Solid citizen Teenage drea am BSA B33 BIG SINGLE
CIRCULATES THROUGHO OUT THE WORLD
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OCTOBER 2017
Britain’s i ’ fastest 250! Race bred Cotton roadste Race-bred roadster
Ge entleman’s express e Squariel & sidecar
PLUS: VMCC Founders Day Oriel Bulto interview Puch P800 Pierce FourTwo-stroke racers Lansdowne round-upDonington Classic Festival
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So another month has flown by, in a whirl of events and rides, ranging from the grand scale Donington Classic to lots of local club runs, all the while managing to put plenty of miles on various bikes, including the Model 90 Sunbeam I rode at Banbury and which I’m lucky enough to have been allowed to keep by the National Motorcycle Museum for the duration of summer; it’s a lovely bike and a delight to ride. There’ll be more on it at a later date – it has a fascinating story and Peter Woodward, who restored it years ago before selling it to the museum, has been in touch and we’ll be detailing that in a later issue, too. During the course of one weekend, I rode a prewar V-twin, cammy 350cc single and the 90, as well as a late-1950s 350cc Ajay belonging to pal Jeff. And though the bikes all ranged in financial value spectacularly, would I have enjoyed myself any less on the Model 16? No, I wouldn’t – in fact, may have even enjoyed it more, as it was the only one of the quartet with rear springing and while I’m a man used to rigid frames and girder forks, crikey, it must have made a huge difference ‘in period’ when sprung frames became universal. It’s not just the physical comfort when riding along but also the feeling of fatigue is so dramatically less on a springer, I feel. Having read Alan Dignan’s letter (see letters pages of this issue) and his call to try and pull in more enthusiasts to the classic scene, I do think things like the humble 350cc AJS and its ilk have potentially an important part to play. Though the glamour of Vincent V-twins, feisty Sunbeams, cammy Nortons and so on is, for some, the appeal of the old ‘vintage’ motorcycle world, actually, for pure riding pleasure, on country back roads, a 1955-ish British 350cc motorcycle takes some beating. It ticks so many boxes (history, style, practicality, simplicity) and will never fail to raise a smile, both from the saddle and from passers by. So while we see prices of Broughs, of Vincents, continue to escalate, so the mainstream machines seem to stagnate. Likewise the ‘future classics’ (Honda 400/4 anyone?) everyone has prophesied will be the big hitters don’t really seem to have taken off or caught the imagination. The 1950s 350cc British single (capable of 70 per gallon too) could just be the future.
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JAMES ROBINSON Editor
Contributors Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Mike Davis, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Phillip Tooth, 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 | OCTOBER 2017 Archive photograph .......................................... 6 News ................................................................... 8 Letters ............................................................. 14 Subscribe and save ........................................ 18 Cotton Conquest ............................................ 20 NSU veteran.................................................... 27 BSA B33 ........................................................... 32 Founders Day.................................................. 38 Ariel Square Four and sidecar....................... 40 Chinon Classic................................................ 46 Matchless G2 CSR .......................................... 50 Lansdowne round-up .................................... 56 Puch P800 ....................................................... 58 Pierce-Arrow Four.......................................... 64 Donington Classic.......................................... 70 Closer look – two-stroke racers..................... 76 Oriel Bulto interview ..................................... 82 Men who mattered – Osborne De Lissa ....... 84 Roy Poynting column .................................... 86 Jerry Thurston column................................... 88
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Sketchbook travels ......................................... 90 You were asking.............................................. 92 Restoration guide – Triumph Daytona......... 96 Classic components ....................................... 98 Diary..............................................................110 Next month ...................................................112 Classic camera.............................................. 114 POST: The Classic MotorCycle, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ EMAIL: jrobins son@mortons.co.uk
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Everyissue issuewill willbebesent senthot hotoffoffthe thepress pressand anddelivered deliveredstraight straighttotoyour yourhouse house » »Every You’llnever nevermiss missananaction-packed action-packedissue issueororsupplement supplementagain again » »You’ll THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | OCTOBER 2017
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Nieto at the Ulster Spanish GP great in action, during August 1970.
