The Classic Motorcycle July 2017

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MONTGOMERYANZANI 

JULY 2017

Reasons t to b believe li Velocette’s super single

PLUS:

Stafford sh how reportRAF-issue Ariel W/NG G Don Morley y interviewMoto Guzzi Superalce e

Diam mond Jubilee TT T Agosttini remembers the 1967 races:

“I was d determined to beat Mike Hailwoo od.

That was all I wanted...”

Editor’s welcome

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There are times – many times – as I look through the Mortons archive when I veer off on a tangent, unable to resist going down an avenue as my curiosity has been piqued, which happened again as I researched the 1954 Dutch TT for the archive picture in this issue. Occasionally a name appears that isn’t as recognisable as many of the others – in this case it concerned the AJS team. ‘R W Coleman’ and ‘R McG McIntyre’ were instantly familiar as Rod and Bob... but who was ‘L T Simpson’ on the third factory Porcupine?

Simply, I didn’t know.

And so I set off to find out who he was. It didn’t take long really, but his name, ominously, disappeared from the records and results after appearances in 1954, including a fourth place finish in the Junior TT, which underlined he was fairly handy. Which made it stranger I didn’t recognise his name. In the same year’s Island races, he placed 12th on Matchless G45 in the Senior race, having been 13th the year before in the Junior on his debut. Incidentally, somehow or another, looking for G45 images, Simpson up, led me to discover (well, remember; had vaguely heard mention before) the AJS 10R (basically it seems a trio – maybe five – of AJSbadged Matchless G45s, were delivered to Venezuela) but that’s another story…

Back to L T Simpson. I discovered he was Leo Simpson, a New Zealander who’d come to the UK to try his hand at European racing. After two reasonably successful seasons, he’d returned to New Zealand where he died, aged 32, in a speedboat accident in 1955. A sad end to the story, but it was interesting to discover, and remember, one of this band of colonial riders who came over right from the 1920s onwards to try and ‘crack’ Europe.

Otherwise, it’s been a busy month, including a trip to Montlhéry Vintage Revival (more about that next month), up to Scotland to present a talk to the VMCC section in Edinburgh and, of course, Stafford, which was the usual, well-supported hectic extravaganza.

Something which comes up in talks is often the future of old motorcycling (and motorcycling in general) and so it was great to meet 10-year-old Matthew at Stafford, pictured in our show report. Matthew had come along with our conttriibuttor Mike Lewiis for his fifirstt mottorcyclle sh how, and his enthusiasm was lovely to see.

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JAMES ROBINSON Editor

Contributors Tim Britton, Rachael Clegg, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Phillip Tooth, Alan Turner, Phil Turner, Steve Wilson.

THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE (USPS:710-470) is published monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd., PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $63 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to THE CLASSIC MOTOR CYCLE, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com

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CONTENTS ISSUE | JULY 2017 Archive photograph ............................................. 6 News....................................................................... 8 Letters .................................................................. 14 Triumph Tiger 100..............................................18 Subscribe and save............................................ 24 Stafford show report ......................................... 26 Montgomery-Anzani V-twin ........................... 32 Ariel W/NG ......................................................... 38 Moto Guzzi Superalce....................................... 44 Velocette Venom................................................ 50 Glass plates – 1953 scrambling from Hawkstone Park................................................. 58 Agostini on Diamond Jubilee TT..................... 62 Closer look – 1919 SSDT.................................... 68 Roy Poynting column ........................................73 Don Morley interview........................................ 74 Men who mattered – Steve Lancefield ............76 Jerry Thurston column ..................................... 78 Steve Parrish Panther project part six ............ 80 Sketchbook travels ............................................ 84

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You were asking ................................................. 86

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Restoration guide – Prewar Panther singles.. 90 Technical feature – Gas lights.......................... 92 Classic components .......................................... 98 Diary ................................................................. 110 Next month ...................................................... 112 Classic camera................................................. 114 POST: The Classic MotorCycle, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ EMAIL: jrobinson@mortons.co.uk

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Coleman gets a flier The start of the 1954 Dutch TT sees New Zealander Rod Coleman leading the way.

T

here was a crowd of 100,000 race fans at the 1954 Dutch TT at Assen, all excitedly anticipating the start of the big (and final) race of the day, the 500cc blue riband event. Kiwi Rod Coleman was the fastest starter and pictured here, on the number 15 AJS E95 Porcupine, he leads the 37-strong field as they set off for 16 laps of the circuit, making a race distance of 163¾ miles.

