park (RG21 4AG) for the Basingstoke Festival of Transport on Sunday, May 13. Commercial and military vehicles, fire engines, tractors and cars from several specialist clubs will all be taking part, and plentiful refreshments, trade stalls and a live jazz band will help ensure an enjoyable family day out. The event will open from 11am until 4pm, and while admission is free, car parking on the common will cost £2. Basingstoke was once the home of Thornycroft lorries, and Tim Briston (01256 468421 or thornycroftsocietyltd. com) is the man to tell you more.
January 2018
Lansdowne Classic Series enjoys successful season Classic motorcycle racing had a great 2017 season with good entries at all six meetings organised for the Lansdowne series. The overall winner and Bonhams Lansdowne British Champion was Dean Stimpson, riding an Izzard Racing Manx Norton, with Mike Russell and Chris Firmin in second and third places respectively.
Thrilling action like this, by Lansdowne contestants at Brands Hatch, made the 2017 season one to savour.
The National Motorcycle Museum-sponsored WRR class champion was Ian Bain (Manx Norton), with Chris Bassett and Mike Farrall following behind. In the 350cc class, sponsored by Avon Tyres, it was Geoff Leather (Manx) who took the honours, followed by Robert Lusk and Gareth Crew, while The Classic MotorCycle magazinesponsored TCM class for pre-1954 bikes was won by Sam Rhodes (Velocette) ahead of Alex Sinclair and Kevin Rushworth. This year will mark the 20th season for the series, and there will be seven meetings and possibly a non-championship round at the end of October at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The season will kick off with a BMCRC event at Silverstone on April 7/8, followed by the Endurance Legends round at Donington Park on May 12/13. The BMCRC will organise the third round at Snetterton on May 19/20, and on June 10 the Mallory Park round will be run by UK Motorsport.
2017 Lansdowne British Champion Dean Stimpson shows his winning style on the Izzard Racing Manx Norton.
On July 7/8 it will be Pembrey’s turn, with Northy Glos Racing in charge, before the final two rounds at Donington Park’s CRMC Festival from August 3-5 and finally at the CRMC Race of the Year at Cadwell on October 6/7.
Tempest scrambler joins AJS line-up AJS Motorcycles Ltd continues to expand its ‘heritage’ line-up of 17-year-old learner-legal motorcycles by following its Cadwell and Tempest models with a 125cc Tempest Scrambler. Featuring a longer swinging arm, longer rear alloy shock absorbers and an 18in front wheel, it is available in three striking new colours – Oasis Blue, Mojave Yellow and Blaze Orange. At a suggested retail price of £2249 including VAT and on-the-road costs it features a
smooth 54x54mm YB balanceshaft four-stroke single-cylinder engine with electronic fuel injection, straight-pull spoked wheels with alloy rims, front and rear disc brakes, a stainless steel exhaust system and 12-month AJS parts and labour warranty. A five-speed gearbox, electric and kick-starters and 16-litre fuel capacity further enhance the specification, and more details are available from AJS Motorcycles Ltd by calling 01264 729356 or going to www. ajsmotorcycles.co.uk .
At £2249, the 125cc AJS Tempest scrambler has a pretty impressive specification, including a longer swinging arm and rear shocks, knobbly tyres, discs all round and a 60mph top speed from its smooth five-speed four-stroke engine. The bright orange paintwork will add to its appeal, especially for learners.
Oasis Blue and Mojave Yellow are the two other colour options available.
January 2018
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8 NEWS
January 2018
Graham Lampkin is appointed ACTC’s motorcycle co-ordinator Graham Lampkin has become the Association of Classic Trials Clubs’ motorcycle co-ordinator responsible for all bike-related matters. “The ACTC regulates classic trials, but the term is a bit ambiguous,” said Graham. “The trial is of a classic format, but the vehicles can be brand new. They are the best-kept secret in the biking world.” The trials have entries of both bikes and cars, and share most sections, with the bikes going first. They cover planned 60 to 100-mile routes including public roads and private tracks, and perhaps 15 to 18 observed sections and a couple of tie-breaking special tests against the clock. The sections aren’t scored as in bike trials, but on a graduated basis from 12 to 0 depending on how far you get before a ‘fail’ occurs by a rider’s foot touching the ground or a car stopping. Because of the four-wheel element, the sections aren’t tight or severe, but they are
long and more like hill climbs up rutted tracks, the kind of going that might be encountered in trail riding. Such sections lend themselves to trail bikes (of any age) fitted with trials tyres, and there are classes for modern bikes of different engine capacities, pre-1970s bikes with British frames and engines, and sidecar outfits. Any off-road bike that doesn’t conform to such rules goes into class X, which means the rider still has a good day out but doesn’t score any championship points, so events can be sampled with any bike you have. Such events should not be compared with single-venue trials, but they are ideal for the trail rider, for anyone who wants to ride offroad but not extreme off-road, or was born before 1965 and is looking for a good day out. If you imagine the Beamish without the questions, or the MCC trials condensed into one day, you get the idea.