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Image: MORTONS ARCHIVE
hird in the list of all-time GP winners, Spain’s Angel Nieto died on August 3, 2017, as a result of injuries sustained in a quad bike crash, on the island of Ibiza, where he was resident. Thirteen times a world champion (though he preferred ‘12 + 1’ owing to superstition), Nieto was victor in 90 GPs, putting him third on the all-time winners’ list. The accompanying picture is one of those victories, the 1970 Ulster GP, as Nieto zipped to 50cc class success, the 1969 world champion on his way to retaining his title. In 1969, he was Derbimounted – the same as in 1970. Born in January 1947, in Zamora, Nieto was Spain’s first motorcycle world champion, spawning a legacy which continues, as Spanish riders dominate the MotoGP paddock, while Nieto’s sons, Angel junior and Pablo, and nephew Fonsi, all raced at GP level too. Nieto’s win in the 1970 Ulster came against the run of play really – Dutchman Aalt Toersen, on the Jamathi, had won three consecutive Grands Prix as the circus travelled to Northern Ireland. But in practice the Dutch machine was down on power, with Nieto and team-mate Salvador Canellas comfortably quicker. However, the tiny Jamathi team from Holland spent time at a nearby airfield after practice and come the race, which started at 10.15am, Toersen shot away into the lead. It was short-lived, though, and Nieto overtook him, easing away as Toersen slipped back into the clutches of Canellas, who passed him at Ireland’s on the last lap with a ‘brilliant piece of riding’ with the Spaniard crossing the line 0.6 seconds ahead of the Dutchman. It was a significant blow in the chase for the title. Nieto was to win five GPs that year, vindicating Derbi’s decision to build a completely new 50cc racer for the season, despite having run out as world champions the year before. It was something of a golden era in 50cc racing – after the full works Suzuki pull-out at the end of 1967, a year after Honda had done the same, a new band of Europeans had come to the fore, with Derbi
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battling Kriedler, Jamathi and Tomos, among others. During 1969, the season in which the 50cc class was revised, limiting machines to six-speed gearboxes and single cylinders, barring the twin-cylinder Suzuki in particular, Derbi proved its pace. The season didn’t start that promisingly, as the Dutch-German Van Veen Kriedlers were appreciably quicker, with Aalt Toersen winning the first three GP, though Nieto was second twice. Angel wasn’t Derbi’s first GP winner, though, that honour going to Australian Barry Smith who won after Nieto’s Derbi broke in the Dutch TT. Smith won again next time out too (with runnerup Santiago Herrero, Derbi-mounted) but then Nieto got into the groove, winning two races and finishing strongly. Though there were 10 rounds, a rider’s six best results only counted – Nieto (two wins, three seconds and one third) beat Toersen (three wins, three thirds) by a single point. Angel Nieto, ‘El Nino’ (the boy), was Spain’s first motorcycle world champion. In 1970, Toersen had left Van Veen Kriedler and switched to Jamathi, but still was bested in the championship by Nieto. It was a feeling riders had to get used to during the decade, as the Spanish star soared and he relentlessly racked up wins and championships. The 1972 50cc title was the closest – Nieto and Dutch rival Jan De Vries finished the season equal on points, and both had three races. The FIM decided the title by adding together the total times of the five races both had finished in. Nieto was champion by 21 and a half seconds. There was to be six 50cc crowns for Nieto (1969 Derbi, 1970 Derbi, 1972 Derbi, 1975 Kriedler, 1976 Bultaco, 1977 Bultaco) and seven 125cc titles (1970 Derbi, 1972 Derbi, 1979 Minarelli, 1981 Minarelli, 1982 Minarelli, 1983 Minarelli, 1984 Minarelli). Fittingly, his last GP win came on a Derbi, as the 38-year-old won the 1985 80cc French GP. He retired from racing the next year, then enjoyed a successful career as a team manger, winning the 1999 125cc world championship with Emilio Alzamora following earlier successes as boss of the Derbi team. End
Classic aarchive | 1970 Ulster GP
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | OCTOBER 2017
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Stafford NEWS IN BRIEF LINCOLNSHIRE SALE On September 9, there will be a dispersal sale of a collection of vehicles and machinery at Branston, near Lincoln. The auction will see 15 classic motorcycles offered, plus spares, vintage horticultural machinery, stationary engines and vehicles, including a 1934 Hillman Minx and a 1965 Land Rover. The motorcycles include two Ariels and six FrancisBarnetts, one of which featured in ‘Francis-Barnett – The Complete Story’ by Arthur Gent. Details from Robert Bell & Company at www.robertbell.org or 01507 522222.
