BSA B44 BMWs in the Basque re B egion SMART SINGLE
THE RENAISSANCE OF THE BMW R60 0/ SERIES
DECEMBER 2017
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nout t o
Norton’s endu during Dommie D mie i
Germanic joy
VETERANS ON THE ROAD D
One previous careful owner UNRESTOR ESTORED ENFIELD
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In his column this month, Jerry Thurston talks about a motorcycle from each decade that he’d like to own, which set me thinking. Combined with various other things occurring, including of course Stafford, added to that Rachael Clegg’s piece on the R60/ series BMWs, and the fact that I turn 40 in 2018, I’ve decided what my life is really missing is something from the year of my birth. Currently, the most modern machine in my shed is 1938, while 1928 is also a well-represented year between what I have and dad’s machines; I reckon between he and I there are five 1928 machines. So the 1938 one will be 80 years old next year, the 1928s’ 90. Next with a combination of all these things considered – I’ve vaguely started thinking about what I’d have from each year ending with an ‘eight’ but that list has rapidly become far too vast, so I’ve gone back to my 1978 quest. Owing to Rachael’s BMW feature, and various other factors, they’ve to be considered, but the one BMW from the decade I’ve always fancied, the R90S, had been replaced with the R100S by 1978. As is the case with such musings, others get involved; one pal suggested a Ducati Darmah while my brother reckoned on a Hailwood Replica Ducati; they didn’t come out until 1979 though and besides which the budget won’t stretch that far… Harley’s XLCR café-racer has always appealed but I’ve heard mixed reports, while I’ve never really wanted a Moto Guzzi. BMWs, Ducatis, Harley and the Guzzi all seem long and rangy to me too, while I think the same applies to the Commando; only the Interstate was offered by 1978 and that always seems to me a bulky motorcycle. The big Japanese offerings just don’t excite me, and never have; the XL250 Honda or small trail motorcycles do and did, but by 1978, the nice ones had (in my mind) become less nice. A Moto Morini is another I’d quite fancy, but what I’ve arrived at, and what I think I want, is a 1978 T140 Bonnie. I’ve actually run it past a few other pals – expecting ridicule, one confessed he’d just bought one himself (he’s a true T120 man) and another said he’d always fancied one. Suddenly it seems less daft. Right, now to find one registered in September of that year, while I was born on a Saturday too… though that might be taking it all too far. In other news, congratulations to our regular contributor Phil Turner, who married Karen on October 14, at a suitably classically-themed celebration.
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JAMES ROBINSON Editor
Contributors Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Jonathan Hill, Steve Parrish, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Phillip Tooth, Alan Turner, Gerfried Vogt, Steve Wilson. THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE (USPS:710-470) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd., PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $63 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com
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CONTENTS ISSUE | DECEMBER 2017 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Clothing .......................................................... 14 Letters ............................................................. 16 Subscribe and save ........................................ 20 Norton Dominator ......................................... 22 Rudge Multi .................................................... 30 Brighton Speed Trials .................................... 36 BSA B44........................................................... 40 German veteran and vintage rally ............... 46 Royal Enfield Model G ................................... 50 Steve Parrish’s Goodwood diary................... 56 BMW R60/ series ............................................ 60 Closer look – 1954 Manx GP .......................... 66 Roy Poynting column .....................................71 Jerry Thurston column................................... 73 Crash damage repaired ................................. 74 Dave Clark interview ..................................... 78 Men who mattered – John ‘Crasher’ White . 80 Sketchbook travels ......................................... 84 You were asking.............................................. 86
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Restoration guide – Autocylces..................... 90 Technical feature ........................................... 92 Classic components ....................................... 98 Diary..............................................................110 Next month ...................................................112 Classic camera.............................................. 114 POST: The Classic MotorCycle, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ EMAIL: jrobinson@mortons.co.uk
