The Classic Motorcycle May 2017

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MAY 2017

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American spec’ Beesa unit twin

ON BRIGHTON Oh we do Oh, d like lik to b be SEAFRONT WITH THE PIONEERISTS beside the seaside!

PLUS:Second World War DRsAmazing

early Wanderer twinBSA’s works star Keith HickmanSteve Parrish’s Panther project

Editor’s welcome

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For no other reason than my own amusement, I’ve been collating a few photographs of some of the motorcycles I’ve been privileged to ride over the years. There are quite a few, and most were memorable for the right reasons, though some of course weren’t quite so pleasant. But what really set me on this train of thought was Richard Kettle’s letter in this issue (p14), in which he mentions how his Vincent was ‘lovely to ride’ and rightly pointed out that we can get a skewed impression of old machines, as it is so dependent on the life an ‘old bike’ has had and the restoration (or not) it has been the subject of.

I’m never going to know, for example, what a brandnew, fresh out of Stevenage Vincent Black Shadow was like first time out, or whether a flat-tank Model 18 Norton, as delivered to its first owner, handled beautifully… or not. The reason I mention the Norton is a friend of mine had two, seemingly identical machines – one handled, the other just didn’t. Had they been like that since new? Or was it the intervening years which had made one good, and the other bad, say with one having a harder life than the other? Or did they both start off as bad, but one was improved by an owner with an agenda to do so, while the other was just left ‘as was.’ So which one was more representative of what the machine was like as new? We can, really, never know.

It is also dependent on what parameters we judge things by. I don’t ever look at the motorcycles I’ve ridden and say which was the ‘best’ (which is how the question is often phrased when asked) rather, the most memorable. As how can you judge what’s ‘better’ between a 1915 BRS Norton (shown below) and an early 2012 Ducati Pannigale, two of my most memorable, and, really, in terms of 'best' (as in able to do everything well) then neither scores highly at all. Actually, the flat-tank 16H I’ve ridden is inarguably a better (i.e. more usable) bike than a BRS, and the 899 'baby' Pannigale I had a go on likewise than the 1199 original.

Finding something that’s ‘lovely to ride’, as Richard has, is what it’s all about. And we all like different things, and judge by different parameters. And what’s ‘lovely to ride’ to one person, is the opposite to another. Which is what makes it all so much fun!

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

40 Contributors Tim Britton, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Alan Turner, Phil Turner, Gerry Vogt, 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 | MAY 2017 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Letters ............................................................. 14 BSA A65 Firebird Scrambler.......................... 18 Subscribe and save ........................................ 24 Pioneer Run .................................................... 26 Ariel KHA ........................................................ 32 Second World War dispatch riders ............... 40 Gnome et Rhone............................................. 46 Keith Hickman profile ................................... 52 Wanderer V-twin ............................................ 60 Closer look – Scottish Six Days and Hugh Viney ............................................. 66 Andrew Spicer interview ............................... 72 Men who mattered – Howard R Davies........ 74 Roy Poynting column .................................... 76 Jerry Thurston column................................... 78 Steve Parrish Panther project part four ....... 80 Sketchbook travels ......................................... 84 You were asking.............................................. 86

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Restoration guide – Velocette KSS................ 90

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Technical feature – pioneer engines ............ 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

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! FROM ONLY £20

SEE P24 FOR DETAILS

» Every issue will be sent hot off the press and delivered straight to your house » You’ll never miss an action-packed issue or supplement again THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

Classic archive | Tribute

John Surtees (1934-2017)

Star on two and four wheels, who died on March 10, 2017.

U

‘

nique’ is an oft-overused word, but that is the only fitting term to describe the achievements of John Surtees, the only man to be world champion in the blue riband category on both two and four wheels.

Born on February 11, 1934, in Tatsfield, Surrey, John was the son of Jack, a regular sporting competitor as well as proprietor of a motorcycle shop in Croydon, south London. Aged 15, John joined his dad in the business, then made his racing debut at 16.

