The Classic Motorcycle - February 2020 - Preview

IN THE ENGINEERING E NAVY...

EXCELLENCE E Vincent’s ‘C’ Comet

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Talking about the monetary values of our motorcycles is not something I’m ever particularly keen to do, but, sometimes, the patterns and trends are too fascinating to ignore.

This came to mind the other day when my brother and I were talking about the Venom my brother now has, which dad bought from his friend Brian Woods in (I reckon) 1994. I specifically remember it cost £3000, which was funded by dad selling his Series C Comet (LLE 422, still out there and still taxed last time I checked, incidentally) for £3800 to my cousin Pete, with the remaining £800 paying for a rather scruffy 1946 B31 for me, also bought from Brian.

Incidentally, Brian was the same man who sold dad his V-twin Royal Enfield and sidecar in 1979 (or thereabouts) and when we bought another V-twin Enfield, a rusty incomplete kit in 2010 which you’ll hopefully read more about soon, as it’s now on the road – that also came from a different man named Brian Woods.

While a third Brian Woods was my brother’s tutor at college, and that Brian has a Venom he’s owned from new. But I digress...

The point was going to be (as Simon, my brother, and I were talking about) how values have skewed.

So a Series C Comet has probably appreciated, what, to a factor of four conservatively, five perhaps more realistically and six plus, if one believes things are selling at some of the advertised prices. The Venom?

Easily doubled, maybe tripled, but no more than that.

So then we looked through some other prices – we never threw away those Millers price guide books! And it does make for fascinating reading. A flat-tank Model 18 Norton? Seven grand then (which was probably optimistic) would be, what, £25k and more now. So that’s a factor of just over three-and-a-half.

We looked at other examples – a Bantam then seemed to be £750, so that’s probably doubled now, but the biggest change comes when we get to true exotica, or at least what is now considered true exotica, so, as an example we’ll take the Brough Superior SS100 which were changing hands for £15-20,000. Now they’re what, £200,000? That’s a factor of 10 and is perhaps being circumspect, as an SS100 may well make comfortably more than that.

Now, I grant there’s little point to my meanderings, I just find it all interesting as to what has caused it.

There’s no clear answer, it simply being an interesting one to ponder.

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

Regular contributors

Tim Britton, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Alan Turner, Andy Westlake, Steve Wilson.

Contributors this issue

James Adam Bolton, Mike Davis, Andy Withers.

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 | FEBRUARY 2020 Archive photograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Triumphs at Bonneville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Subscribe and save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Brooklands Motorcycles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 TUAR event report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 BSA M20 (Royal Navy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Gilera 50 Trial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Charentes event report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Jack and Gwen White profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Vincent Comet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Closer look – 1920 Paris-Nice Trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Sketchbook Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Triumph unit twin rebuild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Roy Poynting column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Jerry Thurston column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 You Were Asking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Restoration guide – NSU Quickly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

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Technical feature – Early motorcycle manufacture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Classic components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Next month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Classic camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 POST: The Classic MotorCycle, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ EMAIL: jrobinson@mortons.co.uk

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Percy Tait (1929-2019)

Photography: MORTONS ARCHIVE

F

orever to be associated with the Triumph marque, Percy Tait, born October 9, 1929, died on November 17, 2019, a month and a bit after his 90th birthday.

Known for many things Triumph-related, the association with Slippery Sam, a second place fi fin nish to Agostini in the 1969 500cc Belgian GP and his reputed 1,000,000 miles as a factory tester – he was never an official Triumph works racer, but considered to be a tester who raced. To that end, the only bonus he ever received from Triumph was a pen and pencil set for winning the Coupe d’Endurance; team-mate Malcolm Uphill had his bike gifted to him.

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

Talking to Jim Reynolds about the incident for an issue of Classic Racer in the spring of 1988, Percy remembered: “And when I wanted my 750cc racer I had to pay for it. I remember they even charged me £30 extra for the rear wheel sprockets to go with it!”

Tait had joined Triumph in 1951, after three years in the army, during which he was a member of the White Wh h Helmets display team.

He began his racing career during his time as a soldier, making his bow two tw w days before his 21st birthday, in 1950. He’d scrambled the 250cc Triumph Tiger 70 he made his debut on just two tw w days before and by his own admission he “didn’t do much good” but his sty tyle y and promise meant that soon he was

being loaned more competitive machinery and making a name for himself.