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» Every issue willwill be be sent hothot offoff thethe press andand delivered straight to your house » Every issue sent press delivered straight to your house » You’ll never miss an an action-packed issue or supplement again » You’ll never miss action-packed issue or supplement again THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
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The Dublin 100
There was a mixed bag of motorcycles, some of a certain age, for the popular 1935 Irish road race. Photograph: MORTONS ARCHIVE
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f there’s a picture which encapsulates mid-1930s road racing in Ireland any better than this, then it’s never crossed the editorial desk at The Classic MotorCycle. This wonderful image shows a collection of young lads, on aged machines and in ill-fitting riding attire, sans gloves, preparing to ‘do their thing’ watched by a crowd of men in blazers, ladies in hats and the odd slightly urchin-looking boy. The occasion was the fifth running of the Dublin 100, held over a four-and-a-quarter mile circuit in the city’s Phoenix Park, in July 1935. Winner was H M Carson, a member of the Dublin university club, riding a 490cc Norton, described in the press as ‘old.’ The ‘100’ was a handicap race, with O Sheridan, on a 348cc Rex-Acme, as limit man. He led the first few laps, slowly – his machine misfiring badly, before the rider on the left of our picture, R Mellon, who started three minutes further back, overhauled him and for the next 10 laps headed the field. Mellon’s mount is a Norton Model 18, a flat-tanker so 1928 at latest, fitted with one of the ‘big’ works-type petrol tanks, as used by the factory (see Stanley Woods’ 1926 Senior TT winner) a decade before. Mellon is starting alongside L Duffey, also on a Norton. Duffey’s is one of the Walter Moore designed ‘cricket bat’ CS1 overhead cam jobs, which took over from the Model 18 as Norton’s ‘range leader’ and ‘super sports’ offering, sold by the Bracebridge Street, Birmingham, firm from 1928-30, before it was replaced by the more familiar Arthur Carroll design to be made for the next 30-odd years. Mellon is mentioned in reports, Duffey isn’t, so perhaps his mount expired early on. Though neither Duffey nor Mellon were able to keep up with the man who was to win, Carson, whose Norton was reported in The Motor Cycle thus: “Not so long ago it was to be seen in one of the corridors of Steevens’ Hospital, where Carson is a resident student. It was then in bits in a bath chair, and was
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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
being taken by the lift to the owner’s rooms.” The attention it received in the medical facility, though, was obviously dutifully administered, for it allowed Carson to average 69.08mph for the 100 miles and although runner-up, scratchman H Taggart, averaged 77.67mph, Carson’s lead was 24 seconds at the event’s conclusion. Taggart’s race speed was a new record, and he lapped once at 79mph, but he was still unable to break Charlie Manders’ 1934 record of 80.18mph, set on the V-twin 500cc New Imperial.
The 1935 Dublin 100 welcomed 29 starters to the line, of which nine completed the full 100 miles. Interestingly, but hardly surprisingly, it was the earlier starters who succumbed in greater numbers, owing to the fact – as delicately put by The Motor Cycle – that ‘most… were using machines which had seen many years’ service.’ Of our prominent pair, Mellon kept going to finish at an average speed of 54.37mph, the eighth of the final nine standing. It’s not quite possible to make out what the number seven, twin port machine in the picture is, though
Classic aarchive
it does have a hint of Sunbeam about its baring, though none of the Marston make are listed in the final results. Behind number seven it’s just possible to make out the edge/ profile of a Scott radiator and biscuit barrel tank – that’d be R J McCready on his Scott, who also isn’t listed in the finishers, though Motor Cycling lists like-mounted J McGregor (or ‘J Macgregoe’ according to The Motor Cycle) as ninth finisher. Taggart, on scratch, had to give a 25 minute start to the limit man, a wait which must have seemed agonising. Tommy Byrne,
who finished third on his Rudge, only had a one minute start on Taggart. Indeed, it took Taggart until the 13th lap to catch Byrne, who then gamely held on to the Norton rider, but a fall at Zoo corner dashed his chances, eventually finishing two minutes back. Fourth went to Todd, on a 490cc Norton, with fifth Quinn on his Velocette – the similarly mounted J J O’Neill was the most fancied runner in that category, but his challenge ended on the third circuit, though he did set fastest lap for his engine category. Of the 250cc riders, there were no finishers
– the fastest of the class, M McGorley, had the misfortune to collide with a stray cow on the second lap. Poor McGorley sustained ‘serious head injuries’ and the cow was killed. Another competitor J Cobbe, on a 500cc Rudge, was also detained in hospital after a heavy fall. Whether Carson was back in the hospital on Monday to offer treatment isn’t recorded, though Motor Cycling recorded he ‘finished a popular winner’ while The Motor Cycle said he ‘… crossed the line with a lead of almost End half a minute to win his first road race.’
