Old Bike Mart - January 2015

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January 2015

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As the white stuff starts to clear from the notoriously narrow and twisting Llanrwst Road near Abergele, North Wales, a sidecar outfit cautiously proceeds towards the distant snow-capped hills in this magical picture from the Mortons Archive.

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2 NEWS

January 2015

Pete’s Prattle www.oldbikemart.co.uk email: info@oldbikemart.co.uk

Editor Pete Kelly OBMEditor@mortons.co.uk Publisher Dan Savage Group production editor Tim Hartley Designer Tracey Barton Divisional advertising sales manager David England dengland@mortons.co.uk Advertising Ricky Nichols rnichols@mortons.co.uk Tania Shaw tshaw@mortons.co.uk

In this troubled world of ours, I was looking for something heartwarming and inspirational to say at the beginning of a brand new motorcycling year, when a letter and a couple of pictures from John E A West of Ruthin, Denbighshire, arrived out of the blue and solved the problem straight away.

01507 524004 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Circulation manager Steve O’Hara Production manager Craig Lamb Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Associate director Malcolm Wheeler Finance director Kathryn Pinder General Queries 01507 529529 (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.

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The first picture shows John in 1953, aged 27, with a very wellladen Velocette MAC – could you imagine three suitcases piled one on top of the other and lashed firmly to the rear carrier nowadays? And the second shows him just a couple of months ago on a 400cc Honda Bros.

John, who’ll be 89 next birthday, wrote: “I’m still riding after 72 years’ motorcycling, and in all that time I’ve never, ever been without a bike.”

What an inspiration to each and every one of us, especially those who think we might be getting on a bit, so my New Year message to every reader – yes, including myself – is to get into that shed or garage, dust down your favourite bike, give it a good going-over and make a firm

From piled-high MAC to present-day Honda Bros, these two pictures span no fewer than 61 years of 88-year-old John West’s life on two wheels.

resolution to enjoy every possible minute of it in 2015.

Bikes are, and always have been, for riding, and it’s a great pity that so many precious twowheeled ‘investments’ stand idle these days, their owners terrified

of putting mileage on the clock, or scuff marks on the tank, in case it impedes their value.

Let’s just get out there on our bikes and make it a year to remember!

Sammy receives FIM Trial Legend Award

‘Profiteering’ angers Fair Fuel UK Campaign

After being presented with his FIM Trial Legend Award in the Spanish city of Jerez de la Frontera in November, Sammy Miller presented two world champions with their trophies – Spain’s Toni Bou with his individual FIM X-Trial and Trial World Champion awards and our own Emma Bristow, from Boston, Lincs, with her individual FIM Women’s Trial World Champion award.

Delegates from 84 countries witnessed the presentation of all other individual and team awards before celebrating the FIM’s achievements at a gala dinner in the world-famous Teatro Villamarta.

Following the biggest and most sustained period of falls in oil prices in recent memory, the Fair Fuel UK Campaign estimates that UK motorists are now being fleeced by around £5 each time they fill their tanks.

Campaign founder Howard Cox said: “Pump prices should now be at least 8p lower, maybe more, so who the hell is profiteering by not passing these massive drops in prices?”

Newton Abbot dates Sammy Miller shows off his FIM Trial Legend Award.

■ Although autojumbles will take place in Newton Abbot’s cattle market on Sunday, March 29 and Sunday, October 4, there will not be one on April 6, as stated in the wall planner, because of the application of bank holiday car parking charges.

NEWS 3

January 2015

Charterhouse auction at friendly Bristol classic

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enowned for its friendly atmosphere and impressive displays put on by local motorcycle clubs, the South-West’s Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show is deemed by many bike enthusiasts to be their favourite of the year.

A new feature of the 35th event, which takes place at the Royal Bath & West showground, Shepton Mallet, from 10am until 5pm over the weekend of February 7-8, is a classic bike auction hosted by Charterhouse on the Sunday.

The company has many years’ experience of classic and vintage sales at the venue, so visitors can expect to see motorcycles of all ages, makes and models coming up for sale, from pioneering machines of the early 1900s to modern classics of the late 1980s.

Charterhouse has already confirmed some of the lots which will go to auction, including a 1961 Velocette Venom and a 1987 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Trike. The cut-off point for consignments to the Bristol show auction is January 20.