Though Coleman is in front, already up to second place is world champion Geoff Duke (Gilera, 1) with Coleman’s AJS team-mates Leo Simpson (another Kiwi on a Porcupine, 16) and Bob McIntyre (Porcupine, 17) in

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THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2017

close attendance. Heading the next group is Fergus Anderson (Moto Guzzi, 4) and Rhodesian Ray Amm (Norton, 17) with Reg Armstrong (Gilera, 2) ahead of the three MV fours, of Dickie Dale, Carlo Bandirola and Nello Pagani.

Next is an unstreamlined machine, the first of the privateers; perhaps Australian Peter Murphy on his Matchless G45, as the machine somehow looks more ‘Matchless’ than Norton – then another two Guzzis – Ken Kavanagh and Alano Montanari up – with the next group, further back, more private owners. Only the Dutchman Veer, on a third ‘works’ Gilera, of the factory runners

isn’t evident in the picture. By the end of the first lap Duke led, while Anderson and Amm were second and third. Dale and Bandirola – riding for the first time since coming back from breaking both arms – had by now all passed the AJS trio too, though the three were gamely hanging on; Simpson, troubled by clutch slip, stopped at the end of the second lap, restarting far behind the field. Kavanagh retired with ‘braking issues.’

By the end of the third lap, Duke was pulling away, though Amm was chasing down Anderson, and the Norton star (the only works Norton in the race) passed Anderson (who earlier in the day had won

Classic ar archive | 1954 Dutch TT

the 350cc race) but couldn’t shake off the Guzzi man. Bandirola was closing on the pair too, with Coleman, Dale, Armstrong and McIntyre next along.

By half-distance, Duke was nearly 40 seconds ahead of Amm, who had eked out 10 seconds on Anderson, himself a similar gap ahead of Bandirola. Duke’s pace was unrelenting though; he upped the lap record to 105.42mph on the same lap as his Irish team-mate Armstrong retired his Gilera.

By the end of the 12th lap, Duke was lapping men on the edge of the top 10 in the form of the leading privateers, Australians Jack Ahearn and Maurice Quincy, both on Nortons, who had now been passed by Simpson, though, in his efforts to make up for lost time, he crashed out shortly after, without injury. Others to have stopped included Montanari with a broken gear lever and then there was disaster for Amm – the pannier fuel tank on his Norton split and

he was out of petrol and out of the race with just two laps to go. Meanwhile, Anderson had regrouped and forced the Guzzi ahead of Bandirola. And so they stayed to the finish, Duke winning at an average speed of 104.24mph, with a race time of 1.34.13.7, one-and-a-half minutes ahead of the runner-up, Anderson. Bandirola was only a couple of seconds back in third, with Coleman bringing the Porcupine into fourth, ahead of Dale on the MV. McIntyre was sixth, with Pagani just besting local hero Veer, as they finished seventh and eighth. Next – a lap down – were leading privateers Ahearn and Quincy, with Piet Knijnenburg 11th on his Rennsport BMW. Two laps down were 12th Mike O’Rourke (Norton), 13th P Bakker (Norton), 14th Bob Matthews (Norton), 15th L Simons (Matchless), 16th CH Van Burik (Norton), 17th JH Iesberts (Matchless), 18th E Carlsson (Norton), with the final two finishers, flagged on the completion of

13 laps, Bill Beevers and GH Morgan (both Norton).

Duke was the new lap record-holder, while the top six also finished in times faster than that of the winner of the previous year’s race. Earlier, the crowds had not only seen Anderson win the 350cc race, but Werner Haas take the opening event for 250cc machine on the NSU, with Ruppert Hollaus (runner-up in the 250s) winning the 125cc race.

The 1954 season was Geoff Duke’s second 500cc world championship winning year for Gilera, and he was champion again in 1955. The 1954 season was Duke’s most dominant – after a disappointing start, retiring in France, he was then runner-up in the truncated TT. Next, the Ulster, where the race was stopped due to bad weather, but then it was five straight wins in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

With the five best results counted, he End was an easy champion.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2017

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Neews Events

New ws&Events

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

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

Double best in show at Stafford

David Earnshaw As TCM goes to press, we’ve learned of the sudden death of David Earnshaw, veteran and vintage motorcycle enthusiast and co-founder, with Ken Hallworth, of Old Bike magazine.

David completed 300 miles in Scotland over May 6/7 this year on a Triumph Model H. The following Thursday, while riding in the APMC (Association of Pioneer Motor Cyclists) ‘Ken Hallworth Memorial White Peak Wandering’ he stopped to shorten the drive belt of his Model H, of which he said it ‘was the only way to travel.’ On setting off, he was overcome by natural causes.