Although there is no age limit on the bikes used, riders do need an ACU Trials Registration costing £10 per annum, which is easily obtained. After deciding that different rules and regulations were not a good thing, the clubs running such events got together to form the ACTC, with member clubs voting on the rules and regulations. Thriving clusters exist in the north of England, and there are more in the South West, but enthusiasts are trying to expand on this. The ACTS runs regional and national championships, and more information is available by visiting www.ACTC.org.uk or by calling or emailing Graham Lampkin on 07989 446131 or at glampkin@btinternet.com . The next ACTS trial will be the North Devon Club’s Exmoor event on Sunday, January 28, and the Fell Side Club’s Northern Trial will take place on Saturday, February 17.
There’s snow on them far hills! This is the kind of going, and scenery, likely to be encountered in the Fell Side Club’s Northern ACTC Trial on Saturday, February 17.
Any kind, or age, of bike or rider is welcome.
Mortons Media Group and Carole Nash London’s Ace Cafe starts announce further three-year partnership the new year in style
Mortons Media Group, which publishes Old Bike Mart, has renewed its contract with top motorcycle insurance broker Carole Nash. The commitment includes the continued sponsorship of Mortons’ classic motorcycle shows including those at Stafford each April and October. Carole Nash will also have a strong branding presence among Mortons’ extensive publishing portfolio for the next three years. Mortons’ events director Nigel Hole said: “We are delighted to seal another three-year deal with Carole Nash, which means we’ll have benefited from a 10-year relationship with them. We are looking forward to developing
our shows with the help of what is already a successful partnership.” Rebecca Donohue, head of marketing at Carole Nash Insurance, said: “The Classic Motorcycle Shows are among the highlights of our events calendar every year, underpinning our company’s heritage and proud support of the classic motorcycle movement since 1985. “Being at the motorcycle shows allows us to fully entwine ourselves with the biking community and meet our customers face to face. “Mortons has become a close and trusted partner over the years, and we are delighted to be extending our relationship.”
Scenes like these at Stafford have ensured an extension of the partnership between Carole Nash Insurance and Mortons Media Group.
Special events at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD in January and February will kick off with the Hangover Meet on New Year’s Day, followed by bike days on January 7 and 14, the AJS & Matchless Owners’ Club Founder’s Day and classic bikes on the 21st, and an Australia Day on the 28th. February begins with bike days on the 4th and 11th, the MAG Fred Hill Memorial Ride-Out at 11am also on the 11th, a bike day along with a Ride-Out to the MCN Bike Show at ExCeL at 9.30am on the 18th, and a 59 Club Day on the 25th. Monthly meets also take place on weekdays from 6pm, with German
Nights and Auto Scoots on the first Monday of each month; British Bike Nights with Triumph and Royal Enfield Owners’ Clubs, along with the BMF and WIFA, on the second Wednesday; Mod ‘n’ Mini (classic scooters) on the first Thursday; Italian Nights on the second Thursday; Super Moto plus the XJR Owners’ Club, NABD, scooters and MAG on the third Thursday; Harley Nights on the last Thursday; Bike Nights and Streetfighters on the first Friday; Bike Nights plus Bandits (BOCGB) on the second Friday; Bike Nights plus Rockers ‘n’ Classics on the third Friday and Bike Nights plus performance and fast bikes on the last Friday.
January 2018
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10 NEWS
January 2018
TR30C rally will celebrate 50 years of iconic triples This year’s Annual Rally of the Trident & Rocket 3 Owners’ Club at the Anglesey circuit in North Wales on July 13-14 will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of the iconic triples in 1968. It is anticipated that the format will be similar to last year’s event, with track sessions, an autojumble and camping. After the track action, the bike line-up in the paddock area will show off every genre of the triples, with trophies presented to the best six in each class.