BORDERS CLASSIC The Borders Classic Bike Show will be pulling the crowds into its picturesque setting at the Lacon Childe School (founded in 1745) in Shropshire’s Cleobury Mortimer on September 9-10. This is the 30th show and welcomes Colin Seeley as guest for the weekend. The doors open at 9am both days. All proceeds from the show go to the Lacon Childe School funds, to benefit the pupils. More details from Jim Reynolds, 01299 270642.
Show
Excitement is building ahead of the Stafford Show, with Kiwi Aaron Slight headlining as star guest. Slight’s name will be familiar to many, mainly as he was from the era when World Superbike (WSBK) racing was on terrestrial TV and with ‘Foggy mania’ running high, and when WSBK was a real battle between all the Japanese ‘big four’ 750cc screamers and Ducati’s big booming V-twins. Slight’s aggressive ridingg, outsp poken
Aaron Slight on the V-four RC45 Honda, during the halcyon days of World Superbikes.
views and outlandish haircuts made him somewhat of a cult (and divisive) figure. He’ll be on stage through the weekend of October 14-15. Elsewhere, it’s business as usual for the fabulous Stafford Show – although the focus is Japanese-accented, there’s a huge diversity of machinery to be found. Pre-order tickets at www w.classicbikeshows.com or 01507 529529.
Bonhams’ Stafford extravaganza There are a whole host of exciting, interesting and occasionally jaw-dropping machines in Bonhams’ autumn Stafford sale, on October 15. As well as the clear headline acts – including the Pierce Arrow on page 64 of this issue, and the Brough hs and d Vincentts – are some other less obvious
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LS2 Bobbeer interesting artefacts; a 1933 Silver Arrow Matchless (the narrow-angle side-valve V-twin) for example, plus a ‘cammy’ Square Four and a quite splendid 1950 AJS 7R, both shown. A single-cylinder 1914 Excelsior (American X in the UK) is quite lovely, too. Details from 0208 9632817 or www ww ww.b w bonh hams.com// autumnstafford
New from LS2 helmets, the Bobber is a traditionally styled, s open-face helmet aimed d at the custom and classic rider. Features include an ECE 22.05 certified outer shell, which is oval in shape and comes in three sizes for a snug fit; a breathable, hypoallergenic lining and a quick-release chin strap. It comes in two plain colours – matt titanium and matt black, as well as some rather eye-catching ‘Tattoo’ and ‘Rusty’ graphic versions in sizes XS (53-54cm) to XXL (63-64cm). It’s also supplied with a free pair of aviator-style goggles and a peak. There’s an optional pop-on bubble visor available, too. Prices start at £99.99 for plain colours and £109.99 for graphics. Visit https://ls2helmets.com/uk/ to find a stockist near you.
NEWS IN BRIEF BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS Held this year on September 2, the historic event on Madeira Drive welcomes some equally historic machines, including the Bayley-Cole Douglas and Leigh Rudge. There’s a plethora of interesting cars too.
H&H SALE The second H&H sale at the National Motorcycle Museum takes place on Saturday, September 2.
Motorcycles to star at Kop Hill Climb The lovely Kop Hill Climb event in Buckinghamshire continues to go from strength to strength, with an atmosphere more akin to a garden party than a race meeting, though it’s all the better for that.
Although the cars take top billing, the motorcycle cast is more than supporting, with a range of regulars that generally includes a few Brough Superiors and a Series A Rapide, among many others.