There’s an entry fee of £60 plus VAT per motorcycle, this includes photographs for the website and catalogue etc. If the motorcycle sells, there’s then a six per cent (plus VAT) commission payable on the hammer price, though Charterhouse is prepared to negotiate

Classic motorcycles will be in abundance at the Bristol show. Photo: Mortons Archive

with those interested in consigning collections.

Anyone interested in selling at the auction should contact Matthew Whitney at mw@charterhouse-auction.com or by calling 01935 812277. Further auction details, including previews of lots, can be found at

A sight to bring tears to your eyes – or a bike restorer’s dream? Let’s hope that some of the sadlooking machinery seen here is eventually restored to its old glory.

www.charterhouse-motorcycle.blogspot.co.uk Motorcycle clubs from the region normally go all out to impress as they vie with each other for the best club stand award, and private exhibitors will be putting up their stunning machines for the best in show trophy.

Several halls will be filled with traders, dealers and autojumble stands to make the show a must for any classic enthusiast.

Advance one-day adult, child and senior citizen tickets cost £10, £3 and £8 respectively, with on-the-gate sales rising to £12, £4 and £10.

For advance tickets, call 01507 529529 or visit www.classicbikeshows.com

With a guide price of £5000 to £8000, this 1961 Velocette Venom will come up for sale at the Bristol show’s Charterhouse auction.

You call that a ‘footrest’? asked the police officer

Huddersfield Autojumble dates

The Norman Club’s discovery of a battered B4 Sports reminds Pete Kelly of an ill-advised outing on a borrowed bike 50 years ago.

The fuel tank of this latest Norman B4 Sports would look a bit better in red and white, but the frame and seat basics are still intact.

Our ‘Club Call’ feature has generated quite a lot of correspondence, and Gary Pilcher of the Norman Motorcycle and Cycles Club has informed us of a surprise find of a West Sussex-registered Norman B4 Sports – in a bad way, true, but the basis for a restoration nevertheless.

It reminded me of my recuperation from a serious bike accident back in 1965 when, with my right leg encased in plaster, I started getting a bit fed up of not being able to ride.

Metal bar

Wheels, side boxes, suspension parts, rear numberplate and headlamp are all there, too. Now where did they put that engine?

At the time, I had a girlfriend who liked riding pillion, so I asked a friend if I could borrow his Norman B4 Sports to take her for a run into the countryside. He readily agreed, so I clamped a metal bar across the downtube to rest my stiff leg on and picked her up.

Gary Pilcher’s Norman B4 Sports brought a reminder of happy days.

With my leg fouling the right fork leg the steering was severely restricted, of course, and changing gear entailed bending down to move the gear lever by hand, but the joy of riding a bike again was immense.

We weren’t far into our journey when a police patrol car came past and pulled us to the side of the road.

Shaking his head in amazement as we explained what we were doing, the officer said: “I could throw the book at you, but it’d take all morning to write it down. Just turn around, get straight back home, and if I see you again you’ll be booked.”

I humbly agreed, he took off – and we continued with our ride anyway! How different it would all be today…

Phoenix Fairs’ Huddersfield Autojumble dates for 2015, all at the Old Market Building in Brook Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RG, are January 18, February 15, March 22, April 19, September 27, October 25 (rally), November 22 and December 27 (party).

Enquiries to Jeff Needham (tel/fax 01773 819154/07795 505388), at www.phoenix fairs.jimdo.com or jeffpff@ hotmail.co.uk

AEC Monarch, not Mammoth The caption to last month’s front page picture, showing a 1948 Ambassador motorcycle being ridden past an AEC lorry, incorrectly described the latter as a Mammoth Major. The lorry is of course a four-wheel Monarch, not an eight-wheel Mammoth Major, and the mistake arose because a pencilled description on the back of our 66-year-old archive photograph described it as such. I’ll check the front of the photo as well next time! – Ed.

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January 2015

NEWS 5

January 2015

PUTOLINE CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW, TELFORD INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, FEBRUARY 21-22

Newly-branded Telford show should be best yet

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he newly-branded Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show, formerly known as ‘Wrighty’s Show’, which takes place at the Telford International Centre over the weekend of February 21-22, is ramping up the celebrations for 2015 with displays and star guests recalling some of the most memorable moments in off-road and road racing competition.

The 40th anniversaries of Martin Lampkin being crowned world trials champion and Vic Allan becoming

the only man ever to have won both the British 250 and 500cc British Motocross Championships in the same year on a brace of Bultacos, will be marked with both men in attendance to share stories from their extraordinary careers.

