The Classic Motorcycle June 2017

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Often, it’s the little things, the details, that fascinate me. For instance, looking back over the pictures of the NSU Special Max I rode at the end of last summer, in preparation for this issue, I realised that one of the things that appealed to me about the motorcycle, was the stylised ignition key. That and the reference to Martinware birds (see the feature on page 26) means that, basically, the German single is ‘sold’ to me.

There was another similar instance when reading through the A7 restoration guide on page 90, when reference to the ‘twin carb’ Star Twin set me off. I confess, I didn’t realise such a model existed, but as soon as I saw mention, then that was it, I was off on a tangent, finding out what I could about this model (incidentally, it led me to a TCM back issue, November 1988, with a feature on said 1949 machine) and, of course, wondering if one would fit into the ‘stable.’ – alongside the NSU Special Max. This constant discovering of hitherto unknown (to me) facts and new nuggets of information is what I find fascinating, the voyage of discovery is all part of what makes the subject so interesting. There’s also the uncovering or finding out about other unfamiliar things, such as the remarkable exploits of Albert Catt in 1911 on his Triumph (page 78). The story of his ride over six consecutive days is impressive to say the least, and even by modern standards such a ride (2557 miles) in less than a week, is good going. But when one considers the roads, riding gear, machinery and communication means available, it moves into another level, completely.

I always think that the annual Irish rally is fairly tough riding and that normally amounts to getting on for 600 miles over four days, and although for the last few years I’ve always done it on vintage machinery, I do have the benefit of chain final drive and a gearbox, both luxuries not afforded to Albert. Mr Catt was clearly a tough cookie indeed; it’s good to see that his efforts haven’t been forgotten, with the local VMCC section celebrating his attempt with a run this summer.

Talking of summer, it should be nearly here, so it’s time to start getting in some miles. Enjoy your riding – and also the issue.

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

Contributors James Adam Bolton, Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Jonathan Hill, Martin Kirk, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Alan Turner, Phil Turner, 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 | JUNE 2017 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Letters ............................................................. 14 BSA A10 Golden Flash.................................... 18 NSU Special Max............................................ 26 Subscribe and save ........................................ 32 Motonero Guzzi.............................................. 34 Triumph 21...................................................... 42 Connaught-Blackburne................................. 48 Velocette Valiant ............................................ 54 Glass plates – 1923 inter-varsity challenge .. 59 Triumph Bonneville T120Cs ......................... 64 Closer look – Ducati Ultra-lightweight ........ 70 Roy Poynting column .................................... 75 Jerry Thurston column................................... 76 Men who mattered – Albert Catt .................. 78 Steve Parrish Panther project part five ........ 80 Sketchbook travels ......................................... 84 You were asking.............................................. 86 Restoration guide – BSA A7 ........................... 90

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Technical feature – NOS parts ...................... 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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High riders

Three motorcyclists reach dizzy heights after much correspondence in the Press.

I

n the April 2, 1931, issue of The Motor Cycle a letter was published, undersigned by three men – P Gjersten, A Peebles and J Byrne. In it they said: “Our attention has been drawn to an advertisement in the Overseas Daily Mail of January 3, 1931, to the effect that the ascent of one of the peaks of the Austrian Alps by Mr Sartorius on a 500cc Ariel, when a height of 9527ft was attained, was claimed as a world’s altitude record for motorcycles.

“We should like to mention as a possible point of interest… we have reached a height of 12,800ft above sea-level on Triumph 500cc side-valve models… The point reached was the ‘Christo Redentor’ statue,

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

marking the borderline between Chile and the Argentine, on the Uspallata pass over the Andes…

“It would be interesting to know if the height has been exceeded by motor cyclists in other parts of the world.”

There was a hiatus of a few months before a reply was posted, in June 18, 1931’s issue,

by C S Cannon. Referring to the letter of the three gentlemen above he said: “I think I can claim to have exceeded this altitude. On April 25, 1931, riding a 1927 model 349cc ohv BSA, I reached a height of 13,400ft above sea level. The point reached was close to a valley called Caritaya, and it lies in the heart of the Andes in Northern Chile.

“The height stated was taken from the official government map, as my altimeter only records to a height of 10,000ft, and this was passed about 20 miles before my destination.