So what’s the story with our featured picture? In the same spring 1988 Reynolds’ Classic Racer feature, Percy remembered this actual meeting. It was August 1969, and Percy is leading Rod Gould, who, remember, would to go on to be the 250cc world champion in 1970. In his own inimitable sty tyle, y Percy recalled the encounter (with both riding Triumph Bonnevilles) thus: “I remember we went to Sweden and I won the 500, blew off the Lintos. When Wh h it came to the production race, my bike hadn’t been going very well in practice, but Arthur (Jakeman, Triumph’s ace mechanic) got it sorted and in the last session

Classic archive

it was flying. Rodney Gould had a fast bike too, and we agreed to ride our own race and split the money for first and second betw tween w us. But going to the start, my float chamber mounting rod broke and Arthur went and cut some wire from the fence to fix it. The float height was all wrong and I hadn’t got the top end speed, but after a few laps I was second behind Rodney.”

Tait then stalked Gould until the last lap, passing him on the way into the hairpin, but Gould responded and stuck a wheel up the inside as they braked for the final bend.

“I turned the power on again, but there was nothing there with the carburation all wrong, but suddenly it bit again and I went sideways.

I knew I had to go straight on or get off it, so I went straight down this bloody great bank, in and out of great big rocks. I turned round, back up the bank and there was Rodney waving to the crowd as he went past. When Wh h he saw me, his face was a picture – but I finished second and he had to share the prize money with me! Th Theey presented me with a model scrambler at the prize-giving.”

By the time of his Scandinavian off-road exploits, Tait was already in his 40th year, but he wasn’t done yet, not by a long chalk.

Notable successes included winning the 1971 Bol d’Or 24-hour endurance race at Le Mans, teamed with Ray Pickrell on the works Triumph Trident, second place in

the 1975 Classic TT and winning the Ulster GP on a TZ750 Yamaha, then winning the 1976 NW200, aged 47, at a race speed of 104.66mph… in the rain. His racing career was ended that year by a crash at the TT, after which wife Di and he set-up and ran a Suzuki kii agency in Alcester, Warwickshire.

He was a successful sheep breeder, his expertise earning him ‘legendary’ status in the circles associated with the Bleu du Maine breed. Added to his legendary status in Triumph testing and road racing circles too, not to mention his work sorting out the early XS650 Yamaha twin tw w and Suzuki kii works racing machines, his was a life full of interest End and of incident.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

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Neews Events

New ws&Events

Bristol is nearly here!

The 2020 Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show celebrates the 40th birthday of the event.

To mark the milestone, organisers are turning back the clock and throwing a 1970s/80sthemed birthday bash and, of course, everyone is invited.

Dressing up is encouraged and there will be a cash prize for the best-dressed visitor on both days. Visitors are encouraged to dig out their best 1970s and 80s clobber… flares, tank tops, platform shoes, shell suits, New Romantic frilly shirts – the lot.

You will also be able to marvel at the finest examples of private collection motorcycles.

Owners spend thousands of painstaking hours ensuring their exhibits are in the best possible condition, ready for display and inspection by the crowds and judges. As expected at the Bristol show, there is a focus on the likes of Norton, BSA, Cotton and

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Sunbeam motorcycles and many more. Alongside the machines on the show’s club stands, the private entries will be competing for a host of show awards, including the coveted Best in Show prize.

Free party bags with an advance ticket

What party would be complete without a party bag? Well, in true birthday party style, the first 1000 people who purchase their ticket in advance will be given one FREE party bag per transaction, complete with an assortment of products and offers for any motorcycle enthusiast to enjoy.

Superb displays on club stands

Classic bikes, exotic continentals, rare contraptions… the wonderful and expansive mix of club stands packed into the halls at the Royal Bath & West Showground deliver a rare treat

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

for motorcycle enthusiasts. A quick browse of the A-Z list and all the big hitters are there, from the likes of the multi-interest VMCC and VJMC, through to the specialist owners’ clubs covering marques such as BSA, Norton, Suzuki and Kawasaki, among many others.

Autojumble as far as the eye can see

If visitors are looking for a great day out filled with motorcycle bargains, the 40th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show

is the place to be. Hundreds of traders showcased their wares last year and this year’s event is set to be even bigger and better. With a mammoth display of spare parts, tools, books, magazines, signs and complete machines, you’ll find exactly what you are looking for.