Forty years have also passed since special guest of honour Mick Grant took the second of his seven TT wins, breaking Mike Hailwood’s longstanding lap record in the process.

What has since become known as the ‘Manx decade’ of International

Classic trials irons like this 1961 ‘works replica’ Royal Enfield will be on show at the Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show at Telford on February 21-22. Photo: Mortons Archive

Six Days’ Trials, which started 50 years ago, will also be remembered – and with its newly-found vigour, the National Motorcycle Museum will open out the show with a special display from its priceless collection of racing Nortons through the ages.

With his glittering career as a road racer, trials rider, development engineer and definitely raconteur, Mick Grant has spent most of his lifetime at the sharp end of motorcycle sport.

A shining example of ‘success begins in the workshop,’ as anyone who remembers his club racing Velocette Venom will recall, Mick gained his many victories only through hard work, dedication and the admirable notion that “near enough just isn’t good enough”.

Along the road of his lengthy competition career, he has found himself in demand as a development engineer for some big-name factories, not to mention taking on the roles of team manager and rider manager.

As well as speaking at the traditional Saturday evening dinner, ‘Granty’ will be on hand at the show all weekend, along with the likes of Vic Allan and Bill Brown.

Displays of special machines and club exhibits will be spread over several halls, along with trade and autojumble stands, and for the first time, visitors will be able to hear the

Showing all of the style that made him British 250cc and 500cc Motocross Champion in 1975, Vic Allan reaches for the sky in the 1970 Swiss 500cc Motocross Grand Prix. Photo:Mortons Archive

exciting sounds of famous race machines in the brand new Classic Racer Paddock.

A star ‘performer’ will be a Classic TT-winning works Paton, but also due to appear are the world’s fastest Royal Enfield from Flitwick Motorcycles’ Team Linsdell – with the future TT star Ollie Linsdell and his father Steve who will both be chatting to visitors – an ex-John McGuinness Vimto Honda SP1 from the 2000 TT, and a 1996 Terry Rymer Old Spice Ducati 955, both now part of Mike West’s collection.

Guest of honour Mick Grant tackles a section in the 2008 Classic Experts’ Trial. Photo: Mortons Archive

The Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show, opening from 10am until 4.30pm on both days, is one you certainly won’t want to miss.

Advance one-day adult tickets costing £11, and the same including early autojumble entry at £14, are available by calling 01507 529529 or going online at www.classicbike shows.com The equivalent prices at the gate will be £13 and £17 respectively. Under-12s will be admitted free.

6 NEWS

Classic bikes at the Lincolnshire Show Alan Caine, volunteer organiser of the classic motorcycle display at the 131st Lincolnshire Show at the Lincolnshire Showground on Wednesday and Thursday, June 24-25, asks anyone wishing to take part to express their initial interest by March.

Classic bikes are welcome to form part of the classic vehicle section display at a new location close to Gate 5, but they must be rideable, roadworthy, taxed, insured and MoT’d.

Each exhibitor will receive two free entrance tickets to the show each day, worth £22 per person and including free parking in the car park.

A 20ft x 10ft marquee will be erected on site for display, seating and a rest area, and there will be an adjacent covered trailer for helmets and riding gear.

A potted history of each machine will be required for the show brochure.

Alan can be contacted on 01472 851674, 07778 019611 or at alncn100@gmail.com

January 2015

TTRA fundraiser makes £10,000 plus

A

fundraising evening on behalf of the TT Riders’ Association at the Parr Hall, Warrington, on Friday, December 5 raised £10,370 from an auction, ticket sales, raffle and miscellaneous other sales and donations.

Entitled ‘An evening with Valvoline Racing by Padgett’s Motorcycles’, and including stars of TT racing past and present, it was organised by Friends of the TT Riders’ Association committee member Geoff Kelly and others, and hosted brilliantly by Jamie Whitham.

Joining him on stage were John McGuinness, Steve Plater, Roger Marshall, Neil Tuxworth and sponsor Clive Padgett.

The evening began with a fanfare from the Blackpool and Wigan Town Crier Barry McQueen followed by a short speech from Warrington’s deputy mayor Geoff Settle.

The tasty line-up of bikes on display included the two-stroke lap record-holding Yamaha YZR500 and the outright lap record-holding Honda CBR1000 RR SP that were both ridden by Bruce Anstey, and the CBR1000 RR SP, all from Padgett’s; two Yamaha TZ750s, a Suzuki RG500, 350cc Kawasaki and AJS 7R. Around 450 people attended the event, including ex-TT riders Mick Chatterton, Kenny Arthur, Nigel Rollason and many more.