On the Saturday evening it will be party time, with a barbecue covered by the rally ticket along with entry to the event, the camping, a rally badge, programme and entry to the marquee for the bands – great value for triple enthusiasts from all around the UK and the world. Full details, including ticket prices and the full programme of activities, will be in the club’s magazine, Triple Echo, as well as on the TR3OC website and Facebook – https:// www.tr3oc.com .
This is the colourful ‘ray gun’ logo of the Trident & Rocket 3 Owners’ Club.
The Angleseycircuit is ideal for the kind of event the TR3OC has planned.
This handy map tells you how to get to the Anglesey circuit.
Steve Jones, of Steve’s Stainless, dies of heart attack in Goa Steve Jones of Steve’s Stainless, who was known to thousands of motorcyclists at autojumble events and was an unmistakable figure in his jester’s headgear, collapsed and died of a heart attack while on holiday in Goa with his wife Mand in November, and his cremation has taken place in India. Steve, whose business was featured in Old Bike Mart around two years ago, could be found at events all over the UK, often with Mand and daughter Tam on their adjoining stall. He always seemed to have what folk needed, and his popular stall must have helped thousands of people to complete their restorations or keep their machines on the road. One of the hardest-working people on the autojumble circuit, he devoted much time and energy into sourcing good-
quality fasteners and selling them at good prices, and was well liked by jumblers and customers. Julie Diplock of ELK Promotions, who kindly supplied this obituary, knew Steve for many years, and remembers him and Mand being washed out at a Scottish jumble one Saturday, and driving down to Kent to be at a jumble there the following morning. “Steve was always able to see the bigger picture, and I will miss him for his intelligent thoughts and sound advice,” said Julie, “but most of all for his good humour.” Children Aaron, Lawson, Sophie and Tamaryn flew out to India especially for the funeral, and a memorial to Steve took place at The Royal Oak, High Street, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, on Thursday, December 14.
Steve as many of us will remember him – in his famous jester headgear and an ever-present twinkle in his eyes. Photo: Paul Goff.
Lucky Bart collects Dedicated AJW website his Gold Star prize set up by Dennis Frost Bart Maatje from The Netherlands, who won a gorgeous 1960 DBD34 BSA Gold Star in the National Motorcycle Museum’s summer raffle, has been to the museum to collect his prize. Bart already rides a Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm, but the Goldie will be his first classic bike. He bought his ticket from the museum shop during a visit to the UK.
A new website about AJW motorcycles has been launched by Dennis Frost in memory of his late friend Roy Wheaton, a distant relative of AJW’s founder Albert John (Jack) Wheaton, who was the son of a wealthy Exeter printer and book publisher. The firm was founded in 1926, and Wheaton started producing thundering V-twins to rival the Brough Superiors of the day. By the early 1930s AJW had turned to sports singles powered by Rudge Python and latterly J A Prestwich (JAP) engines, and these were supplemented by utility Villiers lightweights. After the Second World War a new AJW company, by then owned by demobilised RAF officer Jack Ball again turned to JAP before frustrations with the supply of engines caused the firm to fit imported Italian lightweight power units. Over a period of 15 years, Roy Wheaton restored nine AJWs and became a leading authority on those fine motorcycles, and during his time at The Classic MotorCycle magazine, Dennis was able to ride and write about some of Roy’s restorations. Visit http://ajwmotorcyclesuk for more information.
New VMCC section for the Highlands?
Bart poses outside the NMM building with his sparkling Goldie.
A meeting to explore the possibility of establishing a new Vintage Motor Cycle Club section for North Argyll and Lochaber will take place at the Alexandra Hotel, The Parade, Fort William PH33 6AZ at 7.30pm on February 23. VMCC president Rod Hann will chair the meeting, and anyone interested in old motorcycles is welcome to attend, whether a member of the VMCC or not. Contact Chris Jones on 07768 268854 or email cjoneshome@ btinternet.com for more details.
January 2018
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January 2018
A thumping good restoration Pete Kelly visits Velocette enthusiast Derek Manders to see his latest pride and joy – a green 1955 MSS that he bought as a 70% complete project at Bonhams’ Spring 2016 Stafford auction and which he has just finished restoring in the MAC form in which it originally left the Hall Green factory.
