The Classic Motorcycle - July 2019 - Preview

ADORABLE CUTEST BABY AERMACCHI TRIUMPH Smart GTS flat single

Vintage tiddlerr

CIRCULATE ES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Blue beauty!

JULY 201 19

Stunning Matchless scrambler

Dresch to impress

French lightweight wins Stafford show

PLUS  SILK 700S  NORTONS AT ROSE HILL ROYCE CREASEY INTERVIEW  BSA C15 SPORT STAR TRIUMPH TWIN REBUILD  HUB GEARS EXPLAINED

Editor’s welcome

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Invariably, the letters pages are just about the final thing to be done before we finally put each issue ‘to bed’ and say goodbye and good night to it. That means when I come to this column – the penultimate task with the next month page traditionally the last – it’s often the letters that are freshest in my mind. As I’ve noted recently in the column, we are privileged and fortunate to receive plenty of correspondence (for which I thank you, so please keep it up) and it’s such a wonderfully diverse mix too.

One thing which struck me was that cost was mentioned more than once, which is actually quite unusual, with correspondent Paul Zmitrowicz noting how much classics are now costing, while Dennis Frost has written in to point out: “£1000 will still buy you an LE.” So there’s one saying classics are expensive, with another pointing out that you can become the owner of what is definitely a machine to stand out from the crowd on, for about the price of a half-decent bicycle, a 13in Macbook or a return flight to Australia.

People’s perceptions of what is expensive and what isn’t is always a question of perspective – and that perspective can be altered by any number of factors, with the current, emerging one being ‘provenance’ or to put it more precisely... a celebrity link. Or more precisely (it seems at the moment) a link to Steve McQueen; witness the amazing price paid for the ex-Bud Ekins TR6 Triumph Trophy. But like so many things, the question of ‘what’s it worth?’ is always actually a question of what someone will pay, be it Triumph Trophy, Velocette LE, a flight or a computer.

Otherwise, it’s been a fairly busy month, what with Stafford (read all about it on page 12) having been and gone too, providing once again the usual eclectic mix of both machines and people. This time, I managed to not buy anyt ything t – well, not for myself anyway, a friend had asked me to take a look at and possibly buy (we/he did) a motorcycle in the auction, so I did come home with something in the van – while I’ve also managed to make the best of the fine weather, having a few nice runs out, including a good day out on dad’s Mk.II KSS Velo, which I hadn’t ridden for quite a while. Lovely and polite mannered, it brought to mind Tim Britton’s concluding words on Peter Occleston’s example he tested, in which Tim concluded: “All in all a thoroughly pleasant machine to ride,” which sums up a KSS perfectly.

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

Regular contributors

James Adam Bolton, Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Alan Turner, Andy Westlake, 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 | JULY 2019 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Stafford show .................................................. 12 Letters ............................................................. 16 Subscribe and save ........................................ 22 Matchless G3LS .............................................. 24 Silk 700S .......................................................... 32 BSA C15 SS80 .................................................. 38 Triumph LW Junior ........................................ 46 Aermacchi GTS............................................... 54 Nortons at Rose Hill....................................... 60 Closer look – London to Edinburgh, 1919 .... 66 Royce Creasey interview ............................... 72 Men who mattered – Bert Kershaw .............. 74 Triumph unit rebuild..................................... 76 Roy Poynting column .................................... 80 Jerry Thurston column................................... 82 Sketchbook travels ......................................... 84 You were asking.............................................. 86

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Restoration guide – Zenith V-twins (post vintage).................................................. 90 Technical feature – Hub gears ...................... 92 Classic components – Lead acid batteries ... 98 Diary..............................................................110 Next month ................................................... 113 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 | JULY 2019

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The Grand Prix of Europe, 1928 Popular wins for home-made machines in two of the classes.

Photographs: MORTONS MEDIA ARCHIVE

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he Motor Cycle was glowing in its praise of the Grand Prix d’Europe held in Geneva at the end of July 1928, saying the event: “…will go down in history as the best of its series to date, since it is probably the most truly international motorcycle event held in the history of the sport. Of 109 machines entered, 49 were British, 17 Italian, 24 Swiss, eight French, five German, five Belgian, and one American.”