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
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New Events News
News&Events Best in show at Stafford Bill Millar celebrated his 1967 Bridgestone 350GTR being chosen winner of the Rod Gibson Best in show trophy at the 2017 Classic Motorcycle Mechancis show, at Stafford over October 14/15. What’s better, Bill had ridden the Bridgestone to the show. More next month.
Fours sell for £221,400 Bonhams autumn auction, at the Stafford show, saw lots of good prices realised, with the biggest price being the £113,500 for the inline four-cylinder Henderson (right), which featured in our November 2017 edition. The 1911 Pierce Arrow from the same collection, which was in our October issue, made £107,900. More from the sale next month.
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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
Bonhams Bond Street sale… Heading up Bonhams’ New Bond Street sale on December 2 are an early Series C Black Shadow (sporting HRD badges) and a Matchless-engined SS80 Brough, with Bentley and Draper rear springing. Both are stunning. Details +44 (0)20 8963 2817 or www.bonhams.com/motorcycles
Teen Sam’s the champion
NEWS IN BRIEF
On Sunday, September 24, at the final round of the British ACU 50cc Championship at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, teenager Sam Grief secured the championship with one round to spare, having arrived lying in second place. But good riding – and winning – meant Sam took the championship, on his Kreidler. Some may remember that Sam was on work experience with The Classic MotorCycle a couple of years ago.
LATE CALL FOR NMM LIVE!
Time to join in 79th Pioneer Run
The National Motorcycle Museum hosts its fourth annual free open day on Saturday, November 4, when all are invited to view the museum for no admission charge. Details of the event at www.thenmm.co.uk The National Motorcycle Museum is at Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0EJ.
HEADLINER’S A HISTORIC RACER The headline lot at Dee, Atkinson & Harrison’s November 4 sale is a 1960 350cc Manx Norton with a remarkable TT and Manx GPs history. Other lots include DBD34 Goldie and Wideline Dommie, plus a cute 1930 250cc Ariel. Details from Andrew Spicer 01377 253151 or 07841 051152.
MECUM’S BIG VEGAS AUCTION Over January 23-27, more than 1750 motorcycles will be auctioned by Mecum at its Las Vegas sale. Visit www.mecum.com
The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club was founded in 1924 and inaugurated the first Pioneer Run to Brighton in 1930. The next Pioneer Run will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2018, and will be the 79th event. This event attracts the largest gathering of pre-1915
solos, sidecars and tricycles in the world and represents the opportunity to see so many ancient machines in action heading for Brighton, a destination of historic significance in the motoring world. It is anticipated that 350 or more entries will be received.
Regulations, entry forms and further information may be obtained from meeting secretary Ian McGill, 01293 771446 or acsociable1@sky.com while entry packs and other information will also be available from the Sunbeam MCC website – www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk
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CLASSIC MOTORBIKE SHOW Boasting more than 2500 classic cars and motorcycles, the NEC’s classic extravaganza takes place over November 10-12. There’s a vast array of vehicles expected, plus trade and club stands. Call 0871 230 1088 or classicmotorbikeshow. com for tickets.
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
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New Events News
Perce Simon Reunion 2017 Tiernan calendar Andy Tiernan’s annual charity calendar has arrived, and again all proceeds go to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, www.eaaa.org.uk Last year the calendar raised £1634.58 and also as per last year, artist Mike Harbar has created some wonderful artwork with this year’s theme being ‘two-stroke motorcycles’. Mike’s own website is classiclinesartist.com The cost for one calendar is £10, which includes second class UK postage. Overseas customers please contact Andy (see Andy’s advert, p103) for postage. Please pay by cheque drawn on a UK bank made payable to ‘East Anglian Air Ambulance’ or by PayPal to AndyTiernanCalendar Donation@outlook.com.