Motorcycle Live attendance up The organisers of Motorcycle Live at Birmingham’s NEC in November have claimed a 10% increase in visitor numbers over the previous year, with more than 117,000 motorcycle enthusiasts, families and friends attending the nine-day event.

More than 250 exhibitors, including 39 manufacturers, set out their stands and display areas, and no fewer than 20 live features and shows enlivened the event.

Each day brought an influx of racing stars from

MotoGP, World and British Superbikes, the Isle of Man TT and speedway, including 2014 WSB Champion Sylvain Guintoli and BSB Champion Shane Byrne, who took part in signing sessions and questions and answers.

TV personalities included Charley Boorman of Long Way Round fame, This is England actor Andrew Shim and The Great British Bake-Off’s Paul Hollywood.

Motorcycle Live 2015 will take place at the NEC from November 21-29.

Diary Dates JANUARY 2015

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3-4 5 8 9 11 16 17 18 18 21 23 25 24 24 28 29

Sunbeam MCC Chairman’s Lunch, Burston.

Ian McGill 01293 771446 The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic, Newark Showground, Notts NG24 2NY. www.classicbikeshows.com JANUARY ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes) Spitfire Memorial, Fairhaven Lake, Lytham, 11am for 12. Tel 01772 782516 Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Kidlington Autojumble, Exeter Halls, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1AB. Email: events@woodclass.com Tel 02082 526831; mobile 07968 080990 Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk Scorton Giant Auto/Bike Jumble, North Yorkshire Events Centre DL10 6EH. Bert 07909 904705 17th Malvern Drive-In Classic Car & Motorcycle Autojumble. Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6NW. Tel 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org Huddersfield Autojumble. Jeff 07795 505388. http://phoenixfairs.jimdo.com FEBRUARY ISSUE OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk ’Normous Newark, Newark Showground, Notts NG24 2NY. www.newarkautojumble.co.uk Kempton Bike Jumble, Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ. www.egp-enterprises.co.uk LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes) Crook of Lune picnic site, nr Lancaster, 11am for 12. Tel 01772 782516 FEBRUARY ISSUE OF CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes) Clitheroe, fishing lake on A59 bypass, 11am for 12. Tel 01772 782516

30 31

Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk LE Velo Northampton gathering, Britannia Inn car park NN4 7AA, noon. Tel 01604 499858

FEBRUARY 2015 1

SCRMC Ltd Haggis Gathering. Classic/Vintage and early Japanese Motorcycle Autojumble, Lawrie & Symington Agricultural Centre, Lanark ML11 9AX. Agnes Cadger 01294 833320. Email: agnescadger@tiscalli.co.uk 1 East Midlands Motorcycle Show (inc 17th Classic Japanese Bike Show), Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derbys DE74 2RP. Tel 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org 2 FEBRUARY ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC 6 MARCH ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE 6 Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk 7 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 7-8 The 35th Carole Nash Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN. www.classicbikeshows.com 8 Sunbeam MCC Gordon Jackson Trial, Bagshot, Hants.

Neil Sinclair 07885 660939 8 LE Velo (Lancs & S Lakes), Foulridge, meet by Canal, 11am for 12. Tel 01772 782516 8 Chelmsford Bike Jumble, Boreham Village Hall CM3 3JD. Tel 020 8252 6831 or 07968 080990 13 Classic Bike & Car Meet, The Victoria, Coalville, Leics LE67 3FA. Tel 01530 814718. www.vicbikerspub.co.uk 14-15 The Footman James 6th Great Western Autojumble, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN. www.bccsl.co.uk 15 Huddersfield Autojumble. Jeff 07795 505388. http://phoenixfairs.jimdo.com 15 VMCC (Northampton), Heartbreakers Run. Midsummer Meadow, Northampton, 11am. Trevor Pinfold 01604 859215.

FOR A FULL LIST OF DIARY DATES VISIT WWW.OLDBIKEMART.CO.UK

YOUR EVENT shOUld bE iN hERE!

OBM is anxious to learn all about your motorcycle related events.

Contact us at OBM, Mortons Media Ltd, Diary Listings, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ or go to

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Events organisers – please make sure that your entry has contact details and let us have your entries by the advertising deadline (see page 2 for details).

It is advisable to telephone the event organiser before setting out on your journey as we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes in event details.