The riders were an equally eclectic mix of nationalities, with the cream of the British talent attracted to the event – though not all riding British machines, the most notable foreign mounted Brit being multiple TT winner Wal Handley, now in the employ of the Swiss Motosacoche firm, and campaigning their machines

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(with Motosacoche/MAG bevel-driven ohc engines designed by Dougal Marchant) in the 350 and 500cc events.

First sport of the weekend was Saturday’s only race, a near 250-mile event for 350cc machines, welcoming 19 starters. Despite ‘multiple tumbles’ Handley was the victor come the chequered flag, with Jimmy Guthrie second on a works Norton. There was another Motosacoche, ridden by Martinelli, in third, with among the list of retirements Stanley Woods, Joe Craig and Jimmy Simpson (works Nortons), Charlie Dodson and Francesco Franconi (Sunbeams), Frank Longman (Velocette) and Leo Davenport (AJS).

Sunday’s programme started at 7am, with 52 starters congregating for a combined 125, 175 and 250cc event. Motor

Cycling amusingly commented: “Many of the riders were wearing pullovers of staggering brilliancy. The Italian took the palm in this respect.”

The smallest runners were to cover 22 laps of the 5½ mile, flat circuit while the 250cc participants were faced with 185 miles. The eighth litre class was won by Paul Lehman on a Moser, despite having to push in, ahead of like-mounted Brehm.

Third was Tenni (no initial given; was it future Moto Guzzi star, Omobono Tenni?) on the GD. The 175cc race was called ‘uneventful’ by Motor Cycling and won by Alfredo Panella on a Ladetta, heading the ohc Benelli of Benelli, then Grandjean and Bourquin, both Allegro.

The 250cc class was expected to be a British battle royale – Cecil ‘Count’ Ashby

Classic archive

took top honours (as he did the year before) on an OK Supreme, with like mounted Frank Longman fourth, split by Jock Porter (1925 and 1926 champ) on his own-made New Gerrard, and Geissler, Moto Guzzi.

Among the retirements were fast starting Cecil Barrow (Royal Enfield) and Syd Crabtree (Excelsior), who had led for a time.

Next up was the race featured in our photograph – the sidecar event. It attracted an entry of 23, split up thus; four in the 350cc class, 14 in the 600cc category and five 1000cc machines. The smart money was that the 600s would give the 1000s a good run for their money and so it proved, as the big bangers all fell by the wayside, the most prominent name being Eddy Meyer, who retired his 1000cc Brough-Superior, Frey doing the same with his AJW.

Number 20 in our picture is 600cc class runner Starkle, on a Scott. He came in third place, his finishing speed of 56.50mph over the 110 mile race truly respectable. Winner was d’Eternod on a Sunbeam, though he only inherited victory after Erne Nott ran out of petrol on the last lap and had to push in. Nott’s finishing time was 58.32mph; he’d have exceeded 60mph without the halt. Winning speed for d’Eternod was 59.82mph (said Motor Cycling of him: “…a rider whom few of us had seen before in action. He certainly has little to learn concerning the handling of a racing chair on a road circuit.”).

Final race of the day was the blue riband 500cc class, which home-favourite Handley led from the flag. Stanley Woods (Norton) and Tommy Bullus (Raleigh) both then

took turns at the front, but Wal outlasted them all, cheered on by the home crowd.

Race distance was given as 399.9km (248.5 miles) and Handley averaged 74.74mph, a day after covering the same distance at 68.35mph to win the 350cc race – some feat of endurance.

Rudges of Ernie Nott (who had ridden for nearly two hours in the sidecar race too, and pushed in, lest we forget!) and Graham Walker were second and third, Franconi’s Sunbeam fourth, his team-mate Dodson retiring. Other casualties included AJS pair Longman and Tommy Spann, plus the Rudge of Tyrell-Smith.

The 1928 win was reward for the investment made and Motosacoche’s only European crown. And a double crown End at that.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

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Neews Events

New ws&Events

Wemoto’s charity T-shirts Wemoto handed over a £16,590 cheque to the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club at the official launch of the 2019 Isle of Man TT on March 19.

The cheque was a result of the company’s fundraising efforts in 2018. The money will help fund the MGPSC’s life-saving helicopter ambulance, used during the Manx Grand Prix.

Now that its fourth fundraising year is complete, Wemoto is happy to announce it has surpassed the £50,000 mark and has now raised £65,000 for the charity in total.