The whole thing – which raises money for charity – is like a big festival, last year attracting 16,500 visitors. The dates for the diary are September 16/17. For more information visit www.kophillclimb.org.uk
World record for Dee, Atkinson and Harrison Following their North of England auction record price of £48,160 for the 1933 Matchless Silver Hawk in March, Dee, Atkinson and Harrison, of Driffield, held their latest Classic Car and Motorcycle auction at Sledmere House on the July 29 and achieved a world record! A rare, limited edition 2014 Norton Domiracer, with only delivery mileage, was hotly contested by a collector on the internet in Hong Kong and two bidders in the room before the hammer fell to a telephone buyer at £37,700, comfortably beating the £24,059 paid for a similar machine at the prestigious RM/Sotheby’s Villa Erba auction on the banks of Lake Como on May 17 this year. Other notable results were a 1960 BSA Gold Star 350cc at £19,040; a 1950 Vincent Comet at £18,480 and a 1967 Triumph Trophy at £8512.
MELLING BOOK There’s a new offering out soon from Frank Melling, entitled Ride Of My Life.
BEAULIEU DATE A rather cute vintage special, consisting of a Triumph frame and running gear with a Brough Superior JAP SS80 side-valve engine, is one of the machines on offer at Bonhams’ Beaulieu sale on September 2. More details on 0208 9632817 or www.bonhams.com/ motorcycles
EUROJUMBLE Move fast, because the Netley Marsh Eurojumble, in Hampshire is on Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2.
Mauger collection on offer The lifetime collection of Ivan Mauger will be offered at Bonhams’ annual Autumn Stafford Sale on October 15. Mauger won a record nine world championships during his career as a motorcycle speedway and long track rider. A winner of more than 1000 international events in 26 countries across the world, Mauger came from humble beginnings in Christchurch, New Zealand and arrived in the UK at 17. He raced for a host of British teams and he won his first world championship in 1968. Included in the sale are several of his championship winning machines. Details at www.bonhams.com/ autumnstafford
BACK TO KEMPTON The next Kempton Park jumble is on September 16, at the racecourse as usual.
BANTAMS STOLEN On June 27/28, three BSA Bantams were stolen from an Oxfordshire garage. The three machines (blue 1966, registration DWL256, red YKK96J and grey FSD298) were all fully restored. Any information to Thames Valley Police, crime number 43170 189047.
FROM ONLY
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Family history The annual Brooklands Motorcycle Day, held on July 2 this year, is now established as a regular opportunity for reunions among old friends and even occasional former race rivals. The passing of time means there is now no one left alive who raced a motorcycle at the legendary Surrey track before it closed in 1939 – gone, but certainly not forgotten – and this year’s event had a special centrepiece when descendants of three former Brooklands aces were present. It was a poignant occasion when the grandchildren of Bert Denly, Nigel Spring and Bert Le Vack were interviewed, standing by, or sitting on, bikes that had helped make their grandfathers famous and also significant in racing history at Brookl klands l and elsewhere. Paul Denly explained that his grandfather Bert, a local lad, had been persuaded to ride for the Norton team by manager Dan ‘Wizard’ O’Donovan. Bert’s small stature, but wiry strength
and determination started a competition career initially on two and three wheels. After spectacular success on bikes, Bert moved on to assist racer and record-breaker Captain George Eyston. This seemed the most unlikely of pairings, the tall, upper class Eyston and the short, former butcher’s boy Denly, but they were also kindred spirits. Eyston had begun his competition career with an assumed name, racing motorcycles under-age at Brookl klands. l Eventually, Bert became Eyston’s chief mechanic and co-driver. Paul was reacquainted with the former works Nortons on long-term loan to the museum. The LPD1 sidecar outfit was prepared by Pat Driscoll and had been used by Pat and Bert to set records. Having heard so much about his grandfather’s life, Paul reflected: “He doesn’t really get the credit for everything he did.” Nigel Spring started as a rider, but after a few seasons he became an entrant and
Left: Lady in red! Dominique Le Vack, on the ‘Works Scrapper’ on which her great-grandfather held the motorcycle land speed record in 1929.
Below: Brooklands Clubhouse paddock – possibly busier than it was in its heyday.