January 2015

7

8 A BIT ON THE SIDE

A little bit of history repeated…

Bright as a button, the light-handling Jawa Retro outfit is much improved over the original 1970s version.

January 2015

Mick Payne finds F2 Motorcycles’ punchy and light-handling 350cc Jawa Retro/Swift outfit a delight to ride, with many improvements over the original Czech product.

B

efore leaving F2 Motorcycles in Cambridgeshire on a Jawa Retro outfit, I promised proprietor David Angel that I’d take it easy as the bike was still being run in.

My first impression was of a nippy two-stroke, pulling cleanly and with none of the blue haze in the mirrors normally associated with the type; my second, as I changed up, was that the clutch cable had broken. It hadn’t, of course – it was just Jawa’s take on Triumph’s Slick Shift, by which the foot pedal also operates the clutch mechanism, and from then on I ignored the hand control and just used the pedal until I needed first again.

The riding pose was comfortable, with a distinct lean forward to the fairly narrow handlebars; the slim tank and seat conspiring to make for a mile-eating position.

The little 350 seemed perfectly capable of a bit of distance work, too. Running in or not, it accelerated away with verve and a nice crackle from the twin silencers.

Some of this was down to the tuning kit David had fitted to release a little more power and torque from an already grunty little engine. This is reflected in the fact that the journal of the owners’ club is actually entitled Torque.

The Retro is F2’s homage to Jawas of old, harking back to the late 1970s, but it’s as modern as a Czech two-stroke is ever likely to get, with oil injection, electric start, electronic ignition and a slightly incongruous digital speedo/rev-counter. This is the only piece I didn’t really like as it flicks between tenths of a mile (or kilometre) an hour constantly – a bit too accurate, methinks. It does, however, sport two tripmeters and a clock, not all at the same time though.

January 2015

A BIT ON THE SIDE 9

Brakes are also hugely improved, with a 265mm disc at the front and the traditional drum to the rear.

The Jawa certainly made easy work of pulling the Swift sidecar, another F2 special and built like a small Ural model. My regular passenger, Kate, found it easy to get in and out, comfortable overall, but just a little draughty around the knees.

With the Italian Tarozzi fork brace holding the sliders together, handling was fine and the steering was relatively light for an outfit with solo geometry. No steering damper is fitted, and the front tyre is still a ribbed Mitas, in my experience not the best tread form for sidecar use. The rear is a traditional block pattern from the same manufacturer.

So did we like it? We did indeed, and are even thinking of buying one with either a Swift or Velorex Tour for a big trip we’re planning.

This rather sharp-looking pairing costs just ÂŁ6195 on the road, great value for a brand new and oh so traditional outfit.

LEFT: The big 265mm single front disc works in conjunction with the traditional rear drum to give good stopping power.

The sidecar boot provides room for a toolkit along with oversuits and other odds and ends.

Oil injection comes as part of the package.

You have to blink twice to realise this is just a reflection in the chrome front mudguard.

The Swift sidecar is comfortable, if a little draughty around the knees.

10 IT’S MY BIKE

January 2015

1938 Norton 16H is Terry’s pride and joy

Carefully placing the small left handlebar lever into its red-marked starting position, Terry prepares to take a swing.

One of Norton’s stalwarts for many years was its 500cc 16H side-valve single – and the 1938 model restored by Terry Potter of Classic & Vintage Paintwork is one of the finest around, reports Pete Kelly.

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The 1938 Norton 16H was built up from a pile of bits.

The springs had been chromed before Terry acquired the bike. The brass tax disc holder – now a historic artefact in itself – was bought at an Ace Cafe meeting.

ver since coming to Old Bike Mart last spring, I’ve been pondering over just what makes old bikes so appealing, and it was only after visiting Terry Potter in Buckinghamshire to take a close look at his gorgeous 1938 16H Norton a few weeks ago that the answer finally struck me – their purity of form, their simplicity, and the fact that they actually involved the rider in every aspect of their performance.

Bikes from that era weren’t bedecked like Christmas trees with plastic and glass-fibre appendages, nor were they fitted with mirrors, indicators, electric starters, automatic chokes and the like.

You pulled the machine on to its rear stand, turned on the fuel, tickled the carburettor, moved the advance/retard lever to just the right spot, eased over the engine on compression, gave a hefty prod on the kick-starter and off it went.

One machine that always oozed such purity of form was Norton’s trusty 500cc 16H side-valve single, a prewar favourite that was equally happy being ridden solo or lugging a sidecar around. During the Second World War it was a military stalwart, and when peacetime resumed, it and the Model 18 were the first two Nortons to return to civilian production.