Wemoto’s 2019 T-shirt has recently been released and is available to buy at wemoto.com or in limited numbers at this year’s Festival of Jurby. It is just £10 and all the profits raised go towards supporting racers on the Isle of Man. Visit www.wemoto.com, email sales@wemoto.com or call 01273 597072.

Lad like dad

In winning the Edinburgh & District Motor Club’s 2019 Pre-65 Scottish Two Day Trial, Triumph Cub-mounted Dan Thorpe created a new record, Th that of becoming the only son of a winning father to be victorious in the event in its 36-year history.

Dan had finished in the top three before but lost out to tie-break rules that stated the biggest bike takes precedence and then the oldest rider. This

year he made no mistake and was the clear winner, setting himself up for the following week’s SSDT. Thorpe Senior – former Triumph, Ossa and Bultaco works rider Dave – won the event six times from 1987 and was riding in this year’s trial.

The challenge is set, so come on dads and lads, or mums and daughters, 2020 awaits!

Words: Tim Britton.

Photograph: Fiona Watson.

Gene Romero (1947-2019)

The 1970 AMA Grand National champion and winner of the 1975 Daytona 200, Gene Romero, passed away on Sunday, May 12, in Fullerton, California. He was 71, just a week shy of his 72nd birthday.

A hugely popular guest at the 2016 October Stafford show, Romero won 12 AMA nationals during his 16-year racing career, but is perhaps best remembered for his role in the 1971 film On Any Sunday.

The biggest win of Romero’s career was the 1975 Daytona 200.

He was fourth for the first half of the race on his factory Yamaha, before passing Giacomo Agostini and Steve Baker, then taking the lead when Steve McLaughlin crashed. It was his only win in 14 Daytona 200 starts, though he was second in 1969 and 1970.

Romero also headed up Honda’s factory flat track racing team between 1982-85 and later organised a flat track series on the West Coast. He is survived by wife Cheri and son Geno.

Moon Eyes – The John Cooper story Newly-released is a fascinating bookazine on the legend that is John Cooper, conducted in a question and answer fashion by journalist Chris Carter, who is a lifelong friend of John’s, the two having grown up together near Derby.

With his easily recognisable

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

‘Moon Eyes’ crash helmet deal, bespectacled John was a regular winner throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, famously beating Agostini and the MV at Mallory Park in 1971, Cooper riding the roadster engine-based ohv three-cylinder BSA triple (admittedly 750cc), with Ago on his

usually unbeatable, full GP dohc 500cc MV triple. Dedications are spread throughout by all manner off well-known names, with lots of lovely period illustrations too.

Priced at £6.99, it’s available in newsagents and direct from Mortons on 01507 529529 or at www.classicmagazines.co.uk

Rickman Enthusiasts’ Day The name of the Rickman brothers is synonymous with off-road motorcycle sport, but they were involved in so much more – circuit racing, road-going machines, motorcycle luggage, fairings, even a car – and all this will be celebrated on June 23 at a special event held at the Sammy Miller Museum.

Both Don and Derek Rickman will be there, with the hope being to attract as many Rickman motorcycles as possible. If you have one, contact Russ Gannicott at triaxiom@btconnect.com Additionally, there’ll be trade stands, a Rickman ‘bring and buy’ stall and the museum will be open for business as usual, too.

Serpentine Charity Run

Open to all types of classics (cars and motorcycles) the Serpentine Charity Run on June 30 starts at 9.30am from the Devonshire Dome (SK17 6RY) and involves a route though the Peak District national park.

Entrants will be given their route maps at registration. The run will be around 100 miles and involve places of interest, as well as stops for refreshments, pub lunch, picnic etc and culminate in a display of all entrants at the finish line in one of the Peak District’s historic locations (it’s a secret until you get there) around mid-afternoon. More details from 01298 25590 or email c-kitchen@sky.com

VMCC 2019 AGM

The VMCC elected a new board of six directors at its 2019 AGM on March 3, 2019 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

They are former engineers, accountants and managers with experience in business, museums and the public sector, all united by a love for old motorcycles. Chairman is Geoff McGladdery, founder and chair of the Herefordshire Section. He rides a 1929 Ariel, Honda step-through off-roader and Cheney Triumph. The club also made Mike Wills president-elect.