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From left, Paul Denly on a 1928 Norton Model 18; Dale Le Vack on the ‘Works Scrapper’ Brough Superior and Tim and Jonathan Spring with LPD1, a record-breaking outfit (Photo courtesy of Perry Barwick).
moved into team management. He organised Norton, then AJS, machinery for a number of riders, including Bert. Undeniably successful, he remains an enigmatic figure. This was confirmed at Brookl klands l by Jonathan, Nigel’s grandson, who admits to not having his grandfather’s motorcycling DNA, but he is trying to assemble a family tree and he has found Nigel’s history particularly difficult to unravel and it remains a work in progress. Jonathan was joined by his cousin Tim Spring as they then posed for photos in the LPD1 outfit. Nigel continued in race team management until the 1950s. The Brough Superior ‘Works Scrapper’ exhibit has been a constant draw in the motorcycle section of the Brookl klands l Museum. Based on a 1927 Brough Superior SS100, the bike was built and raced by Freddy Dixon and George Brough. In 1929, Bert Le Vack used the machine to become the ‘world’s fastest’ with 129mph at Arpajon in France. The bike enjoyed further successes at Brooklands and other speed events. It passed on to Scott enthusiast and racer Noel Mavrogordato and
remained in his family for many years until it passed on to the present owner. When Dale Le Vack sat on the Brough it was more than 80 years since a member of the Le Vack family had been on board. Looking on was David West, grandson of Bert’s nephew, Wal Phillips. Wal was also Bert’s mechanic and an innovative engineer. Also trying the machine for size were two further generations of the Le Vack family, including great grandson Mark Birrell, a successful motocross racer. Motorcycle Day is not just a static display and there were two sessions on Test Hill. John Young was generally considered ‘King of the Hill’, ascending in spirited sty tyle, y and reaching the one-in-four section at the top at an impressive pace on his prewar Triumph-JAP. For lower-powered machines, failed but valiant attempts were noted with sympathetic applause. The recently reopened Finishing Straight was a huge bike park for spectators. With clubs, displays, trade stands and even stunt riders (a Brooklands first) it was a day that proved Brooklands’ history reaches down the generations. Words and photographs: Alan Turner
Book Review ‘The Complete Book of Classic and Modern Triumph Motorcycles 1937-Today’ Author: Ian Falloon Published by Motorbooks, an imprint of The Quarto Group, 74-77 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF Tel: 01903 828503 E-mail: mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk Hardback, 312 x 255mm; 256 pages with 300 colour and 200 black and white photographs. ISBN 978-0 -7603-4545-0 £35 UK; $50 US; $55 Canada Originally formed as a bicycle company in 1885, Triumph branched out into motorcycle production and, by 1902, it had produced its first motorcycle – a bicycle fitted with a Belgian Minerva engine. It was not until the advent of Edward Turner’s Speed Twin in 1936 that the company became a dominant force in the motorcycle industry – compact, reliable and fast; the Speed Twin was the world’s first massproduced superbike. From there, the company, in various iterations, went on to build some of the most iconic motorcycles of all time. For the first time ever ‘The Complete Book of Classic and Modern Triumph Motorcycles: 1937-Today’ collects all of these iconic motorcycles in encyclopaedia form. All major and minor Triumph models since the advent of the Speed Twin are covered, from the street bikes that created the concept of the superbike, to the racing and competition motorcycles that dominated sport in Great Britain, Europe and North America, including the Thunderbird, the bike Marlon Brando rode in the film ‘The Wild One’; the Tiger 100, the bike that Steve McQueen’s character used for the iconic jump scene in the film ‘The Great Escape’; the Trophy, a bike so cool it made James Dean even cooler and
the Bonneville, the bike on which Bob Dylan had his infamous crash. Like the motorcycle industry in general, Triumph motorcycles went through some difficult years in the 1970s and 1980s but emerged stronger than ever in the 1990s. Today, Triumph is one of the most successful motorcycle manufacturers worldwide. This is in large part because the company builds class-leading motorcycles such as the Tiger, the Daytona 675 and the popular Bonneville line of retro-styled motorcycles. Ian Falloon is one of the world’s leading motorcycle historians and he is renowned for his methodical research – this book being a prime example. As usual, Falloon pulls no punches as we read of the pre-production models, specification changes, company policies, personalities and designers. It is interesting to read that the three-cylinder Trident was a Meriden concept but most of it was produced at Small Heath. The book is the ultimate resource for Triumph motorcycles from Coventry to Hinckley – an excellent high-quality and exceedingly well-illustrated tome. Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | OCTOBER 2017