After receiving its final makeover with telescopic forks and other mods in 1947, the 16H was produced until the mid-1950s.

Around 12 years ago Terry, who runs Precision Motorcycle Paintwork, mentioned to a customer for whom he was painting a rare Indian Velocette tank that he was looking for a prewar Norton.

The customer had a 1938 16H that had been stripped down and was all in bits, and a deal was made.

“When I finally got round to it, the first job was to do a ‘dry build’ to make sure that everything was there, and that it all fitted,” said Terry. After that, it was a matter of using his hard-won skills to put the engine together properly and thoroughly prepare the metalwork before applying a meticulous paint job.

He sandblasted all the parts, dealing with any imperfections along the way, before carefully moving on to the filler work and priming, then cutting back all the surfaces by wet-flatting and finally applying a lustrous black finish to all cycle parts, with the exception of the silver petrol and oil tanks.

The wheels, with their painstakingly applied red pin-striping on each side of the rims, are the result of many hours of work bringing the rims to a superb black finish before marking out the eighthinch-wide strips with fine marker tape and embarking on all the steps leading to the application of the red paint.

The same meticulous care has gone into the tanks, which look gorgeous with their classic black and red lining.

Heart of the matter – the handsome 490cc side-valve single.

The finish and lining of the fuel tank have been carried out with consummate skill.

No wonder Terry has been called upon to repair and paint the tanks of a Norton that took part in the very first TT in 1907, a Rudge, a Scott Flying Squirrel and a Vincent Rapide for starters. He showed me the petrol tank of a BSA Empire Star on which he’d spent countless hours cutting out, metal patching and generally knocking into shape before having it completely chrome-plated ready for the final painting of its tank panels in BSA light green.

“Generally the engine was great,” said Terry. “I had a spare crankshaft with a good big end, and T&L Engineering of Elstow, Beds, fitted a new small end bush to the connecting rod, as well as a new cylinder liner and bored it out to standard piston size.”

Merv Kendall of Dunstable overhauled the Lucas magneto and upgraded the dynamo to 12v, and a solid state regulator/rectifier was fitted for charging.

Terry made up all his own cables, and a friend looked after the wiring.

When the great day came to start up the Norton after its long sojourn, it went first kick: Terry has the video to prove it!

Since then he’s been gradually extending his rides, with a bit more fettling in between, and it was at the Sand and Motorcycles event at the Leighton Buzzard Railway on September 28, that his Norton was spotted by round-thecoast Brough Superior SS80 rider John Wallis, who said it was one of the nicest he’d ever seen.

From its left side, the Norton has a slightly less interesting look.

January 2015

11

To advertise in the February issue give Tania or Rick a call on 01507 524004

12 FROM OUR ARCHIVES

January 2015

High-tech bike gear, 1956 Trench coats, flying jackets, pig hide mitts and ex-Navy top boots were part and parcel of the motorcycling scene back in the 1950s – a far cry from the high-tech riding equipment of today.

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Marcus Stores of Gravesend was advertising Royal Canadian Admiralty heavyweight oilskins and chrome leather flying jackets for the discerning motorcyclist back in 1956.

Safety helmets have come a long way since the 1956 Motorcycle Show. Among Aviakit’s top sellers were the Trackstar and Skidlid at 62 shillings (£3.10) and 49s-6d (just under £2.50).

hen you think of today’s ultrasophisticated riding gear, it can be sobering to look back to the 1950s, when gauntlets, trench coats, sheepskinlined flying jackets, waxed-cotton riding suits, solid leather dispatch rider boots, peaked helmets and cheap goggles were the order of the day.

Unsurprisingly, at a time when the world was still awash with war surplus stock of every description, much of the clothing would be bought at places like Headquarters & General Supplies Ltd, but countless other outlets offered items such as Royal Canadian Admiralty heavyweight oilskins, Simplex storm and blizzard-proof coats, ex-USA pilots-type lamb collar leather flying jackets, ex-RAF leather helmets, military police raincoats, ex-Naval top boots, USA Government surplus three-in-one parkas, genuine ex-WD dispatch rider coats, police patrol gauntlets, pig hide mitts, genuine RAF escape boots, USA field jackets and much more besides.

Back then there were many more motorcyclists on the road than today, and what’s more the vast majority rode their bikes every single day, enduring everything the weather could throw at them, from torrential rain to numbing cold, snow and ice, and there seemed to be a police or militaryproven item of clothing for every eventuality.