NEWS IN BRIEF  PRESCOTT FESTIVAL

The Prescott Bike Festival will take place over June 15-16 at the Gloucestershire venue, owned by the Bugatti Owners’ Club. All proceeds from the event – which will feature a vast array of classics and customs – go to the Blood Bike charities. Gates open at noon on Saturday (for the preview day) and admission is £12, then it’s from 8.30am Sunday, with track action from 9.30am with admission £20. The hill is just outside Gotherington, near Cheltenham GL52 9RD. Details from www. prescottbikefestival.co.uk

Come and see the Rickman brothers at the Sammy Miller Museum on June 23. This is the 1964 British GP; Don, left, Derek right, on Bultaco-powered machines.

 KEN BLAKE

New surface for museum Like the Silverstone race circuit, Sammy Miller has been having his museum road and car park re-tarmacked in readiness for the spring/summer season, getting the museum circuit ready for all its demonstrations and testing.

On event and marque days, this will enable riders to enjoy a smooth surface when riding around the complex.

The drive has been widened

to accommodate more hard standing for stalls at the autojumbles. This means they can continue with autojumbles, regardless of the unpredictable British weather.

The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is at Bashley Cross Road, New Milton, Hampshire, and is open daily from 10am.

Details from 01425 620777 or www.sammymiller.co.uk

Success for Stratford Autojumble The site of the inaugural Stratford autojumble on May 12 was filled with the sounds of cars, motorbikes and visitors.

Whether it was to find that missing piece of the automotive jigsaw or restocking on essenttialls, the crowd d spentt hours browsing hundreds of stalls. From vintage petrol

tanks to chrome bumpers, Stratford’s first autojumble had it all.

Attention for the organisers now turns to the September event, which will be held on September 15, 2019. Go to ww www ww.st w trattford dauttojjumb ble.co.uk k for more details, or call 01507 529430 for all trade enquiries.

The well-known Poole enthusiast and restorer, many of whose machines have featured in this magazine over the years, died on April 22. Our condolences are expressed to his family and friends.

 ROMNEY MARSH CLASSIC SHOW

The Romney Marsh show at Hamstreet, near Ashford in Kent, takes place on June 23.

Visit www.elk-promotions. co.uk to download a free entry form. Gates open at 10am and admission is £5 adults; £4 for 65 and over; kids under 16 free.

 BANBURY RUN

The VMCC’s annual pre-1931 extravaganza takes place at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon on June 16. It will feature the usual eclectic mix of machines and fantastic autojumble.

 SUNBEAM MCC’S ROSE OF THE SHIRES RUN

The popular Sunbeam MCC Rose of the Shires run, to be held this year on June 9, will again start at the Navigation pub, Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester NN12 7SY, alongside the scenic and busy canal. Entry and regulations are available from Rob Bayman, 4 Bedford Cottages, Great Brington, Northampton NN74JF, or www.sunbeammcc.co.uk

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

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Neews Events THE WAY WE WERE IN

JULY

1919

George Brown Memorial Run The 2019 George Brown Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, July 14 and although it used to be a vintage run, it now encourages all motorcyclists to enjoy the day on whatever bike they have, but if they can come along on a classic, all the better!

The gathering starts in the car

park of the Cromwell Hotel in Stevenage from 10am. There’s a ride, a long lunch break at a pub and then return to the Cromwell via a slightly shorter route.

There are prizes for a variety of categories and the day tends to end at 4pm. There’s more at www.stevenageanddmcc.co.uk

Sketchbook stock photos

At short notice, the Edinburgh and District Motor Club announced the revival of the Scottish Six Days Trial from July 21-26.

A total of 72 riders entered, but then due to the short notice of the trial, all trade entries withdrew as they wouldn’t have enough time to prepare their entries. A rail strike added to the organisers’ woes, with the non-arrival of some machines leaving just 50 privateer starters.

Many reckoned Aultnaharie, a new hill, to be too severe. The club replied, stating that if 90% of the entry failed it, the hill would be scrubbed from the results.

In the event, only 16 failed.

Although road conditions in part were poor due to timber hauling for the war

1944

A motorist who used two bottles of lighter fuel to try out his car was summoned to appear in a local Norfolk court and motorcyclists trying alternative fuels were duly warned to check their legality before venturing onto the public roads.