To get your tickets, go to www. bristolclassicbikeshow.com The 40th Carole Nash Bristol show is at the Royal Bath & West showground, ST18 0BD on Saturday and Sunday, February 1/2, 2020.

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Neews Events

Book Review

Suzuki motorcycles

Vic Eastwood in action on the BSA in 1965, the year in which he was fourth in the world championship.

Vic Eastwood (1941-2019) Former scrambling star Vic Eastwood has died, aged 78. A member of BSA’s works motocross team, he was fourth in the 1965 500cc world championship, while he also won the 1968 British Motocross GP, riding a Husqvarna.

He placed second in the British championship eight times.

During the 1970s he rode for CCM, and then Honda, becoming a Honda main dealer in 1980, a year after his professional racing retirement. He leaves wife Ann and sons Mark and Scott.

Pete Rutterford, partnering Siegfried Schauzu at Brands Hatch in 1970.

Pete Rutterford Sidecar racing passenger Pete Rutterford lost his battle against cancer on November 24, 2019.

Pete entered the bike racing world by scrambling various machines before switching to sidecar passengering. He had a lot of success as a passenger to many, including Colin Golesworthy, Georg Auerbacher and Siggi Schauzu, who Pete had much regard for and kept in contact with. Pete’s biggest achievement was winning the world championship in 1971 on

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the Fath four URS outfit, ridden

by Horst Owelsle After racing, Pete took up aerobatic flying with a Pitts Special, before a crash in foggy conditions ended his competitive flying days.

Pete and I met at the Saltbox motorcycle cafe in the early 1960s and we remained friends ever since. He kept riding right up to the end. He will be much missed, not least, of course, by his wife and daughter.

Geoff Trotman.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

The Classic Two-Stroke Era 1955 to 1978 Author: Brian Long Published by: Veloce Publishing Ltd, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3AR Tel: 01305 260068 Email: sales@veloce.co.uk Fax: 01305 250479 Hardback, 255 x 255mm (landscape); 176 pages with 593 colour and black & white photographs and illustrations.

ISBN 978-1- 787112-12-4-7/UPC 6-36847-01212-0 £35 (UK); $60 (USA)

Researched and written in Japan by English author Brian Long, with the full co-operation of the factory, here in definitive detail is the story of twostroke Suzuki motorcycles – a series of models that put the company on the map, helping it to survive a difficult era that saw hundreds of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers reduced to just four.

Michio Suzuki was born in 1887, near Hamamatsu, an area associated with weaving and the manufacture of cloth Later, like Coventry in England, many companies moved into cycle and motorcycle production.

Trained as an engineer, Michio designed a vastly improved weaving loom for his mother that was so successful that it led to the foundation of the Suzuki Loom Works in 1909 – an industry that ran parallel with Suzuki’s later motorcycle production.

After the Second World War, Suzuki needed to diversify, as transport was desperately required to get the country mobile again. Suzuki’s first machine was launched in 1952, a 32cc powered bicycle called the Power Free, followed shortly by the 58cc Diamond Free model, which was hugely successful.

Suzuki’s first proper motorcycle was introduced in 1953, the Colleda CO, a stylish model with a 125cc side-valve engine. Sales were disappointing, however, and

Suzuki adopted two-stroke engines that were cheaper to make and gave better performances, resulting in the 125cc ST that bore more than a passing resemblance to the DKW RT125.

In 1956 came the exciting Colleda 250TT, an impressive two-stroke twin based on the German Adler MB25, with Earles-type front forks. Three years later came the 125cc Colleda Seltwin, equipped with mirrors and direction indicators, it became the world’s first two-stroke twin with a self-starter.

Hydraulically-operated drum brakes were also tried, but unsuccessfully.

After being completely outclassed in the 1961 grands prix world championship season, Suzuki’s prospects changed after they assisted development engineer and GP star Ernst Degner to defect from the MZ team and East Germany, taking with him a great deal of knowledge and information on two-stroke technology.

Suzuki gained many world titles in road racing with Hugh Anderson and Barry Sheene and in motorcross by Joel Robert and Roger De Coster.

With stronger emission laws, 1978 saw the end of Suzuki’s first two-stroke era with such memorable machines as the six-speed Super 6 and the air-cooled three-cylinder GT380 and water-cooled GT750.