By the time he was 17 he was an apprentice at Vincent and racing – and winning – on a Grey Flash. The rise of Surtees was meteoric – at just 18 he came sixth in the 1952 Ulster GP, on a Featherbed Norton. There were factory Nortons for the 1953 TT (though a practice crash ruled him out), plus lots of domestic success aboard Bob Geeson’s 250cc REG. A first GP win came in 1955 on a 250cc NSU Sportmax; at 21, John was the youngest winner of a Grand Prix. He was still racing Nortons, as well as occasional outings on other machines (including a works BMW at the Nurburgring) but Surtees’ ambition was to beat Geoff Duke in Grands Prix. To do that he needed more than the single cylinder Norton.

Though he’d done well domestically on the Norton (even beating the mighty Duke/ Gilera combination) John reckoned it was that BMW outing which brought him to the attention of the Italian factories.

John Surtees signed for MV Agusta for the 1956 season and the success was instant – he was 500cc world champion in that first season, becoming the sport’s youngest champion. Though 1957 was a lean year – the MVs didn’t handle properly – it was the years 1958-60 that really cemented Surtees in to the motorcycling world’s consciousness. For each of those three seasons he was a double world champion, in the 350cc and 500cc categories. Granted, most of the other Italian factories had pulled out (Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Mondial quit en masse at the end of 1957) but the MV was by this point a well developed machine.

Our picture shows John in the 1960 German GP at Solitude, on his way to winning the 500cc race in front of a crowd of 100,000, as he heads toward another

world championship. What made the event more remarkable was that as well as winning the 500cc motorcycle race (in front of two more MV fours, ridden by Remo Venturi and Emilio Mendogni – there was no 350cc event), he also deputised for Stirling Moss, driving Rob Walker’s Porsche 718 in a round of the European Formula 2 car championship, at the same meeting. Unfortunately a messed-up gearchange saw the Porsche spin out, thus denying any chance of a special two-and four-wheeled double.

In around 380 motorcycle races, John only suffered about a dozen crashes, but at the end of 1960 called it a day on two wheels – his last outing was at Monza, on the MV. He switched to four-wheels fulltime.

Though he missed out on being the lead Lotus driver in 1961, he found a home at Ferrari, where, in 1964, he was to clinch the remarkable double, winning the Formula 1 world championship.

There were so many other achievements too. He was third in the Le Mans 24 hour race, for example, while at 17 he was part of Vincent’s record-breaking attempts at Montlhery in 1951. He was the 1966 CanAm champion in Lola, he was instrumental in bringing Honda to Formula 1, winning the 1967 Italian GP. In 1970 Surtees constructed his own Formula 1 car, and as a constructor employed Mike Hailwood to drive; Hailwood was 1972 European F2 champ in a Surtees. Coincidentally, Monza was the place of his last F1 drive, in 1972. A host of well known names (including F1 world champions James Hunt and Alan Jones) were to drive Surtees Formula 1 cars.

John’s popularity endured. Guest of honour at the 2014 Classic MotorCycle Show at Stafford, crowds queued and queued to talk to and have pictures signed by the multi world champion. He spoke warmly to all, patiently signing autograph after autograph.

Married twice, first to Pat and then Jane, John had three children, Edwina, Leonora and Henry. Tragically, Henry was killed in a car racing accident in 2009. In his memory, the Henry Surtees Foundation was established, for which John continued to work tirelessly.

To (mis)quote Shakespeare: “We End shall not look upon his like again.”

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

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Neews Events

New ws&Events

Remarkable Vespa auctioned

TCM’s tribute to leg gend Surtees

The oldest known extant Vespa, one of the first series (‘0’) scooters, came up for sale with Dutch online auction site Catawiki. With prototypes one and two gone, this, the third, is the oldest. At the time of going to press, it had been bid to over £123,000! Have a look at www.catawiki.com

Silver Hawk sold

The V-four Matchless featured in our last issue, and auctioned

by Dee, Atkinson & Harrison at Sledmore House in Yorkshire on March 4, realised a premium inclusive (10% plus VAT) £48,160. The venue’s next auction will be on July 29; submit entries by contacting Andrew Spicer 01377 253151 or andrews@dahauctions.com

John Surtees exercises the ‘JSD’ at Brands Hatch in 1962; a Reynolds-framed 250cc Ducati twin, which coincidentally is to be offered in Bonhams’ Stafford sale on April 23.