Questions by two MPs Martin Squires, the author and illustrator of the Sketchbook Travels articles, has just released a new series of prints featuring various stock motorcycles. These are available through his website

as a print to order service, in A4, A3 or A2 sizes. All prints are high quality on 310gsm paper and signed by the artist. Details at www.sketchbooktravels.com/ stockmotorcycles

Big Bike Sunday in June Racing legend Tony Jefferies will be reunited with a Triumph he built in the 1960s as an apprentice at the Triumph factory at the Big Bike Sunday at Skipton Auction Mart (BD23 1UD) on June 30.

Tony raced the bike, including at the TT. There were more than 100 motorcycles on show last year, covering 100 years of manufacture.

Further details are available from John Hunter at j.hunter359@ btinternet.com or 07960917483.

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

1969

After a race-long tussle with Dieter Braun (Suzuki), London privateer Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki) won the Belgian GP to all-but tie up the year’s 125cc GP title chase, with five rounds to

1991

The UK Government was considering legislation to enforce a continuous licensing system for all vehicles, regardless of roadworthiness, rather than licensing only when

effort, many severe potholes had been filled.

The starters comprised 29 solos, 18 outfits, two Morgans and a single cyclecar. Of these, 15 solos completed, with nine earning first class awards/ gold medals, 10 outfits (two first class awards/ gold medals), one Morgan and the AC Cyclecar. The finishers included Mrs Bell (6HP AJS outfit, second class award) who took the event seriously, unlike Harry Macrae, who arrived at the start with a fishing rod strapped to his 7-9hp Harley-Davidson, claiming his machine was so fast he’d have plenty of time for a spot of fishing most days.

By the week’s end, Harry had landed three trout but no awards. had been put to parliament regarding servicemen – including dispatch riders – and excessive speed.

In reply to the questions, the Secretary of State for War, Sir James Grigg, stated: ‘In certain areas the military have their own special speed limits.’ go! As the title was decided on the riders’ best six results and Simmonds has four wins and a second, only by winning the remaining five consecutive races could a rider beat him. used on the roads. Junior transport minister Robert Key stated £145m was lost annually due to tax evasion, with enforcement costing a further £25m per year.

Richard Rosenthal.

Book Review

British motorcycles 1945-1965 From Aberdare to Wooler Author: Rinsey Mills Published by: Herridge & Sons Ltd, Lower Forda, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5SY Tel.: 01409 281990 Fax: 01409 281910 E-mail: info@ herridgeandsons.com Hardback, 210 x 270mm (portrait); 600 pages with more than 1500 illustrations.

ISBN: 978-1-906133-61-0 £60; $90 US; $110 Canada Aberdare? Never heard of them? Well, they made motorcycles and small-capacity two-stroke motorcycles under the name of Bown in Wales in the 1950s.

The obscure Wooler, however, you should be interested in, because of the fascinating eccentricity of John Wooler’s designs. In between the letters A and W you will find all the familiar names, with a number of unfamiliar ones and lost causes too.

As for better-known makes, the book contains 75 pages on AJS and Matchless, 27 on Ariel, 67 on BSA, 41 on Norton, 46 on Royal Enfield, 82 on Triumph, 33 on Velocette and 20 on Vincent.

There are two very special features about this book. The first is it gets closer to the subject bikes and goes deeper into their make-up than any other encyclopaedic study of the British motorcycles of the period. The second outstanding feature is the nature of the illustrations, which are all reproduced from the manufacturers’ contemporary sales brochures and advertising. They range from the comparatively (and surprisingly) workaday publications of Vincent to the fabulous artwork produced by the likes of Ariel and Triumph.

The book is structured in such a way that each maker gets a historical introduction, followed by generously captioned illustrations in chronological order of the range they made, along with updates and revisions. The captions are not just labels to the pictures but discuss the bikes in some detail, with insights into their characteristics, technical aspects, on-road behaviour and performance, with quotes from contemporary road tests and input – often witty anecdotes – from the author, who is familiar with a great many British bikes of the period and has more than 50 years of personal experience of them. Compiled mainly from his own considerable archive, author Rinsey Mills stresses that this unique and high-quality book is not intended to be encyclopaedic, but is eminently browsable and a comprehensive and reliable reference source.

It is interesting to see how the machines evolved over the years, especially the off-roaders (when did you last see a 250/350cc Panther Stroud trials model?) and racing models.