“The journey was made from Alto de Junin, 2200ft above sea level, and occupied two days, the distance being 190 miles.

“Out here it is impossible to average much more than 20 to 22mph owing to the bumps and stones, and 100 miles becomes a good day’s run.

“Perhaps this will give some idea of the state of the roads out here; in 8000 miles I have broken 12 fork springs.”

Mr Cannon signed off his letter from

Classic aarchive | High riders

‘Iquique, N.Chile’ which is a port city tyy right at the top of the thin strip that is Chile.

That brings us to the picture reproduced.

The accompanying letter, having acknowledged what had gone before, read thus: “In this connection we would like to inform you of our ride made in the latter part of July from sea level to the height of 14,763ft. The bikes used were a 500cc side-valve Motosacoche, 350cc ohv Motosacoche and a 350cc ohv Norton.

These mounts were run from the above mentioned altitude without alteration of carburettor settings or any adjustments being made.

“The road, to say the least of it, was terrible beyond description and really hard going all the time. From Lima to the point reached is 125 miles. Of this distance, 30 miles were covered without any appreciable rise in altitude, so that practically all of the climbing was done in 95 miles. The road,

day, the remainder of the journey up being being cut out of the side of mountains, done in the morning of the second day. is very dangerous, as on one side it has “We would add that ours were the first the precipice and the other the blank bikes to pass through the village of Cullhauy mountain wall.

(12,100ft), the inhabitants of which village “To give some idea of the gradients that could not understand how it was that the we had to contend with when going up, it bikes went when they only had two wheels. may be pointed out that when coming They had only seen one or two cars.” down a distance of 30.4 consecutive miles The letter was signed ‘R Lewis, JD was done ‘coasting’ (this, we imagine, is Galloway and IBA Rokes’. a record). Another idea of the gradients The Norton is a relatively rare JE model can be had from the fact hat the average – listed 1929-31 – and the Motosacoches petrol consumption going up was two and would seem to be a Model 310 (350cc ohv) a quarter gallons, while coming down three and 418 (1930-launched 500cc side-valve). quarters of a gallon was used.

According to the Guinness Book of “While this journey is probably not a Records, the current record stands at 6471m record run, we should be very interested to hear of any fellow reader who has gone from (21,230ft) by Chilean Gianfrancho Bianchi on the Ojos de Salado volcano, in the sea level to greater heights.

Atacama region of Chile, on March 22, 2015.

“The photograph of the three bikes was taken in the small village of Canta at a height He rode his fuel-injected Suzuki RMZ450 through temperatures as low as -20 of 10,000ft. This village was passed and a End degrees Celsius and 50mph winds. height of 12,100ft was reached on the first THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

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Neews Events

New ws&Events Lansdowne for 2017

Past honorary president of the APMC, Ken Brady, shakes Don Morley’s hand after passing over the chain of office.

Don’s accolade Well-known photographer and author Don Morley had a surprise recently, when he was made honorary president of the Association Of Pioneer Motorcyclists (APMC).

Said Don: “It is a rare honour for someone within my profession to receive such an accolade, not least as most of the 70-year-old association’s previous 49 honorary presidents have been TT riders or major industry figures.”

The APMC is open to anyone who has held a motorcycle licence for more than 50 years. APMC membership is for life and new members are always very welcome. For details, write to John Webber, 11 Bootham Close, Billericay, Essex CM12 9NQ.

Miller art exhibition Christchurch Arts Guild is supporting the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum by launching a celebratory new art exhibition at its New Milton premises from May 20 until June 4, 2017, adding to commemorations for the 21st anniversary of the museum at this site.

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Typical Lansdowne action, here at Cadwell Park. For the sights and sounds of 1950s, unfaired racing, get along to a meeting.

Once again in 2017, The Classic MotorCycle will be supporting the Lansdowne Classic Series, which features a six-round calendar.

The first event was held over Easter weekend – report to follow – while from there it’s

Donington on May 6/7; Cadwell Park, June 3/4; Castle Combe, July 8/9; Donington, August 4/6 (for the classic motorcycle festival) and then October 7/8 at Brands Hatch.