Following the death of John Surtees, we’ll be celebrating the life and achievements of the two and four-wheeled world

champion with a special 32page supplement, free with our next (June) issue. It will draw heavily on the Mortons archive,

featuring a plethora of pictures of the great man in action on board the machines upon which he made his name.

70+ classics at April auction Cheffins has more than 70 classic motorcycles coming into the Cambridge Vintage Sale on April 22. Included is a description 1951 Triumph 6T Thunderbird Bonneville Salt Flats Land Speed Racer which holds the national record in the 650cc M-VG Class held at the 2008 International Speed Trials at Bonneville.

Other highlights include a

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lovely 1938 AJS Model 8, as well as a rare and lively 1927 Scott Super Squirrel, the unusual open-framed three-speeder.

There’s a host of other machines too (including a 1914 Alldays Matchless).

The sale takes place at Cheffins’ saleground at Sutton, near Ely, CB6 2QT. Go to www.cheffins.co.uk

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

Lovely big single, in the shape of a 500cc AJS Model 8, included in Cheffins’ April 22 sale.

Muriel’s motorcycle at Stafford One of the highlight for visitors to the Stafford Show, over April 22-23, will be the opportunity to see ‘The Blue Devil,’ Muriel Hind’s famous V-twin Rex. Having been domiciled on the Isle of Man for decades, featuring in the Murray Museum, the Rex returns to the mainland and will be on the Mortons stand, central in the main show hall.

It’ll be joined on the stand by several other spectacular V-twins from through the ages, including some associated with guest of honour, Ducati star Troy Bayliss.

NEWS IN BRIEF  750 MACHINES SET FOR MECUM SALE 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 details.

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

Details and tickets for the event are available from www.classicbikeshows.com or 01507 529529.

 CHEFFINS’ ELY EVENT There’s an auction at Cheffins’ East Anglian premises, at Sutton near Ely, on April 22, for which consignments are being taken. Call 01353 777767 or www.cheffinss.co.uk

Velo and Vincent to headline Sta aff fford d sale Headliners at Bonhams’ sale include an ex-works Velocette, a rare Vincent twin, barn finds and crated 1990s superbikes, together with a plethora of affordable classics for every taste and budget.

The sale’s leading lot is a double-overhead cam Velocette works racing motorcycle (£120,000-150,000) as raced by Freddie Frith in 1949 to win the 350cc class of the world championship in the competition’s inaugural year. The works Velocettes were dismantled and sold on, but the ex-Frith engine and frame were reunited and the machine rebuilt using genuine works parts.

A Vincent White Shadow is perhaps the other standout lot.

Not every Shadow-specification machine left the factory with the distinctive black-finished engine casings, the few that did

 ASI MOTO OSHOW This year’s AS SI MotoShow is on May 12--14. As usual, there’ss free public admission wh hile details of how to take e part are available at w www.asifed.it or by calling 00 39 331 4795403.

 HERITAG GE WEEKEND The sixth ann nual Roxby Heritage Wee ekend will run in Clevelland over the weekend of Ju uly 8/9 based at the Fox Inn Inn. not becoming known as ‘White Shadows’. Last ridden in 1976, this machine was put in storage in a family shed and promptly forgotten. Upon its recent rediscovery by the family, it was mistaken for the slightly more common (although still highly desirable) Black Shadow.

However, closer inspection revealed that this was one of the rarest models and one of only 15 ever created – a 1949 Vincent

998cc White Shadow Series C. ‘Barn find’ Vincents of any kind seldom come to light and when they do are highly sought after, and this White Shadow – one of the rarest of postwar Vincents – has to be one of the most desirable. Estimate is £50,000-60,000.

There’s plenty more in the sale too; have a look at www.bonhams.com or for enquiries call 0208 89632817.

wheelers built before 1931.

There are two lengths of run, and on return to the museum participants will be treated to a roast lunch and receive a memento of the event, all included in the entry fee.