Superb line-up of off-road machines at the Perce Simon Reunion.
Almost 120 former mudpluggers gathered at the Ibsley village hall for the annual Perce Simon trial reunion on September 4. Gleaming in the sunshine was a superb collection of off road bikes from the 1960s, while inside enjoying tea and cake was a ‘who’s who’ of feet-up stars from the golden era. Don and Derek Rickman, Jeff Smith –
who won the trial five times out of six rides – George Greenland, Triss Sharp, Bill Faulkner and Greeves stalwart Mike Jackson, along with five top lady riders, all exchanged memories from what is regarded as one of the UK’s best national trials. Initiated by the late John Jackson and Gwen White in 1994, the reunion attracts
former stars from far and wide. In addition to Jeff Smith, who had jetted in from his home in the US, Brian Bulloch won the award for ‘furthest travelled’ as he had come from his home in New Zealand. Master of ceremonies Mike Jackson enjoyed some light heated banter with his old rival ‘Smithy.’ Andy Westlake
Nailsea ‘International’ Bike show 2017
This rare NUT was one of the highlights of the Nailsea show.
When the first Nailsea ‘international’ show was held in the grounds of the Royal Oak pub eight years ago, little could the organisers imagine that by 2017 it would have grown to such an extent that it would take over much of the centre of the North Somerset town.
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With a rich display of two wheelers covering the last 100 years of motorcycling history, there really was something for everyone. Machines on display included a rare NUT V-win, a plethora of 1970s and 80s Japanese classics, right up to the latest offerings
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
from Ducati and Triumph. Entry to the show is free but all proceeds from the busy drinks and food stalls and the collection boxes got to charity and this year more than £4000 was raised for the Children’s Hospice South West. Andy Westlake
ALBERTO PAGANI Born on August 29, 1938, ex-MV Agusta star Alberto Pagani died on September 11 this year. His best racing year was in 1972 when he finished second in the 500cc world championship, behind teammate Giacomo Agostini. Alberto was the son of Nello Pagani, the 1949 125cc world champion.
Book Review
AJS and Matchless post-war singles and twins The Complete Story Author: Matthew Vale Published by: The Crowood Press, Ramsbury, Wiltshire SN8 2HR E-mail: enquiries@crowood.com Tel: +44(0) 1672 520 3202 Hardback, 225 x 265mm; 192 pages, with over 200 photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-78 500-195-6 £25 $44.95 U.S. $53.95 Canada Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) was the producer of Matchless and AJS machines, which are generally underrated when compared with the Midlands majority. The same could be said of the Collier family, which founded the Matchless concern in Plumstead, south-east London (not east London as repeatedly stated in this book). Not only were the Colliers talented and innovative engineers, son Charlie won the singlecylinder class of the very first Isle of Man TT in 1907 and again in 1909, along with many other now-forgotten successes. This reputation is not helped when the author states that postwar AMC produced “...plodding rideto-work four-stroke singles for the working-class masses,” giving the impression that they were cheap, low-quality machines. They were certainly not the slowest machines in their class nor were they the cheapest – perhaps staid in appearance compared with their flashier Midlands rivals, they were certainly the best quality and best finished machines available. After the Second World War, Associated Motor Cycles’ range of AJS and Matchless motorcycles helped to put the British back on the road. With 350cc and 500cc AJS and Matchless-badged singles, based on the military Matchless G3L with its BMWinspired telescopic front
forks, AMC quickly resumed production for the civilian market, although much of that early production was exported to bring in much-needed foreign currency. Despite the handicaps of operating in postwar Britain, AMC got its 500cc roadster twin into production in the late 1940s, as well as fielding the AJS Porcupine in postwar GP racing (winning the inaugural world 500cc championship in 1949) and producing the AJS 7R 350cc overhead camshaft production racer for the private owner. As if this was not enough, the company also produced a comprehensive and successful range of 350 and 500cc competition machines that were successful in both trials and scrambles throughout the 1950s. The AMC range was as good as, if not better than, the other manufacturers of the day. This book looks at the complete range of postwar AMC machines: the heavyweight singles, twins, lightweight singles, Nortonpowered twins, off-road competition bikes with both two- and four-stroke engines, and road racers. It also gives current owners’ impressions. Although generally well illustrated, the book would have been improved with better photography. However, it is an invaluable resource for the AMC enthusiast. Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | DECEMBER 2017
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News Events THE WAY WE WERE IN
DECEMBER 1917
Americans at Prescott Over the weekend of September 30/October 1, Prescott in the Cotswolds played host to its
American-themed Autumn classic, with a good array of motorcycles joining in the fun.