Reviewed by Jonathan Hill.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

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Neews Events NEWS IN BRIEF  CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE WINTER CLASSIC

Motorcycling to Brighton

You’ll need to move quickly to make it to the Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic show, which takes place at the Newark county showground over the weekend of January 11/12, 2020. The guest of honour is ex-world superbike and GP star Frankie Chilli. Details: www.classicbikeshows.com

 GET DIRTY AT TELFORD SHOW

The Classic Dirt Bike show, sponsored by Hagon, takes place at the International Centre in Telford over the weekend of February 15/16, and has US rials star Bernie Schreiber and British 500cc motocross Bryan ‘Badger’ Goss as joint guests of honour. Details from www.classicbikeshows.com

 PIONEER RUN

The Pioneer Run, for motorcycles made before 1915, will be held for the 81st time in 2020, but this year there is a significant alteration – the finish has moved away from Madeira Drive and it now ends at Brighton city airport.

Arrival will be expected from 10am after an 8am start at Epsom Downs. The event is on March 22, 2020.

 NEW KINGPIN SITE

Kingpin Components has a new website that now incorporates an online shop. This will make it quicker and easier to search, find, order and pay for products, which can be sent from anywhere in the world. Go to www.kingpin components.co.uk to see the ever-increasing range.

 ACE CAFÉ DATES

There’s another full calendar at the Ace Café in 2020, with a couple of early dates for the diary – the AJS and Matchless day on January 19, and the 59 Club day on February 23.

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Martin Hall at the controls of his 1904 Rexette. His passenger looks a little less comfortable, but they managed to finish.

Cars were undoubtedly the stars of the show at the London to Brighton Veteran run on November 3, 2019, but this truly classic event, which began in 1927, inevitably attracts numerous spectators on bikes of all ages too, some of them following at least part of the route for a change of vantage point.

In the last couple of years the Royal Automobile Club, the Pioneer regular John Dudley’s 1910 Arno and a rare 1920s Albert car. Spectating and a picnic on the village green – another enjoyable organisers of the event, have day is almost a given. extended an invitation for pre-1905 two-wheelers, cycles and motorcycles, to join as official entries. While forecars were an early success story, the more conventional motorcycle was still an infant technology, so survivors from that era are not common.

There were seven motorcycle entries, with one single-cylinder FN a non-starter. The bikes added variety, interspersed among more than 300 cars.

Many of the eligible bikes have Kate Baldock raises smiles as Flying the flag! Uno Levinsson made the journey to Brighton on the family Leon Bollee notches from Sweden on his 1899 De previous occasions, featuring in up yet another run.

Dion Bouton tricycle. the Sunbeam MCC’s Pioneer Run. Jonathan Hill had the use outing to the seaside. Too late for engine. An unusual concept, but, of Vintage MCC’s well-known as noted, powered two-wheelers inclusion in the programme, the and well-travelled 1903 were still new technology. unique Slinger was also spotted.

Dreadnought. Alan Williams All six motorcycles were A cycle-style machine, this onelooked as venerable as his 1904 classified as finishers – as were off replaced the conventional Kerry, while Ken Lee gave his front wheel with two wheels, the bicycles!

1904 James H. Smith another Alan Turner. ‘fore and aft’ driven by a De Dion

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

THE WAY WE WERE IN

FEBRUARY 1920

The Motor Cycle team enjoyed a brief test ride on the Cotton lightweight motorcycle, with all-new triangulated frame, which the maker – The Cotton Motor Co, 11 Bristol Road, Gloucester – was to launch. What made this new model stand out was its unconventional frame design, which was in accordance with the sound mechanical principle that as it is built of straight tubes they can only be subjected to compression and tension forces. Thus, as far as was possible, all bending forces were negated.

By design, the triangulated frame would only have stress or tension at the apex of any set of tubes. The result was Cotton has developed a light, rigid frame with minimal risk of breakage due to metal fatigue. With its perfect wheel alignment, rigid

1945

The responsibility was the overtaker’s – following many hours of debate in Parliament concerning the responsibility of a crash in the event of hitting a vehicle with no rear lights, the Attorney-General issued the

1970

Peter Thornton, president of BSA Incorporated of America, announced at the Anaheim (California) Show that the factory-prepared 750cc BSA

1995

Walter Zeller, BMW factory racing and off-road rider, died on February 4, 1995, aged 67. He was the West German 500cc road race champion in 1951, 1954 and 1955 and also competed at GP level, finishing runner-up

design, and low seat height, the new Cotton provided excellent stability on all road surfaces and in all weathers.