The Sammy Miller Museum will be bringing two outstanding AJS machines to Stafford – the 1939 supercharged, water-cooled V-four and the twincylinder E90 Porcupine.

The duo will feature on the Footman James stand.

 NORTONS TO STAR

YORK START FOR GOLDEN ERA RUN The Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, near York, will be the start and finish point for the North East Section of the VMCC’s Golden Era run.

The event on Sunday, July 30 is for motorcycles and three-

 PORC AND VFOUR AT STAFFORD

Due to the available space at the museum places are limited to 60, so please apply early.

For more information contact Graham Wilson on 0113 2176509 or 07772 724078, or email gericwilson@ntlworld.com

Norton will be the featured marque at this year’s Prescott Bike Festival, which takes place at the famous Gloucestershire hill climb on April 9.

For tickets and more information, see prescottbikefestival.co.uk

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

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& Eddie Dow

Neews Events

NEWS IN BRIEF  ROY HANKS RETIRES

Well-known Gold Star expert and exponent Eddie Dow, credited as the man who created the Rocket Gold Star, passed away on March 17.

An all-round motorcycle sportsmen – successful in trials initially, and road racing too – his biggest achievement was winning the 1955 Clubman’s Senior TT on a DBD34.

Following his TT win, he opened a motorcycle dealership, switching to cars in the late 1960s, before selling the business in 1991. He filled his retirement with skiing, gardening and as a motorsport enthusiast. He is survived by this wife Diane, daughter Franca and three grandchildren.

After a 50-year career, member of the sidecar racing Hanks dynasty Roy Hanks has retired. He started out on BSA-powered outfits, before moving onto all manner of others, and claiming a TT win in 1997. His best TT lap was at 108mph.

 BE AWARE OF SCAMS

Eddie Dow on his way to winning the 1955 Senior Clubman’s TT.

Walton wins the DJ rally Gavin Walton, a popular member of the classic motorcycle community in South Africa, notched up his second win in the prestigious DJ Rally for classic motorcycles made before 1937 when he won the 2017 event, over March 10/11.

He had a total error of 220 seconds for the two-day event which took competitors from Durban to Johannesburg with an overnight stop in Newcastle.

This was the 46th running of this regularity rally which commemorates the annual motorcycle races held on public roads between Durban and

Johannesburg from 1913 to 1936.

This year there were 70 finishers from an original field of 93 riders. This year the riders had favourable weather for most of the trip, with only one slight shower encountered, after a heavy downpour in Durban on the day before the start.

The fathers of two MotoGP riders, Derek Crutchlow (father of Cal, who races in MotoGP on a Honda) and Trevor Binder (father of Brad, the 2016 Moto3 world champion on a KTM) both qualified as finishers, placing 51st and ‘DJ’ winner Gavin Walton on his side-valve AJS. 55th respectively.

Star Tron treatment Wemoto has a new range in the form of Star Tron’s fuel treatment, of which it says: “It is one of the best on the market (we’ve done our research). It’s most commonly used in the marine industry, where ethanol is most likely to attract moisture, so it’s a very strong formula that’s not only good for treating fuel but curing fuel-related problems. We believe this makes it particularly effective for older bikes.”

Details from www.wemoto.com or 01273 597072.

WD-40 range new to Wemoto WD-40, one of the most recognisable brands in the industry, is now available at Wemoto in the form of a Specialist Motorbike Range.

The full range is now available, along with WD-40’s GT85 cleaning and lubrication maintenance spray.

Visit www.wemoto.com/info/wd-40_specialist_motorbike_range

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

We’ve been advised of potential ‘scam’ classified adverts which have appeared in publications and on forums, 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.

 WELSH WAY Vintage motorcycles will be on display as part of a Steam, Vintage and Craft show at Maes Elwy Farm, Llanerch Parc, Denbighshire, LL17 0BE, on the weekend of July 1-2. Admission: £4 per adult, children under 10 free. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Overland to Vietnam The story of Gordon May’s overland journey from the UK to Vietnam on a 1941 Matchless is told in a new book.