More to follow next month.

Sunbeam S7 and S8 rally On July 13-16 the Sunbeam Owners’ Fellowship annual rally (S7 and S8) takes place as Osmaston Village, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Ring 01538 756927 for details.

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Though competition was stiff, there was a unique occurrence at this year’s Stafford show when Best in Show was awarded jointly

to two identical motorcycles.

Wiltshire-based Alan Smith and Australian resident Peter Robinson were both involved

in the restorations, with Alan bringing both bikes to Stafford.

Read more in our Stafford report starting on page 26.

NMM raffle winner collects his Triumph The National Motorcycle Museum’s winter raffle, to win a brand new Triumph Thruxton R 1200cc motorcycle, was drawn by World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss live on stage at the International Classic Motorcycle Show, Stafford on Sunday, April 23.

The first prize, the Triumph Thruxton R 1200cc motorcycle fitted with ‘Track Racer’ kit, went to Roger Ward, of Worksop, with the second prize, a 1954 AJS Model 18 500cc motorcycle, going to Peter Baldasera from Newcastle upon Tyne. The next raffle prize up for grabs is a DBD Gold Star.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2017

Roger Ward was the lucky winner of the NMM’s Thruxton R.

NEWS IN BRIEF  BIG CROWDS FOR BICESTER

Two machines up for auction; BMW R26 (above) and Norton Domiracer (left).

Yorkshire auction in July TWENTY motorcycles have already been entered into the next Dee, Atkinson and Harrison classic motorcycle auction to be held on July 29 at Sledmere House in East Yorkshire.

The Entries include a limited edition Norton Domiracer from 2014, number 45 of 50, with only delivery mileage. Older machines include a fully restored 1967 Triumph Trophy TR6R, a

1961 BSA Shooting Star, a 1958 BMW R26, 1978 Ducati Darmah SD and a mid-1960s Itom 50cc racer. Details from Andrew Spicer 01377 253151 or www.deeatkinson-harrison.co.uk

Brooklands then and now

The third annual Flywheel Festival at Bicester Heritage brings together more than 100 competition cars for an action-packed timetable hosted on its demonstration track. It takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 24/25, 2017. To purchase tickets for Flywheel 2017, visit www.flywheelfestival.com

 CHALFONT REVIVAL Anyone interested in taking part in 2017's Chalfont Hillclimb should contact the event secretary at bryanlambert2002@aol.com for details. The provisional date is September 23.

 SURREY BBQ The Surrey Norton Owners Club Barbecue takes place on Saturday, June 17, at the club’s regular meeting venue, the Stepping Stones pub in Dorking RH5 6BS, close to Rykas café, Boxhill. The guest of honour is Colin Seeley.

Everyone is welcome and there’ll be a fair few motorcycles on display too.

 MECUM’S HUGE SUMMER SALE

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

Following on from its gargantuan January sale, Mecum is now working towards its summer sale, to be held on June 1-3. There is expected to be something in the region of 750 machines on offer. Go to www.mecum. com for details.

On July 2 Brooklands’ hosts its Then and Now show, which will welcome a selection of clubs and manufacturers to the Surrey

speedbowl, while there will also be action on Test Hill too.

Details from 01932 857381 or www.brooklandsmuseum.com

John Parham 1954-2017 John Parham dedicated much of his life to motorcycling and to his wife Jill. With passion and perseverance, through tough times and success, together they created J&P Cycles (now the world’s largest aftermarket motorcycle store) in Iowa 1979.

Later John devoted his time

and resources to amassing one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive personal collections of motorcycles, in excess of 300 machines, and found a home for many of them when he moved the National Motorcycle Museum to his home town of Anamosa in Iowa.

 CHEFFINS AUCTION There’s a Cheffins auction on July 15, 2017. For details have a look at www.cheffins.co.uk or call 01353 777767.

 ’NORMOUS NEWARK Then he again invested his time and talent to make this a great place to preserve and present American motorcycling history.

He worked tirelessly until his long battle with pulmonary fibrosis consumed him. John’s battle ended peacefully with Jill and son Zach at his side.

There’s a Newark autojumble on June 4, with another to be held on July 2.

 ROBERT M PIRSIG The author of 1974's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance died on April 24, 2017, aged 88.

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Neews E Events vents NEWS IN BRIEF  INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CELEBRATION There will be a celebration of Indian motorcycles on June 16-18, at the Gate Hangs High, Whichford Road, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire OX15 5DF. There’s a large field, car park and camping area and marquee, with food available on-site and in the pub.