One-piece leather racing suits, lightweight boots and gloves were strictly for the race track, and anyone riding around on the road so attired in those days would have been the subject of much amusement – in this country at least.

Not everything in the 1950s was ex-WD, however, and Britain boasted many manufacturers of motorcycle clothing including Barbour, Belstaff, Armadrake, Kantex and Mascot. Those who felt the need to wear a helmet could choose between Stadium, Everoak, Corker and Aviakit among others; Octopus and Stadium were perhaps the best-remembered goggle manufacturers; and a leading manufacturer of ‘proper’ riding gloves, gauntlets and mitts was Waddington’s.

Pride & Clarke Ltd of 158 Stockwell Road, London SW9, offered a wide range of its ownbrand riding suits and long coats, including ‘Manx’, ‘Clubman’ and ‘Supersenior’ suits and ‘Trophy’, ‘National’ and ‘365’ coats – do any readers remember wearing them?

Clothing manufacturers looked to all-

Note the riding gear in this picture, sent by Steve Hall, whose letter about a road test Matchless G15 CSR appears on our letters pages. It shows his in-laws, Reg and Hilda Lodge (left), along with Reg’s friend Tom and Hilda’s sister Molly, on their prewar BSA and Norton machines respectively. The location is Commodore Road, Oulton Broad, Suffolk, although at the time Reg and Tom lived and worked in Chaddesden, Derby. Steve wonders if the bikes are still around.

weather riders such as motorcycle police patrols to back up the claims for their products. A full-page advertisement in a show issue of The Motor Cycle of November 8, 1956 went: “The country’s principal police patrols, out in all weathers, are armed with Armadrakes against the vicious onslaughts of driving rain, hail, blizzards and snow.

Whenever bad weather shows itself on the beat, it is arrested on the spot and completely disarmed thanks to the tough resistance of the mobile officer’s best friend – his Armadrake. Good enough for the police, you’ll agree that the deep, warm, neverfailing comfort of an Armadrake is good enough for you, too.”

Corker helmets couldn’t resist the police connection, either. An advert in the same issue for the new Corker peaked helmet, which cost 62s-6d (just over £3) went: “The new Corker retains all the features that have made the name synonymous with safety. It is standard equipment for police motorcycle patrolmen and the choice of knowledgeable motorcyclists everywhere. For safety’s sake – wear a Corker”.

How dated it all now seems, with today’s helmets being so many times better.

Sometimes the adverts waxed lyrical; an advert for the 15 shilling (75p) Octopus goggle No 906 “worn always by John Surtees” going: “For the man in the race, For the ‘bod’ in the club, For the man who keeps pace With what goes on the face, For the girl who looks after Her man and herself, There’s an Octopus goggle On everyone’s shelf.”

Have motorbike, will travel – and ordinary shoes were just fine!

Waddington’s of Hull was among the foremost riding glove manufacturers 58 years ago, and boasted that its Rainglove was worn by police motorcycle patrols.

While it might be easy for a modern motorcyclist to laugh at the comical-looking riding attire of over half a century ago, remember that the people who wore it used their bikes for work and play right through the year – and how many of today’s riders can say that?

“The finest motor cycling boot ever offered” was the claim of Scott & Reed for these British Officers’ calf-length dispatch rider boots, adding that they were worth six guineas (£6.30) rather than the 45 shillings (£2.25) sale price.

January 2015

FROM OUR ARCHIVES 13

What an evocative cover, as riders in their 1949 apparel prepare to board the fondly remembered Isle of Man Steam Packet steamer, Lady of Mann.

Working out the old-style money The prices shown in old-time advertisements will be baffling to the generations who have grown up in the 44 years since Britain decimalised its currency, so here’s a brief description of the old monetary system: There were 240 pennies in an old pound (480 halfpennies, 960 farthings); 12 pennies in a shilling; 24 pennies in a florin and 30 pennies in half-a-crown.

Other coins were the threepenny bit and the sixpenny piece that was also known as the ‘tanner’. A guinea was a pound plus a shilling.

Prices could be marked in three ways – £2-17s-6d, £2/17/6 or simply 57/6.

Back in the 1950s, stormcoats were just the job for our cold and tricky winter weather.

Armadrake enlisted a police motorcycle patrol team to sing the praises of its well-known range of riding suits and coats.