A real page-turner and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jonathan Hill

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SEE PAGE 22 FOR MORE DETAILS THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

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John Guy with his immaculately restored 1929 Dresch MS604. Now he’s in search of his next project!

A fitting celebration

This year Stafford celebrated the 100th running of the TT races with a vast collection of star riders joining the annual showpiece classic event.

T

Words: JAMES ROBINSON Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN

he 2019 Stafford show celebrated the 100th running of the TT races (with cancellations owing to various circumstances meaning some years were missed) with an impressive line-up of famous TT racers, including 16-times winner Ian Hutchinson, nine-times winner Charlie Williams (who launched his new self-written book, ‘It was The Best of Times’, at the show), superstar sidecar pairing Tom and Ben Birchall (eight-times victors), six-times winner Jim Redman, triple winner Alex George plus fan favourites John Cooper and Tommy Robb.

The whole shebang was compered by Steve Plater, a double TT winner himself,

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and all the stars congregated on stage, where they were interviewed, providing a real mix of insight and anecdotes. With the talk over, they all busily signed TT and other paraphernalia.

On display around them was an interesting, eclectic collection of nine ex-TT machines, including the Birchalls’ winning sidecar outfit, the remarkable, unrestored ex-Tyrell-Smith Rudge (third in the 1932 Junior TT) and the glorious 1926 ohv 500cc AJS, a sister machine to the one on which Jimmy Simpson recorded the first 70mph lap and this example was the one Frank Longman came third on in that race when Simpson failed to finish.

The 1926 Senior was an important event for AJS, as the Wolverhampton firm had only that year launched its first ohv 500cc production machine – the G8 – so good publicity was vital. Longman and Simpson duly provided it. The gaps between the 1920s AJS and the Birchalls’ sidecar was filled with a host of other genuine TT machines, including an MV triple, a 50cc CR110 Honda production racer and a Joey Dunlop RC45 V-four Honda.

While the stage race-ware provided sporting glamour, in front of them was the private entry display, which glistened just as much under the lights as the sporting stars. The large team of concours judges,

Stafford | April 2019

1: Allen Millyard explains his latest remarkable creation, a ‘Velocette’ V-twin.

2: John Abram with his Slippery Sam replica, built

by Les Williams as a near copy of the real ‘Sam’.

3: Our man Martin Squires in his studio.

See the fruits of his labours on page 84.

4: “I can resist everything except temptation,” is a phrase one often considers when walking through the jumble…

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headed by ex-The Classic MotorCycle staff man and all-round enthusiast Dennis Frost and featuring several others who have won major concours prizes, picked out the pretty little red 1929 Dresch MS604 of John Guy, on which to bestow the Best in Show award.

It has been a dreadful start to the year for John, who lost his staunch supporter, wife Olive, earlier this year, so it was wonderful to see him smiling as he picked up his prize. The small capacity German machine is typical of some of the recent, quirky machines Mr Guy has resurrected, though it had been a few years since he’d displayed at Stafford, so it was a winning return.

Chatting afterwards, John reckons he wants a new project. “What do you fancy John?”

“Anything…” he said.

Over the years, John has restored a plethora of superb, prize-winning machines and we’ve featured several of them in the magazine over the years. They have been as diverse as a raft of SOS two-strokes, a gorgeous mid-1920s James V-twin, several vintage Sunbeams, a bevy of French

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Stars on stage – Charlie Williams and the Birchall boys.

beauties (1920s-era) and a couple of baby lightweights, including a super rare small capacity Ivory Calthorpe and 174cc unit-construction early vintage Raleigh. The man has wide-ranging tastes… If you have got anything you think might appeal to him, be sure to contact us and we’ll pass it on.

A man whose taste isn’t so wide-ranging is Graham Bowen – he knows what he likes and sticks to it. His unit Triumph twin restorations are always startling, and this year a 1969 won him the Best Classic (post-1965), while it was another Triumph, Phil Ozane’s 1951 Thunderbird, that was Best Classic (pre-1965).

There were too many prize-winners to list them all here but others included Tony Trueman’s Cotton Dart (Technical Interest), Ken Baxter’s 1928 Brough Superior SS80 (Best Prewar), Dave Frier’s 1923 Raleigh (Best Vintage) with Richard Lancaster’s 1904 Rex Best Veteran, while John Newsom’s 1961 Norvin took an award for Engineering Excellence, with the Best Club Stand prize going to the Scott OC. There were plenty of other stunners dotted around the halls too – the Sammy Miller machines (Norton F-type and Flying Fish) and Allen Millyard specials (including a remarkable 700cc ‘Velocette’ V-twin) adorned insurance trade stands, while our own Martin Squires was afforded some space to call his own – see the results of his endeavours on page 84.