A rideout will be arranged, and the rally coincides with the Banbury Run and a local beer festival. Inquiries to robertangell1@gmail.com

 BUCKS CONCOURS Bucks British and Classic MCC presents its annual classic concours event on Wednesday, June 21, from 7.30pm, at the Plough at Cadsden, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 0NB. Details at www.bbcmcc.freeuk.com or Dermot 0794 0492 348. Many trophies, delightful country setting, good food, beer and music are offered!

Sprint start Westonzoyland is always a popular venue for competitors and spectators at any of the National Sprint Association’s events, held over a straight quarter-mile course at the former Second World War airfield.

This, on May 6-7, was the first event on this season’s sprint calendar to take place at the location and attracted a rich mixture of vintage and classic machinery to do battle over the two-day meeting.

Among the smaller capacity classes, former grasstrack rider Peter Thomas rode a 250cc Hagon-BSA converted for sprinting. He was also contesting the prewar quarter-litre class on a 1938 Tiger 70. Jonathan Clarke

Jonathan Clarke recorded consistent 15sec runs on his 500cc Rudge Special.

posted 15.41 at 83mph on his 500cc Rudge Special, quickest of the prewar bikes. Day entry Stuart Balnaves got into the 15sec zone on his 1934 KTT, just eclipsing the 16.09/81mph of Dave Kenyon’s prewar Velocette MAC, while John Carter’s postwar version ran a best of 15.08/86mph.

Although not troubling the Japanese-mounted front-runners Long-time racer John Carter confines his competition to sprints nowadays with his quick Velocette MAC.

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

 NAUNTON SHOW The Naunton Classic and Vintage Transport Show and Village Fete is on July 16, at Naunton Recreation Ground, Gloucestershire. To register your vehicle, have a look at http://bit.ly/2qn1pFv

Stuart Balnaves keeps the front wheel down as he launches his 1934 Velocette KTT off the line.

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Andrew Webb, with his 350cc Aermacchi, topped the classics up to 500cc class.

in 750 racing, Simon Rees was having a successful outing on ‘Dangermouse’, his 750cc Triumph-powered machine, a little quicker than Jasper Joy’s ‘Mickey Taker’ a former drag-race Triumph. Unlucky Tim Howell was soon side-lined by problems with his supercharged BSA A65.

There was plenty more variety in the smaller Classic class, with Andrew Webb’s 350 Aermacchi heading the field with 15.44/89mph, but less than a tenth of a second in front of Glen Jefferies, who was getting to grips with a recently acquired and unusual Tricati, where a Triumph T100 Daytona had been squeezed into Ducati cycle parts.

Tony Lockwood was steadily improving on his Greeves Oulton, a rare 350cc two-stroke single from the Essex manufacturer.

Jasper Joy continued to dominate the bigger classic category, his Trident consistently recording times in the 11sec zone to best the challenges of Mike Wheeler (Nourish-Weslake) and John Langridge (Norton Atlas).

Further meetings at Westonzoyland are scheduled for June 17-18, August 5-6 and October 7-8.

Alan Turner

Book Review “The Strange Death of the British Motor Cycle Industry” Author: Steve Koerner A new reprint following the sell-out of the first print run.

Published by: Crucible Books, Carnegie House, Chatsworth Road, Lancaster LA1 4SL Tel: 01524 840111 www.carnegiepublishing.com Softback, 170 x 245mm, 368 pages with over 70 photographs and illustrations.

ISBN 978-1-905472-03-1 £20 $32 “The British moto cycle . . . in design, lightness and efficiency, it beats everything.”

These words were written in 1927 by a journalist on The Daily Telegraph and it was from these heady heights of supremacy in motorcycle manufacturer that the industry was destined to fall.

British-made bikes were the stuff of legends and international envy, and still regain a very special place in the heart of motorcycle enthusiasts the world over.

So how was such a success squandered? Who or what do we blame for the loss of such a wonderful feather in our national cap? Was it avoidable, or was the industry just a victim of the irresistible globalisation of trade, bringing powerful new players onto the stage?

Though these questions have been asked with much wringing of hands over the years, a full and balanced analysis has been notable by its absence. Until now.

Using the records of the Motor Cycle Industry Association, company accounts and government documents deposited in the National Archives, Norton Commando-riding Canadian academic Steve Koerner has set out to find the answers.

In The Strange Death of the British Motor Cycle Industry, the trajectory of manufacture and sales is described in full, from the glory of the 1930s to the death-throes of the 1970s.