If you fancied an ex-RAF leather helmet, flying goggles or military police raincoat, Claude Rye of Fulham Road, London, had plenty in stock.

Corker was proud of its BSI-specification peaked helmet which cost 62/6 (£3 121⁄2p) in 1956.

14 LETTERS

January 2015

✪ Muc-Off Star Letter Memories of that road test Matchless G15 CSR

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Imagine my surprise as I read Pete’s article on the Matchless G15 CSR because that very bike, ELB 322C, was owned by my brother, Mike Hall. He bought it early in 1967 from Tom Kirby, who informed him that Bill Ivy and Paddy Driver had raced it in the Thruxton 500-miler.

I believe the bike is pictured in Alan Peck’s book, No Time to Lose, with a caption reading: “Working hard – a spectator watching Ivy wrestling with the big Matchless remarked that it was like seeing a dog shaking a rat.”

Unfortunately ELB 322C was written off by our older brother Kenny on the A146 at Barnby – he obviously thought he was Bill Ivy! The only thing salvageable was the engine and gearbox, so from the ashes JRT 532K arose. However, with a child on the way it had to be sold, and eventually went to West London Motorcycles in Acton around 1972.

Does anyone know whether JRT 532K survives?

I enclose pictures of both ELB 322C and JRT 532K – I’m pictured astride ‘ELB’.

Steve Hall, Email Keep your motorcycle in concours condition with the help of Muc-Off. Its fantastic range of bike-cleaning products will make short work of shifting all sorts of road dirt. Get that muck off with Muc-Off! Even better, each month the star letter on OBM’s ‘Your View’ page will get a litre of Muc-Off Bike Cleaner for your clean start.

Visit www.muc-off.com to see the full range, or find Muc-Off on Facebook.

A young Steve Hall sits astride the very same Matchless G15 CSR that OBM’s editor road tested back in 1965.

After the Matchless was written off by Steve’s older brother, Kenny, the engine and gearbox were used in this tasty cafe racer.

➔The secret of father’s flying Excelsior Talisman twin

Reading the article 'A Taste for Talismans ' (OBM, December) reminded me that in 1952 my father sold his Ariel Square Four and bought two Excelsior Talismans, one a standard single-carburetor model, RTV 803, which he kept for himself and the other a Sports STT1, RTV 804, which he gave to me.

Soon after this, with my uncle riding pillion on my father's bike and my brother riding pillion on mine, we went to watch a cricket match a few miles away from home.

After the match, my father said he’d race us back home.

My brother and I knew there would be no contest, as we weighed considerably less and had a faster bike while my father’s bike had been fitted with leg shields and a full screen, which was bound to slow them down.

Our confidence was short-lived, as our father and uncle, both sitting straight upright, came past us with ease. My brother and I got right down on my bike, but we just couldn’t catch them, and by the time we arrived home they were making a cup of tea.

It wasn’t until a few months later that we finally found out the reason: before taking delivery of his bike my father had sent it to his very good friend, fellow enthusiast and Scott man Sam Pearce in Bridgnorth, to be tuned -- and very successfully tuned it was!

While reminiscing, may I thank you for a very enjoyable and informative paper.

Geoff Hearn, Nottingham

➔Tribsa exhaust system query

I was interested in the exhaust system on the Tribsa nearest the camera in the main picture of the ‘Viva Colombres!’ classic bike rally report in OBM (January).

Could anyone, hopefully the owner, enlighten me on its manufacturer, or a retail outlet where one could be bought?

Ken Jones, Email

Pete Kynnersley of Oswestry is seen aboard the DMW Hornet on which he enjoyed many a battle with Eric Smith and his Royal Enfield GP5.

➔British two-stroke singles provided many a great road race battle

It was interesting to read Eric Smith’s article on the Royal Enfield GP5 on page 15 of the last issue.

We did indeed have some good scraps, and I enclose a photo of the DMW Hornet that I rode.

No doubt Eric’s bikes have long been sold, as has the DMW. Happy days!

Pete Kynnersley, Oswestry

From the website described in Jim Swizer’s letter, Willie Johnston is seen in action on a 197cc HJH at the Ballywilliam Grass Track in 1958.

➔N Ireland ‘off-road’ sport in the 1950s

A fantastic variety of off-road photos taken in Northern Ireland in the late 1950s, including several showing HJH bikes in action, can be found at http://niclassicscrambles club.com/gallery3 /index.php/old-pictures/Ken-McClure-s-Collection/motocrossand-grasstrack/img218 Jim Swizer, Email