Overland to Vietnam is May’s account of his 2015 solo ride of 11,500 miles on a Second World War exBritish Army 350cc Matchless motorcycle only recently repatriated from Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Overland to Vietnam is 432 pages and available in paperback, £11.95; hardback, £14.95 and available from www.overlandtovietnam.com or 0161 408 6310. Alternatively, Gordon and his Matchless will be at the Stafford show.

Gordon May and his ‘tele-rigid’ G3L Matchless in Cambodia.

Book Review The Campion Cycle Company Story Author: Dave Crofts Published by: D W M Crofts, The Paddock, Bell Lane, Weston, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 6TW Tel.: 01636 822004 E-mail: dwmcrofts@ btinternet.com Also available from: Amazon.

Softback, 210 x 295mm (portrait); 118 pages with over 150 pictures and illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-326-74957-6 £14.50 including UK postage and packing.

When pioneer motorcycle manufacturers are discussed and compared, it is unlikely that the Nottingham firm of Campion is included or indeed remembered. This is unfortunate, because Campion – successful engineer and cycle maker – really was a pioneers, making its first motorcycle, using their own engine, in 1899.

The story began with William Campion in the 1860s. He built textile machinery and ran a mill in Nottingham’s labyrinthine Lace Market. By the 1870s, the bicycle craze was established in England and saw the production of the first Campion cycles – at their peak, they were producing 400 bicycles a week.

Campion links to Thomas Humber and Harry Curry are explored, along with other notable characters of the period. As motorcycle design evolved, Minerva, Blackburne and JAP engines were fitted by Campion, powering also their range of forecars and light cars. During the First World War they designed, patented and built ambulance sidecar outfits for the Red Cross to take two stretchers, one above the other, and in the 1920s produced England’s first motorcycle taxi. Throughout their production the bicycles and motorcycles were proven in competition both at home and abroad. Campion riders

achieved many successes in hill climbs and the prestigious MCC long-distance trials of the period as well as gaining records at Brooklands.

Always of high quality, with production of about 45 machines a week, by the early 1920s Campions could boast saddle tanks, four-speed Jardine gearboxes, electric lighting, hub brakes and a choice of single-cylinder and 1000cc V-twin engines – even a TT model was listed. A marvellous period image is included of their most famous customer, Nottingham’s Captain Albert Ball VC, the First World War ace fighter pilot, astride his sporting Campion solo.

When recession took hold Campion was taken over in 1928 by H Curry & Sons (now the modern-day white goods conglomerate) and from 1930 the marque was never to be seen again.

Following the acquisition of an incomplete and very rusty Campion, author Dave Crofts embarked on a long-term restoration and research project, resulting, at no little expense, with the self-publication and printing of this excellent book – the first record of the complete Campion history. Mr Crofts is to be congratulated in adding another piece to the jigsaw of our motorcycle heritage.

Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

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Neews Events

Still turning left A bike weighing considerably less than 200lb but having at least 45 brake horses sounds a recipe for an interesting ride. When the bike has no gears and no brakes and is ridden round a tight oval on a loose surface, the whole experience becomes... well... character building!

That’s speedway in a nutshell and its enduring appeal saw supporters join present and former riders at the annual Celebration of Speedway held at Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, Herts, on February 26.

The February date marks the month in 1928 when what was generally recognised as the first high profile speedway meeting in this country took place behind the Kings Oak Hotel at High Beech in Epping Forest. Some 30,000 spectators overwhelmed the place to see the new sport of ‘dirt track racing’.

Racing continued at High Beech until 1950. In 1968, the first reunion took place, but the historic track was being steadily reclaimed by nature. The event transferred to Paradise Park, where the National Museum of Speedway occupies part of the zoo, run by former speedway rider Peter Sampson. It is also a base for the World Speedway Riders Association that expanded the High Beech reunions into the Celebration of Speedway.

This year saw the biggest attendance yet. At least two former world champions were among the stars rubbing shoulders with enthusiasts.

There were plenty of bikes present, as interest in preserving the dedicated machinery has continued to grow and bikes with interesting provenance attract serious money. The exhibits crammed in the museum proved so popular it was all but impossible to move inside at times. Luckily, there was plenty of space outside and a further large marquee.