Iconic names abound, of the motorcycles of course, but also of the key players such as Jack Sangster and Edward Turner.

Then Steve embarks upon both an unsentimental and thorough assessment of the industry’s demise. Also described are details of the rarely-mentioned postwar German Reparations Programme – the only benefit the British motorcycle industry gained was the acquisition of the design of the 125cc DKW, which became the BSA Bantam.

What emerges is a complex series of contributory causes, including the technical wizardry of the Japanese, government legislation and the self-inflicted wounds of mismanagement by the manufacturers.

This book is comprehensive, covering aspects like racing, exports and the changing images of motorcycling in the UK, industrial disputes and national politics. For anyone seriously interested in why the British motorcycle industry died in such a sudden, sad and regrettable way, this is the definitive work, the conclusions of which could well be a surprise for many readers.

Not a light read, but Steve Koerner is to be congratulated for such a fascinating, exhaustively researched and thought-provoking tome.

Book reviewed by Jonathan Hill

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2017

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Neews Events THE WAY WE WERE IN

JULY

Banbury Run

1917 With petrol supplies diminishing, The Grado Manufacturing Company, Pershore Street, Birmingham, known for its Grado MultiPulley before the war, was now marketing its Grado Paraffin Vapouriser.

Due to a more plentiful supply of paraffin, intended primarily for heating and cooking, a number of devices designed to enhance the vaporisation of paraffin were promoted through

adverts by their makers.

Grado advertisements claimed its device enabled motorcycles to run on paraffin with results equal to petrol.

The vapouriser fitted between the engine and carburettor with a clip connection to the exhaust pipe. An injection of petrol through the engine’s priming tap was required to start the machine, then paraffin took over.

1942 Many readers would have known correspondent ‘Ambleside,’ through his articles in The Motor Cycle and would have been delighted to learn his wife had presented him with a son. With the war raging, Ambleside (Lt Cdr (A) CR Hodgson RNVR) was serving

with the Fleet Air Arm. Over a million tons of iron and steel had been collected in the UK in the previous 10 months.

The authorities inform this is equivalent to two million tons of imported iron ore, requiring two million tons of coal for smelting.

1967 The Ministry of Transport, under draft regulations announced the week before, had fixed maximum permitted noise levels for all vehicles – motorcycles, cars and lorries.

It was proposed from January 1968 if the regulations came into effect, roadside noise level spot checks would begin.

The draft regulations lay down maximum decibel

levels in two cases; all post-1930 vehicles used on the road and those newly constructed.

Typifying the industries’ view, Bert Hopwood, BSA motorcycle division deputy managing director, stated: “We feel that this legislation will be most difficult to meet, but we’ve got two years to undertake strenuous experimental and development work.”

1992 Channel 4 announced it was screening a new six-part series on classic motorcycles early in 1993.

The 30-minute programmes would feature British, Italian and Japanese classic motorcycles with slots on scooters, classic shows, the

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pioneering days and HarleyDavidson and were being made by Uden Associates, directed by Patrick Uden, who rode a Moto Guzzi Falcone, and produced by Gary Johnstone, who was restoring a Triumph 5TA. Richard Rosenthal.

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | JULY 2017

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

Waterlooville show on June 18 The Waterlooville Motorcycle Club, formed in 1928, is to hold a show on June 18, 2017, at Horndean Technology College in Horndean, near Portsmouth, celebrating motorcycling through the ages.

The guest of honour is Sammy Miller, who will be opening the event and judging. There are scheduled to be 11 clubs attending, as well as the air ambulance and Blood Bikes.

Upwards of 100 motorcycles

are expected, with the oldest confirmed so far dating back to 1927, through to modern, thus encompassing all club eras.

This is the third annual show held by the club, which supports two charities each year, with a £2000 cheque recently handed over. Beneficiaries were Alzheimer’s Research and the Rosemary Foundation, a local ‘hospice at home’ charity.

For further details contact Robin Doney on 01329 833579.

2017's George Brown Run

The event, on July 9, starts at the Cromwell Hotel, High Street, Stevenage, SG1 3AZ, with sign on from 10am, first bikes away at 11am.

Boston Classic and Custom show There’s something different for this year’s Boston Bike Night on July 6, as the whole of the Narrow Bargate precinct area will be dedicated to a ride-in Classic and Custom bike show.

Entry is free and the event will cater for one-off custom

specials, British, European and American classics up to 1975 and Japanese to 1985. The precinct will be open at 4.45pm and last entries for judging will be 7pm. Access is from either end of the precinct, manned by stewards in blue bibs.