Outside, various racers were fired up, though with Saturday’s weather frankly appalling, onlooker numbers were not what they usually are.

The 2020 show will celebrate the 40th year of this well-established event, and there are some exciting new developments in the pipeline inorder to acknowledge this landmark.

More information is coming soon. Please see www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com or follow @classicbikeshows on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Ian Hutchison presents John Guy with his winner’s trophy.

Evergreen Archie Beggs came along and picked up the prize for second place in the Veteran class, with his 1914 Sunbeam.

The glorious third-place finishing 1932 Rudge of Mike Farrall was a winner at Stafford as the Best TT bike. It will not be restored.

Stafford | April 2019

Record highs The Bonhams April sale realised some staggering prices, with ex-Bud Ekins Triumph the most jaw-dropping.

With a successful sale rate of 92% and a total of £3,892,397 achieved, the Bonhams auction resulted in an all-time record sale.

Highlights included 1962 Triumph 649cc TR6SS, which had been ridden by Bud Ekins, the US racer, trials rider and stuntman who performed the famous jump as a double for Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. The lot achieved more than three times its top estimate with a world record auction price of £97,750, sold to the US. Another record-breaker at the show was a 1925 Coventry Eagle 981cc Flying-8, with an overhead valve JAP V-twin, which set a new auction record for the marque, achieving an impressive £218,500. After a three-way bidding battle, the machine was bought by a lady bidder in the room and it will join a renowned collection. It eclipsed the one-year-younger SS100 Brough Superior, which realised £207,000.

A third world record was set for a 1935 Vincent-HRD 498cc Series-A Comet, which sold for £97,750 to a bidder in the room. This rare machine, one of only a few ‘intermediate sump’ types, was totally restored in 2015 by famed Vincent-HRD restorer Glyn Johnson and has been on display ever since.

There was a raft of early overhead camshaft Velocette machines and spares included too, with a saleroom notice informing that one of the lots, listed as a 1927/29 Velocette project, carried frame number K986, which records suggest was allocated to Alec Bennett for his

Fabulous Coventry-Eagle V-twin, with modifications including a later four-speed gearbox, is on its way to a new owner, who is £218,500 the lighter.

The Bud Ekins 1962 Triumph Trophy, which is heading to the US. wining ride in the 1927 Junior TT. It fetched £5312. The other stand-out among the Velos was a lot including engine number KTT 546, one of the last Mk.IV KTT engines produced, featuring the ‘low pressure’ oiling system. The original frame number was recorded as 4960.

The number of the frame with the lot was 4609, so the same numbers but in a different order – a strange coincidence – might they have been recorded wrongly at the factory? Bidding was enthusiastic, with £15,062 the final sum.

From the same collection, a KS/KTT special (in need of plenty of work) made £17,250, the same price as a 1935 Mk.1 KSS, which was adorned with a set of strutted KTT Webb forks.

An intriguing Vincent V-twin special fetched £62,100 (the same price as an unrestored, long-time unused standard Shadow later too). The owner of the special, regular Manx Grand Prix competitor Dave Dock, bought the machine as a stock Black Shadow for road use. The machine was despatched to Conway Motors in August 1949. ‘KXF 355’ is the original

registration, and the original upper and rear frames, both numbered ‘RC4494B’, were among the accompanying spare parts.

Dock subsequently rebuilt the machine for racing using a Parkin frame (Derek Parkin, racer and frame builder from West London, built and campaigned his own lightweight frames for Vincent engines in the 1960s.

Between 12 and 14 were built for twins, and it is believed just three frames for 500cc units.

Like the Egli, the Parkin frame replicates the Manx Norton in rake, trail, and wheelbase but is based around a Vincent steering head), telescopic forks, and a disc front brake. In 1985 he raced the Parkin-Vincent at the MGP, completing five laps before being sidelined due to a loose exhaust system.

A trio of Honda Monkey Bikes – the first a later Z100, followed by two earlier Z50s – made just shy of £4000 for the early machine, then £20 under £6000 and £5175 for the two early machines.