Expect high-speed duelling

between Matchless G50s, Manx Nortons and AJS 7Rs, with a few others too. Last year, TCM Clubman class winner Sam Rhodes bloodied the noses of some of the ‘exotica’ on Graham Austen’s pushrod Velo.

Big crowds expected at Flywheel Festival The third annual Flywheel Festival at Bicester Heritage brings together more than 100 competition cars for an action-packed timetable hosted on its demonstration track.

Taking place on the Saturday and Sunday, June 24/25, 2017, the festival will welcome Edwardian chain-driven monsters, vintage Bentleys and iconic Le Mans Jaguars, with a programme expected to be substantially larger than previous years.Alongside the road, there will be a collection of historically significant motorcycles. Live action arenas will host a variety of cars, bikes, aircraft and military vehicles, while the open paddocks provide close access for the thousands of visitors expected through the gates of Bicester Heritage, the UK’s best preserved Second World War bomber station.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

There will be all sorts of motorsport action at the Flywheel Festival 2017 at Bicester Heritage on June 24/25 (Chris Byrne).

Confirmed flying displays include the Great War Display Team dogfights and precision flying from the Tiger 9 team.

On the ground, visitors will be treated to an array of pre-1970 music, fairground and shopping attractions.

Advance ticket prices start

from £23 per adult and £52 per family. Each adult ticket includes free parking, as well as a complimentary souvenir programme. Entry for children under the age of five years will be free. To purchase tickets for Flywheel 2017, visit www.flywheelfestival.com

Marsh four on display at the National Motorcycle Museum This machine is the product of one remarkable man, the legendary Fred Marsh, a dedicated enthusiast best remembered for his home-built, Moto Guzzi-inspired V8. A fitter and turner at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Southampton, Marsh had witnessed the MV Agusta and Gilera fours’ rise to dominance in the late 1940s and early 1950s and, in the absence of a response from the British motorcycle industry, he set about creating his own version.

Marsh started design work on the four in 1953, though the machine wasn’t run until 1962.

With the exception of suitably modified Triumph Terrier cylinder heads, chosen partly because of their 75-degree valve angle that permitted the use of MV-type cams, all other parts were designed and made by Fred, including the necessary wooden patterns for all the major castings. Fred would often machine parts on his lathe at Harland & Wolff during breaks. However, much of the

The Marsh four, a clever piece of home engineering.

work was carried out on his own home-constructed lathe.

Convenience dictated the use of a Norton gearbox, and thus primary drive was by chain.

And rather than make his own frame, Fred selected a Douglas Dragonfly chassis, chosen for its similarities to the Gilera unit, to which he fitted Norton Roadholder forks.

The Marsh four was given race outings by riders including Tony Godfrey and George Collis but without achieving any

significant results. Later in its life the MR4 was used on the road and displayed by Marsh on the Isle of Man during TT week.

In 1978 Fred Marsh died and the four remained in storage until 1980 and was purchased by the National Motorcycle Museum at auction in 2008. Now on display in Hall Two, it is an original ‘one-off’ produced by a British engineering genius and, as such, it is a unique machine possessing an exclusivity that no replica can boast.

It seems a few ‘scam’ classified adverts have appeared in a couple of recent issues, namely to do with American machines being offered for either low prices, or with no price quoted. We can only advise to take extra care when responding to adverts and to satisfy yourself fully before parting with money.

and, in a typical rider-friendly touch, the rocker boxes specially angled for ease of pushrod insertion (one in the eye for A10 owners). To hold down the head and block, in an elegant solution, there was one centre stud into the top of the barrel, and eight long through-bolts, which screwed into bronze inserts in the cylinder head, and rotated in steel sleeve ‘thimble’ inserts screwed into the top of the crankcase. This meant that

pass, two wristbands and also entry to the speedway racing on Saturday evening – watch Peterborough Panthers take on the Newcastle Diamonds in the Maxxis Arena in an official round of the UK Speedway Championships.

Following on from its gargantuan January sale, Mecum is now working towards its summer sale, on June 1-3. There’s expected to be something in the region of 750 machines on offer.

Go to www.mecum.com for more details.

 WAR AND PEACE The War and Peace Revival takes place on July 25-29, at Hop Farm Showground in Kent. The huge four-day festival features vehicles of all kinds, among its many attractions. Details from www.warandpeacerevival. com or 01258 858448.