Cotton first experimented with their triangulated frame design in 1913 and The Motor Cycle rode this prototype machine, which was also ridden in reliability trials. Drawing from these experiences, the maker developed what was concluded to be a near-perfect frame for the modern motorcycle.

Priced at 62 Guineas, the launch model had a 269cc single-cylinder Villiers two-stroke engine, Albion two-speed gearbox/clutch, Saxon front fork and 26 x 2¼in wheels.

Once production was underway, the Gloucester maker planned to develop faster touring and sporting models, all employing triangulated frames. following statement. “Even if the vehicle’s rear lights were not lit, any motorist (motorcyclist) who ran into a cycle (or other vehicle) would certainly, as far as I can see, be guilty of negligence.” and Triumph triples entered for the year’s Daytona 200 were capable of over 160mph and would easily hit the 155mph needed to qualify. to John Surtees (MV Agusta) in the 1956 riders’ world championship. He retired from racing after the 1957 season to concentrate on his family’s steel business, later becoming well-known on the European parade circuit.

Richard Rosenthal.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

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Neews Events

Rachael’s calendar Our regular contributor Rachael Clegg has once again put together her Milestones calendar, with pictures shot on location in the Isle of Man, and with each picture comes a TT-based fact or anecdote.

The calendar was shot in November in the Isle of Man with photographer Ian Parry. Rachael said: “It was by far the coldest shoot I’ve ever done – standing at the Bungalow with a fog horn with no clothes on in November was certainly a test of character, and sanity.”

The props all form part of Rachael’s story-telling of the TT’s history: “Everything is designed to tell a story – so every prop has relevance to the historical event we are recreating.”

Among the many tales in the calendar is that of Barregarrow, where, of all people, the former director of transport drove a dumper truck on to the TT course during a race. To illustrate this, Rachael organised a life-size dumper. “It’s quite unbelievable when you start digging into the TT’s history.

It never fails to amaze me!”

Milestones 2020 costs £25 and is available from www.rachaelclegg.com while for signed copies email Rachael directly at rachael@rachaelclegg.com

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Weaver collection at Mecum auction

Two of the stunning machines offered at the Mecum Las Vegas show. The Brough Superior dates back to 1930, the Indian to 1905.

Bob Weaver, of Grand Island, New York, is offering more than 70 motorcycles from his varied collection, including many low or zero-mile original Japanese, Italian and British motorcycles, at the 2020 Mecum Las Vegas annual antique and vintage motorcycle auction, held over January 21-26 at the South Point Hotel and Casino.

Weaver has offered motorcycles at several Mecum Las Vegas auctions, and the response to his quality machines has been exciting, to say the least. Buyers are now especially seeking out

machines from his collection, knowing they will be among the best available. His offerings this year will include US, British, Japanese and Italian motorcycles. A few of the notable entries include a fully restored 1954 Vincent Black Shadow, a very correct 1966 Velocette Thruxton, a onemodel-year-only unrestored 1973 Triumph Hurricane, but, the one garnering the most attention is his restored Brough Superior SS100.

Weaver has always brought to auction collectible Japanese motorcycles, and this year will

be no exception. Among the large selection he will present is an original, low-mileage 1990 Honda RC30 race model and a 1980 Honda CBX showing only 93 miles on the odometer.

The two oldest motorcycles Weaver will offer include a rare 1911 Pierce Four-Cylinder and a stunning 1905 Indian Single with interesting history and photo documentation.

The Weaver collection is among a staggering 1750 machines that will be available for purchase.

There’s plenty to ogle at www.mecum.com

Crocker tops the bill at Bonhams A glorious 1940 Crocker Big Tank V-Twin, formerly owned by Crocker employee Elmo Looper, is the star lot at the Bonhams Las Vegas sale on January 23, 2020 at Caesar’s Entertainment Studios.

The Crocker comes from the last two years of Crocker motorcycle production, and is one of fewer than 30 Big Tanks variants built. The engine and transmission has been overhauled by marque guru Mike Lange, while much of the rest of the machine has been painstakingly put together over 15 years.