H&H at the National Motorcycle Museum
The H&H sale at The National Motorcycle Museum on November 9 has a wide and diverse range of machinery offered, including (above) this 1913 JES – possessed of the all important Pioneer dating certificate – and (right) this 1961 TR6, from near the end of the pre-unit Triumph run. Details
on these and everything else in the sale from www.handha. co.uk or +44 (0) 1925 210035.
New carb slide A new product from Surrey Cycles are T3GP1 and 2 slides, for the Amal GP range. A huge amount of work goes into each one (turning, silver soldering, brazing, machining) with the slides machined from solid billet brass, then the needle clip post is machined in with a T-cutter, while the key to prevent the slide turning is machined in with an end mill. They’re really nicely made. Cost is £88 inclusive. Details from 01342 716120.
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Petrol for essential business transportation was a subject of discussion. It wasn’t generally known that ‘free of duty’ licences were issued for vehicles used solely for business/industrial purposes, including the transport of merchandise, documents and service staff. The detail of this legislation wasn’t clear. Two readers of The Motor Cycle, who used
their motorcycles for essential business, paid the local taxation on fuel in error and were then legally required to remit the fuel duty to the government. Had they complied with their ‘free of duty’ licences to the letter and refused to pay the local taxation, they would have been absolved of forwarding duty to the government, which was the course of action they were both taking henceforth.
1942 On October 1, the War Office amalgamated the RAOC (Royal Amy Ordnance Corps), RE and RASC mechanical and electrical engineers into REME – The Royal Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; an amalgamation designed to improve efficiency and coordination of the engineering services of the army, whose roles were becoming ever-more complex. The week before ‘Talmage’ spent a day at the REME workshops ‘somewhere in the Midlands’. While the facility maintained and repaired all vehicles from motorcycles to huge tanks, telecommunications and wireless equipment, small arms, machine guns, this pressman was interested only in the motorcycle work. Machines arrived in all states,
from seized crash damaged wrecks to those needing a service before returning to duty. While many motorcycles were repairable, those which weren’t were stripped of sound components which were refurbished before re-use. During the day, ‘Talmage’ watched ATS girls re-cork clutch plates – they processed over 1000 plates per week. A motorcycle shop wheel builder, with 40 years’ experience, trued and rebuilt wheels in double quick time, and more ATS girls rewound armatures and rebuilt magnetos, dynamos and Magdynos. Frames were straightened, forks overhauled, mudguards and tanks panel beaten back into shape, engines rebuilt, gearboxes overhauled and more. It was an impressive workshop.
1947 Alec Raynor, a former partner at Don Smith’s East London motorcycle shop, had put up £20,000 to form an independent company, Sprite Developments, to manufacture a 360cc
motocross engine. Based on an existing Husqvarna design, the new unit would be installed to Sprite models available on the market from February next, priced at £290.
1992 Rumours were the MZ Skorpian and Roadster four-stroke singles, recently unveiled at the NEC show, could be built in the UK. Using Austrian Rotax 500cc and 600cc engines, the ultra-
light machines were developed in the UK for importer MZ GB Ltd in a factory approved project, which saw consultants Seymour Powell and Tigcraft involved.
Richard Rosenthal.