 BOB MAC MEMORIAL

A paragraph was accidentally omitted from the Ariel KHA feature.

only the top stud loaded the barrel casting in tension.”

“Thoughtfully again…” was how it continued. Apologies for confusion caused.

MCN Festival of Motorcycling There’s an autojumble at the MCN Festival of Motorcycling, to be held at the East of England Arena, Peterborough, over the weekend of May 13/14.

Pitches are priced at £50 for the weekend for an 8m by 8m pitch; this includes a vehicle

 BEWARE OF SCAMS

 MECUM’S SUMMER SALE

Missing paragraph In last month’s (May 2017) issue, a paragraph was accidentally cut from Steve Wilson’s Ariel KHA piece.

On page 35 after “...similar to Ray’s winning machine…” should have come: “Val Page had designed the conversion, which involved a Lo-Ex silicon-alloy cylinder block with pressed-in iron liners, and a deeply finned, cast Y-alloy cylinder head with pressed-in valve inserts of austenitic iron,

NEWS IN BRIEF

For more details and to book an autojumble plot, contact ELK Promotions at PO Box 85, New Romney, Kent TN28 9BE, email events@elk-promotions. co.uk go to the website at www. elk-promotions.co.uk or phone 01797 344277/07803 366224.

A Gilera four will be run in celebration of Bob McIntyre’s 100mph IoM lap, at the East Fortune Raceway on June 24/25. There’s two days of classic racing, including sidecars. Details from agnescadger@tiscali. co.uk or 01294 833320.

 BSA OC OPEN DAY The BSA Owners Club welcomes all motorcyclists to its open day, on May 28, where the 1967 BSA range will be celebrated.

The event is held at Market Harborough Rugby Club, LE16 9HF.

 BANBURY RUN The VMCC’s blue-riband event, the Banbury Run, takes place on June 18, at the Gaydon Heritage site. There’s a fair-sized jumble, too.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

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Neews Events

Chalfont Hill Climb revival

South of England show

The Chalfont Hill Climb is one of the oldest continuously run events on the VMCC calendar, first run by the Chilterns Section in the early 1960s and subsequently by the Grasstrack and Speedway Section.

All manner of machines have taken part over the years, from Ducati mopeds to hand-change, foot-clutch Indian twins, flat-track and speedway bikes and Velocette motocrossers. The short course has always favoured nimble machines, with Fastest Of The Day being taken by a 1920s Douglas, a 1970s Triumph/Husqvarna greenlaner, a trials Bantam, a Big Port AJS and a 1930s 350cc Rudge at various times.

It’s time to encourage the road, motocross and trials machines back. They were the mainstay of the event for a long time, and could be again. So, if you are interested in taking part, contact the event secretary bryanlambert2002@aol.com for details. The provisional date is September 23.

The South of England Show, on April 2, was the first ELK Promotions event of the year.

Seemingly more popular than ever, to cope with the fast lengthening queues before the official start time, the gates were opened early. The display hall is never disappointing, with rows of bikes from veterans to classics, often having unusual histories and a surprising number of ex-works bikes, both road race and off-road.

The British Owners’ Club Essex had its own club display in the main hall. Among the club’s line-up, the 1937 KSS of member Roy Wood was considered the best of the pre-1950 bikes. John Lelliott bought and restored his DBD34 Gold Star (Best 1950s) to remind him of the one he had years ago.

Another newcomer was judged best of the next decade, Mark Eley’s 1968 Norton P11A. Best Overseas went to the 1966 Aermacchi Ala Verde belonging to Michael Tourle.

The Norton Owners’ Club collected another award as Best Club Display. Always neatly integrated, there are many interesting bikes, with one usually chosen to be the centrepiece. This time it was Ken Rawlinson’s replica JPS Commando, always immaculate, but ridden to the Ardingly shows, whatever the weather.

Alan Turner

NEWS IN BRIEF  NMM AND H&H TO COLLABORATE H&H Classics, one of the top UK auction houses, announced today that it is moving its motorcycle sales from Donington Park to the National Motorcycle Museum from June this year. The first sale at this prestigious new venue will be held on June 1/2.