Of the top-selling 100 motorcycle sold in the last few years at auction, 15 are Crockers. This one has an

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

estimate of $450,000 to $550,000, which translates as £340,000 to £410,000.

The auction has a large collection of V-twins, with Ducati, Indian, AJS and, a long way from home, a brace of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

manufacturer NUTs, one 1913, the other 1925, all among those represented.

Another eye catcher is a rather beautiful former South African championship winning 1955 Matchless G45 racer. Details from www.bonhams.com

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

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Readerss’ Letters YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

Ty yrell ap ppreciated

Fabulous postcard sent to Stanley Woods’ mother, by Tyrell Smith in 1928. The ‘rotten luck’ Smith mentioned must refer to the Junior race, in which Stanley retired.

I would like to extend my compliments to Adam Rear on the Tyrell Smith article in the November 2019 issue of TCM. As a fellow Dubliner

greatly interested in the subject of Tyrell, I felt it was well researched and well written.

You can’t fit everything in of course, but like so

many other top notch racers of the period, Tyrell was also a trials man in the winter. He entered the ISDT on a Manxman and won a

gold medal in Wales in 1938.

I thought readers might like to see this postcard that Tyrell sent to Mrs Woods, Stanley’s

mother, in 1928. In the Senior that year, Tyrell finished fourth and Stanley finished fifth.

Gerry Clarke, Moycullen, Co. Galway, Ireland.

League of nations Following on from my email, published on p16 of the April 2018 edition, I thought I’d share my latest endeavour.

To recap: readers may remember my heap of Triumph parts, just like Tim Britton’s ongoing Triumph project. Well, I am pleased to say my pile of junk has now been transformed into a complete motorcycle that starts, runs and is ready for road test, when it gets a bit warmer…

The project turned out to be a lot more daunting than expected as I found someone had hacked off all of the frame brackets. All of these had to be remanufactured and welded/brazed back on. The new rear footrest brackets include an extension forward so that they can be used to support the home brewed rear sets, gear linkage and rear brake pedal.

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The kick-start lever had to be heated and bent forward to give more knee room then replated on the home plater. Rear chainguard (not in photo) is home brewed as are all of the mudguard brackets, centrestand, sidestand, folding right footrest, etc.

I call the machine my ‘Multi-national cafe racer’ as many of the parts required were sourced from abroad. The racing style seat which hinges from the front to give access to the battery and oil filler is from China; tacho and speedo are Smiths replicas from India; chrome (Lucas?) headlight shell from India; headlight alloy/ chromed brackets, bullet type flashers, control box and handlebar switch system from China; and the Siamese exhaust came from a very nice gentleman in Portsmouth.

Megga-type silencer

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | FEBRUARY 2020

(that sounds great and has super chrome) came from China; front TLS modified Enfield front brake was purchased from India many years ago (always knew I would need one…); modified used Piranha electronic ignition system was bought from Germany many years ago for a BMW. Twin 12v coils came off one of my old racers and were found not to be faulty after all; side panel ignition switch and headlight switch from China; display/speedo/ tacho panel uses alloy sheet from a discarded road sign and the Triumph has indicators, high beam and neutral LED warning lights purchased from Italy.

Drive side crankcase has been machined to take a Massey Ferguson tractor right angle tacho drive driven off the T90 exhaust cam, the inlet cam

John Senior’s ‘Multi-national café racer’ with all work undertaken at home, with plenty of blood, sweat and tears shed along the way…

is also T90. Good used standard size pistons with new rings are used, but I had to purchase new valve springs and a set of valves.

The wiring system is home brewed but I tried to keep to the original Triumph wire colours except where non standard extras are used.

An original Lucas AC alternator is used but wired to achieve a full 12v with the voltage controlled via a very neat Chinese rectifier. And so the story goes on and on and on...

Thanks to Richard Wheadon from the Triumph Owners’ Club, we have found that my engine and frame left

the Triumph factory as a complete TwentyOne and was supplied to G.B.R. Motors Ltd of Colchester on August 31, 1961, and not only that but Richard, through the DVLA, managed to recover the original 1961 registration number and I have a new log.

The pictures show the nearly finished Triumph special, but not the blood, sweat and tears shed while searching for missing parts.

All work was undertaken at home, including derusting and replating 80 spokes, with nothing sent out at all.

John Senior, via email.

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