A charming unrestored but lovely presented 2¾hp Raleigh was £8050 (and judging by who was spotted wheeling it out, it will be joining the collection of a well-known Yorkshire trials riding family) while the Arter AJS, as featured in these pages, made £19,550 and is apparently headed Stateside, where the rumour is it’ll nestle alongside the most famous Arter machine of all, the ex-Peter Williams G50 ‘Wagon Wheels’. All prices include the buyers’ premium but no taxes. For the full sale results visit www.bonhams.com James Stensel, head of Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles, said: “What an incredible weekend! We are thrilled with the results of this sale, not only breaking our own auction record but also achieving three world auction records for individual marques and models.

“This sale, which is our largest to date, with over 400 collectors’ motorcycles offered, proves that machines with fantastic history, originality and pedigree will always End achieve record prices.”

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

15

Readerss’ Letters YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

LE ‘motorcycle for everyman’ I was pleased to see that Steve Wilson polished his shoes before taking a ride on Alex Taylor’s LE (The Ugly Duckling, TCM, May 2019).

Motor Cycling correspondent George Beresford did the same when he tested Velocette’s uprated 200cc LE model in late 1950. He wore his best trilby too, but all that sartorial effort wasn’t enough to avoid Beresford being refused service in a Malmesbury hotel.

And after all these years, LEs still divide opinion. LE types reckon Velocette’s water-cooled twin was the UK industry’s best effort at a mass market motorcycle. But Hall Green’s version of mass production was

a tiny sip from a glass overflowing with the likes of BSA’s basic Bantam and a host of unappealing autocycles and cyclemotors.

By the 1950s, scooters were the mass two-wheeled transport of choice.

No more than 150 Velocette staff struggled to make 120 LEs a week in the early 1950s when demand for the firm’s ‘motorcycle for everyman’ was outstripping supply. Nearly 33,000 examples were produced over the LE’s 22-year production life, and as Steve writes they can still be enjoyed today. £1000 will buy you a decent example, although a tin of shoe polish will be extra.

Dennis Frost, Historian, LE Velo Club, via email.

SAINT sibling

Further to the feature on Terry Smith’s SAINTs in the April 2019 issue, I have owned my example for 11 years and prior to that there were only two owners.

The bike is unrestored and I still have the single seat, panniers, pannier frames, leg shields and bars. It was great to see the article and see all the sister bikes.

Paddy McGuire, via email.

Issues with Speed Twin

In its 22 years in production, nearly 33,000 LEs were made.

Changing times… And prices After an absence of a few decades, I have re-entered the motorcycle world with the purchase of an astonishing BMW F800GS. Not a classic I know and I still hanker for my old A10 Road Rocket, so have been pouring through your magazines.

The first thing that hits you is the prices these days. I know everything has to go up but really, the prices of classic and vintage bikes, in general, are through the roof!

In 1970 my mates and I bought an Interceptor for £75, a Road Rocket £80, Thunderbird £90, Bonneville £120

(very posh!) and a BSA side-valve thingy combination sidecar job for £25, running.

As an estimate I would say that in the intervening 50 odd years since, prices have risen approximately 100 fold. Would anyone agree? And if that is the case does that mean old motorbikes are a better financial investment than gold? Property? Shares? Art? I know most of you all are in it for love not money, but even so, that’s a helluva rise!

Anyone got an old Road Rocket for sale?

At a 1970 price be nice!

Paul Zmitrowicz, Margate, Kent.

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2019

Thanks for the Retro Rides magazine (free with the June issue) which was full of great information.

Of course, I am prompted to counter Mikko Nieminen’s romanticised description of the original Triumph Speed Twin! The hard truth – instead of updating and re-styling Triumph’s respected parallel twin, Edward Turner put his own design on the market (in 1937) and, as usual for him, without much testing or development.

The Speed Twin sold well to their intended customers, who must have been attracted by the chrome headlamps and keen price, but found the mechanics to be fragile.

By all accounts handling was not especially ‘nice’ either! Only when the Tiger 100 came along in 1939 were things improved.

Mikko has also forgotten the BMW R51. Yes, another 500cc OHV twin, but in a far different class with its tele-forks, shaft drive and rear springing. Much too expensive and sensible for Ed’s mainly young and perhaps foolish customers?

Jim McKillop, via email.

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