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OCTOBER 1917
Museum LIVE Following the massive success of Museum LIVE over the past three years, Saturday, November 4 will see the museum host its fourth annual free open day when everyone will be invited to visit the museum collection free of charge. The event boasts star names Carl Fogarty and Freddie Spencer (and their wives) who’ll all be on stage, free museum entry, an indoor autojumble and trade area,
meet the experts, plus race bike start-ups. In addition, the museum’s summer 2017 raffle to win a 1960 BSA Gold Star 500cc will be drawn by one of the celebrity guests on stage. Raffle tickets are still available to purchase from www.thenmm. co.uk or 01675 444140. The throng at last year’s open day and, inset, the prize Goldie. Yes please!
Getting on the pace At the Donington Classic Festival over August 4-6 (see page 70) our recent contributor, ex-GP star and
Panther-fancier Steve Parrish had a slightly faster paced single, as he and team-mateto-be Bernard Murray (who did the Manx GP doub bl e i n 1974) took delivery of the new Molnar Manx. The duo will be racing at the Goodwood Revival over September 8-10.
Many observers postulate we will soon be able to buy petrol, benzole, gas, water, compressed air, electrical energy and other consumables at roadside suppliers sited on every major highway throughout the United Kingdom in addition to the in-town motor/motorcycle shops, chemists and hardware stores we currently use.
1942
Douglas, IoM-born Major JW Graham Oates is organising a series of RASC Training Brigade trials and demonstrations. Aware that many volunteers have never ridden motorcycles or changed a sparking plug while others have never ridden off-road, Major Oates, a well respected prewar motorcycle competitor, is organising a series of trials/tuition courses. Recently, we attended a training course in the East Midlands and others have been held in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and elsewhere. Experienced military servicemen, aided by a pool of prewar off-road aces, including Vic Brittain, Allan Jeffries, Jack Booker, Jack Williams, Bert Perrigo, George Rowley and
Foreseeing this development the Commissioner of Police recently issued a circular to local authorities prejudicing such schemes and inviting unfavourable criticism. As expected, local authorities have objected to anything which assists the motoring/ motorcycling movement. Now – if it had been more wayside horse troughs…
Graham Oates himself, teach road and off-road skills, basic machine maintenance and even how a team of riders can extract machines from ditches or manhandle them over hedges. Each course ends with a competitive trial, enabling the trainees to practice their skills in a competition environment. At the trial we recently attended following the trainees’ competition, Vic Brittain, riding his 500cc competition Norton, gave a fine display of trials riding through the same sections. Each rider began with 100 marks, which they progressively lost for dabbing, stopping in sections and slow maintenance skills. The top individual performance was by Sgt A Lockwood, who lost just 11 marks.
1967 A shotgun-brandishing elderly farmer brought the Spen Valley Club’s Yorkshire Centre Trial to a halt. Angered by a future plan to flood his and neighbouring land for a reservoir, he’d been given extended notice by the Huddersfield Corporation to leave his home by August 1969. Nonetheless, he decided to make a stand. Although the
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The Tadeo Baba-designed 893cc Honda CBR900RR Fireblade, launched the previous spring, was featuring prominently in the Press. It was
trial organisers were given official permission to cross the future reservoir land near the Rochdale to Huddersfield road, the irate farmer thought otherwise, threatening riders with his gun and bringing others off by inserting his stick in between wheel spokes. After an awkward stand-off, the trial was re-routed.
reported to produce 122bhp at 10,500rpm, hit over 160mph and cover the standing quarter in 10.43sec. Richard Rosenthal