This will be a long-term partnership with H&H Classics holding three sales in 2017 at the museum and a minimum of three a year in the future.

 RACE, ROCK ’N’ RIDE Race, Rock ’n’ Ride is back in 2017 at the Santa Pod Raceway on May 20-21.

 KEMPTON PARK Don’t forget the next jumble, at the Kempton Park Racecourse, on May 20.

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Variations on a theme? Dorking Motorcycle Club displayed a 500cc 1927 Sloper S27 and a 1933 Blue Star with vertical cylinder.

Ken Rawlinson and his JPS replica Norton Commando, pictured in front of the prize-winning Norton Owners’ Club stand.

This Matchless G45, one of Dave Degens’ collection of racers, was among several racebikes fired up during the day.

T160/Legend rear set kit New from L P Williams is a rear set kit, to fit all T160 and Legend models. It’s a brand new design, using stainless parts, and using the stock rear master cylinder and rear brake switch, both not supplied as part of the kit. Footrests are of the folding type. The part number is LEG-0021 and the price is £475 plus VAT. Details from 01524 770956 or www.triumph-spares.co.uk

Rose of the Shires Run to honour Albert Catt On June 11 there’s the opportunity to join the Northamptonshire motorcycling fraternity in celebrating the fantastic efforts of Albert Catt (see Men Who Mattered on page 78 in this issue), on the Sunbeam Club’s ‘Rose of

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

the Shires Run.’ Club members want to celebrate Albert’s 1911 achievement with a run around the area. The run is normally pre-1931, but there’s a ‘guest’ pre1940 post-vintage class this year.

The event consists of a morning

run, lunch stop (Ploughman’s optional) and afternoon run, totalling 50 miles. It starts and ends at the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum. Entry forms available at www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/ calendar/?view=2017-6

Book Review Where BSAs Dare!

BSA’s 1952 ISDT Golds and Maudes Trophy Author: Norman Vanhouse – with updates by Graham Vanhouse C.Eng., F.I.Mech.E. Foreword by: Jeff Smith MBE. Published by: Panther Publishing Ltd, 10 Limes Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1DP Tel.: 01494 534778.

E-mail: rollo@panther-publishing. com www.panther-publishing.com Softbound, 170mm x 235mm, 188 pages, over 70 photographs and illustrations ISBN 978-1-909213-21-0 £14.95.

The Maudes Trophy, a very substantial silver cup, was donated to the ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) in 1923 to encourage manufacturers to show how reliable its machines were by submitting teams to ride marathon distances in limited time under official ACU observation.

To win this prestigious award required great confidence in the machines and riders’ abilities – to fail would generate disastrous publicity. The Maudes Trophy was a tempting peak to conquer and BSA wanted to be the first postwar winners to promote its new plunger-framed 500cc Star Twin. The ISDT (International Six Days Trial) was to take place in Austria in 1952 and was considered to be the Olympics of endurance motorcycle sport at the time – and that provided the inspiration. The plan was to enter three standard road models in the ISDT (selected from the production line by the ACU observer), ride the machines from the factory to the start in Austria, compete in the trial and ride back to Birmingham. The riders were previous gold medallists Fred Rist and Norman Vanhouse and a young Brian Martin, recently recruited to the works trials team. Allowed only to fit roadster-size trials tyres, change to lower sidecar

gearing and fit sump guards, the team faced an almost impossible task in one of the hardest and wettest ISDTs on record, which saw many specially-prepared works machines retiring. It was also the last ISDT to include night riding. Amazingly, the Star Twins never missed a beat, with all three team members gaining gold medals. The machines were then ridden north through Germany, Denmark and Sweden to Oslo in Norway, where they undertook the final speed test. By the time they reached home to be awarded the Maudes Trophy, each machine had covered just over 5000 miles during the three-week period.

This compelling story is told by one of the three riders and really gives a feel of what it must have been like. This feat of endurance and reliability of man and machine is probably still unmatched in the modern era. Aged 36 at the time of the 1952 event, author Norman Vanhouse died in 2011, leaving this manuscript in draft, which his son Graham has updated and added the story of the last successful Maudes Trophy award, by Yamaha in 1994. It’s a superb book about one of the most remarkable performances ever

by British motorcycles.

Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

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Neews Events THE WAY WE WERE IN

JUNE

1917

Keen to do her bit, Irish motorcycle enthusiast Sophie Eliott-Lynn signed to serve as a dispatch rider for the Royal Flying Corps in London. Much to the amusement of her Irish friends, some months earlier Miss Eliott-Lynn changed her Levis two-stroke for a 988cc Harley-Davidson V-twin.

As it was an earlier model started by, as the catalogues described ‘step starting’ (push start), they were consumed with mirth.

Not only did she prove them wrong in Ireland but she then rode from home to catch her ferry to Holyhead and then onto London via Birmingham, with her kit bag and a tin of Shell No.2 oil strapped to her

1942

It’s a fair cop, guv! An East Anglian policeman spotted through an ajar garage door a man filling his fuel tank from a watering can.

Strange, thought the officer, and on checking,

1967

Despite misguided pundits claiming under-braked, overweight roadsters in the first-ever IoM Production TT would wallow around the Mountain Course, speeds were high and reliability praiseworthy. From 51 starters, 38 finished, and many duels thrilled the crowds.

Making a comeback, John

1992

Piloting a rotary Norton, Scotsman Steve Hislop secured a record-breaking win in the Senior IoM TT at 121.28mph, beating rival Carl Fogarty by 4.4 seconds.

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Harley-Davidson’s carrier.

The trip from Holyhead to London took 11½ hours.

Sunshine gave way to bitter cold and blinding sleet across Wales to Llangollen, and although the weather improved, Sophie slipped many times, including into a policeman. Spotting him hidden by a corner in an English hamlet, she pulled in the clutch, applied the brakes and slithered on the greasy roads into the officer.

Eying her up and down he remarked ‘Beg pardon, ma’am!’ Red-faced Miss Eliott-Lynn motored on to Birmingham, after which riding conditions improved for an easy run to London.

She went on to serve as an RFC dispatch rider.

he discovered the can contained petrol, not water.

In court, the culprit pleaded guilty and was fined £2 for storing petrol without a licence and a further £1 for acquiring fuel without coupons.

Hartle (649cc Triumph Bonneville) took the 750cc class at 97.10mph from Paul Smart (Dunstall Atlas) by almost two minutes, 38 seconds separated the Velocettes of Manxman Neil Kelly and Keith Heckles in the 500cc class, while Bill Smith beat Tommy Robb by a whisker, taking the 250cc class at 88.63mph.

Many claimed that this was the most exciting Senior TT since the epic Agostini/Hailwood battle of 1967.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JUNE 2017

Richard Rosenthal.

John Excell’s Competition Bantam then...

Getting it wrong… but making it right When The Classic MotorCycle ran a Restoration Guide on the BSA Bantam D1 (March 2012), it stated BSA never made a plunger-sprung competition version. This error was picked up by reader John Excell, who had bought a brand-new, plunger Competition Bantam in 1951 from Gray’s, a long-defunct dealer in the Medway Towns.

He sent a photograph to prove his point.

The photo also revealed the bike’s registration number and this rang a bell with a Yorkshire reader. He checked and got in touch to confirm he had owned the bike since 1982! The Bantam had already spent some time abandoned in a garden, covered by a sheet. A link was established between past and present owners.

John kept in touch and eventually the present owner agreed to sell. Unfortunately, the bike had been semi-dismantled many years before and parts had gone missing. A complicated delivery arrangement finally got the Bantam back to Kent.

… and now.

John recalls he traded the bike in to Hallets, another long-gone dealer in Canterbury, but somehow it ended up 800 miles north on the Shetland Islands! The bare bones are present, including most of the distinctive ‘Competition’ model features. Much of what is left is in poor condition and there are items missing, such as the decompressor cylinder head.

Now, 66 years after he originally bought the bike, John is getting to grips with its restoration.

See the yellow light These new yellow H4 headlights, from Paul Goff, are designed to make motorcycles more visible, the theory being a yellow light sticks out in a sea of white lights. Paul stocks these high-power 60/55W yellow H4 Quartz Halogen headlight bulbs that are fitted to most larger late 1970s-on motorcycles with a single dip and main bulb.

They are £9.95 each plus £3.50 P&P. Visit www.norbsa02.freeuk.com or call 01494 868218.