When the sun shone, the lines of bikes on display sparkled. For years, speedway bikes were of similar construction, an open diamond frame with bolted on rigid sub frame and forks with

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THE WAY WE WERE IN

MAY

1967

Nick Hanks would love to know more about his 1972 Dula-JAP, apparently built for a continental rider, but spending most of its life stored in English garages.

rudimentary suspension all powered by JAP engines.

There were many variations on the basic theme as builders embodied their own ideas and methods. Chrome plate became a popular finish, easily maintained and hopefully looking at its best under the speedway floodlights.

Every hour, on the hour, a selection of bikes were assembled in the fire-up paddock. Each time, a dense crowd formed to enjoy that unique scent of dope (methanol) fuel and castor oil to the soundtrack of JAP, Rudge and Jawa engines among others running on unsilenced open pipes.

The World Speedway Riders Association passed over the president’s chain of office at its meeting, an annual ritual. From former world champion Mark Loram it’s now England team manager Neil Middleditch who has the honour.

Like most motorcycle sports, speedway is under increasing environmental pressure.

Meetings are held in stadia in towns and cities, venues that are often coveted by developers. If the crowd at Paradise Park is a measure of enthusiasm for this sometime Cinderella of bike sport, it seems there’s plenty of reason that riders will still want to ‘keep turning left’. There are also many more people happy to pay money at the turnstiles to watch high speed skills and bravery.

Alan Turner

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | MAY 2017

Thirty two-year-old Sammy Miller, riding a Spanish 252cc Bultaco, won the year’s Scottish Six Days Trial, equalling the four win records of AJS teamsters Hugh Viney and Gordon Jackson. Mr Viney remained the only person to complete a hat-trick of SSDT victories.

Miller (18 marks lost) led all week to win by a margin of 16 marks over Dave Rowland (173cc BSA) who took the under 200cc trophy. Peter Gaunt (128cc Suzuki, on 97) won the under 150cc award and third place man Dennis ‘Jonah’ Jones (246cc Greeves) secured the under 250cc cup.

Amusingly, Miller also had a hand in the best over 350cc award, as winner Peter ‘Jock’ Wilson rode an ex-Miller 497cc Ariel, with a loss of 127 marks. The Best Newcomer trophy went to Martin Lampkin (249cc

BSA, 99) and Roland Bjorck (244cc Bultaco, 124) from Sweden not only made a commendable clean ascent of the Ravine but was also best foreign rider.

Only on Saturday did Sammy Miller’s concentration lapse momentarily during the new-for-1967 four sections included during the 147 mile jaunt back to Edinburgh.

Thanks to his 20 mark cushion, his five for a stop on one of the two sub-sections climb of Pipe Line was not too costly. But then it was Miller as usual with cleans on Mam Brec, Martuim and Tyndrum. As the riders completed the last 85 miles to Edinburgh, the past week’s moderate – by Highlands’ standards – weather gave way to heavy, icy rain, as if to prove who always has the last word in Scotland.

1917 A new type of front fork with pressed steel blades had just been invented and patented (105,477) by F W (Freddie) Barnes of Zenith Motors Ltd. The design was to make the front fork more accurate in

production terms than those built from malleable castings and tubes. Some may have recalled a similar design by Mr Starley of Birmingham, featured on February 17 the year before.

1942 Legislation in the UK came into force preventing the acquisition of new (unregistered) motorcycles except by official licence.

The Motor Cycle felt this notice was forestalled by the decision to end basic petroleum rations to motorcyclists from October

1992

Figures just issued indicate motorcycle accidents in the UK were down by 22% which, even allowing for a cut in motorcycle traffic, was good news. While this

31, 1942 (cars: June 30).

And as there appeared not to have been any new motorcycles registered for civilian use recently, other than a few autocycles, nor was there any evidence of any stock piled, the paper asked: ‘What need is there for this new prohibition?’

was welcome, the Motor Cycle Industry Association cautioned that the drop in motorcycle traffic was due to the reduction in youngsters choosing to ride motorcycles…

Richard Rosenthal.