D
erek Manders started motorcycling at the age of 16 on a second-hand 1959 175cc BSA Bantam that he bought himself for the princely sum of £15. This was quickly followed by a 250cc BSA C15 of the same vintage, then an ex-War Department BSA M20 side-valve machine. By 1973 he was working in motorcycle shops in Lincoln, first with F K Sharpe on the High Street, and later with nearby F Portas & Son. His duties included servicing, building up bikes from their import crates, driving the vans and anything else that came along. By then, of course, we were well into the Japanese era, and he remembers dealing with various Hondas, Suzukis and Yamahas, and especially scores of Yamaha ‘Fizzies’ which were, of course, the accepted learner ‘pose’ of the day. His favourite bikes of the time, though, were the air-cooled BMW flat twins.
Lots to ride
Derek rode a BSA A10 sidecar outfit for a while, and had a Honda 70 for commuting, but when you worked for a bike dealership there were always plenty of bikes to ride anyway.
As life progressed, he went virtually without motorcycles for a good 20 to 25 years, but when he reached his mid-fifties his enthusiasm was re-awakened, and with 60 knocking on the doorstep he decided to have another go, buying a 1964 Triumph Bonneville that he’d known since it was three years old. The Bonnie came in a box of bits, and Derek was two-thirds of the way through rebuilding it when, about six years ago, his first chance of owning a Velocette – a 1964 500cc MSS – came along so the Triumph had to go. “I’ve always liked big singles,” he said, “and I’d always been quite fond of Velos. I had expected the riding position to feel strange – you sit on top of Velocettes rather than in them – but in the event I felt at home in no time at all.” The next machine he added to his Velo stable, and the one that remains his favourite, was a 1938 rigid-girder MAC, followed by a 1948 350cc MAC with a 1952 engine and Dowty front forks that came from one of his mates. The latest apple of his eye, though, is a machine that he bought as a green 350cc MSS project about 70% complete at the Bonhams’ Spring Auction at Stafford in 2016 and which he has now restored in its original MAC form.
Every minor detail has been thought about.
The green paintwork shows up well on the nearside of the MAC.
Looking at Derek Manders’ rebuilt 350cc Velocette from the ‘best side’, it’s immediately apparent just how much work has gone into its restoration.
Derek couldn’t wait to get his Velocette to the Newark Winter Show.
The view from the handlebars, with a brand new speedometer and everything polished to perfection.
Welsh history
Just about a year ago, Derek was in the throes of stripping the frame and other parts to bare metal in readiness for sandblasting and a full repaint. The inside of the fuel tank was coated with Flow Liner, and while the beautiful paint job by ‘The Painter’ (07599 993770) was being carried out at an amazingly competitive price, new fork stanchions, bushes and seals, Hagon rear shock absorbers, a new speedometer, exhaust system, chains and cables were sourced. A complete new clutch has also been fitted, and the dynamo has been rebuilt. Lincoln Alloy Polishing (rick@lincolnalloypolishing.co.uk) also played a part. A new carburettor and exhaust system were found, along with a new green seat, and the wheels were completely rebuilt with new rims and spokes and fitted with new tyres. Many smaller items have been re-chromed or polished, and new levers and cables have also been fitted. The result is a beautiful Velo of which Derek can be justly proud – and he couldn’t wait to show it off at Newark on January 6-7.
This Velocette left the Hall Green factory on November 5, 1955 with engine number 24468. It was dispatched to agent Williams of Aberffraw on the island of Anglesey before being sold to S Williams of Holyhead with the registration number CEY 944 on February 15, 1956. A lot of people in Wales have the Williams surname, of course, but Derek still wonders whether that first buyer was related to the seller. Since then, as in the case of many old bikes, the machine has been deprived of its original number plate, so the current one is age-related. “It’s just a number, though,” says Derek philosophically, “and the bike will give just as much pleasure whatever the registration.” With all this information at hand, Derek decided to restore the Velocette as a MAC form, and was lucky enough to find an engine locally that was just 180 numbers older than the original, which would make it near enough the correct age. This engine had been rebuilt some time previously and stored, and extensive work had been done on it.
The beautifully shaped tank has been lined inside and a great paint job applied.
A brand new fishtail exhaust system has been fitted to perpetuate that distinctive Velo thump.
The replacement engine, only 180 numbers older than the original, had already been rebuilt, and the exterior has now been nicely polished.