The Classic MotorCycle December 2017

In his column this month, Jerry Thurston talks about a motorcycle from each decade that he’d like to own, which set me thinking. Combined with various other things occurring, including of course Stafford, added to that Rachael Clegg’s piece on the R60/ series BMWs, and the fact that I turn 40 in 2018, I’ve decided what my life is really missing is something from the year of my birth. Currently, the most modern machine in my shed is 1938, while 1928 is also a well-represented year between what I have and dad’s machines; I reckon between he and I there are five 1928 machines. So the 1938 one will be 80 years old next year, the 1928s’ 90. Next with a combination of all these things considered – I’ve vaguely…

If there’s a picture which encapsulates mid-1930s road racing in Ireland any better than this, then it’s never crossed the editorial desk at The Classic MotorCycle. This wonderful image shows a collection of young lads, on aged machines and in ill-fitting riding attire, sans gloves, preparing to ‘do their thing’ watched by a crowd of men in blazers, ladies in hats and the odd slightly urchin-looking boy. The occasion was the fifth running of the Dublin 100, held over a four-and-a-quarter mile circuit in the city’s Phoenix Park, in July 1935. Winner was H M Carson, a member of the Dublin university club, riding a 490cc Norton, described in the press as ‘old.’ The ‘100’ was a handicap race, with O Sheridan, on a 348cc Rex-Acme, as limit man. He…

Best in show at Stafford Bill Millar celebrated his 1967 Bridgestone 350GTR being chosen winner of the Rod Gibson Best in show trophy at the 2017 Classic Motorcycle Mechancis show, at Stafford over October 14/15. What’s better, Bill had ridden the Bridgestone to the show. More next month. Fours sell for £221,400 Bonhams autumn auction, at the Stafford show, saw lots of good prices realised, with the biggest price being the £113,500 for the inline four-cylinder Henderson (right), which featured in our November 2017 edition. The 1911 Pierce Arrow from the same collection, which was in our October issue, made £107,900. More from the sale next month. Bonhams Bond Street sale… Heading up Bonhams’ New Bond Street sale on December 2 are an early SeriesCBlack Shadow (sportingHRD badges) and a Matchless-engined SS80…

AJS and Matchless post-war singles and twins The Complete Story Author: Matthew Vale Published by:The Crowood Press, Ramsbury, Wiltshire SN8 2HR E-mail: enquiries@crowood.com Tel: +44(0) 1672 520 3202 Hardback, 225 x 265mm; 192 pages, with over 200 photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-78 500-195-6 £25 $44.95 U.S. $53.95 Canada Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) was the producer of Matchless and AJS machines, which are generally underratedwhen compared with the Midlands majority. The same could be said of the Collier family, which founded the Matchless concern in Plumstead, south-east London (not east London as repeatedly stated in this book). Not only were the Colliers talented and innovative engineers, sonCharlie won the singlecylinder class of the very first Isle of Man TT in 1907 and again in 1909, along with many other now-forgotten successes.…

1917 Petrol for essential business transportation was a subject of discussion. It wasn’t generally known that ‘free of duty’ licences were issued for vehicles used solely for business/industrial purposes, including the transport of merchandise, documents and service staff. The detail of this legislation wasn’t clear. Two readers of The Motor Cycle, who used their motorcycles for essential business, paid the local taxation on fuel in error and were then legally required to remit the fuel duty to the government. Had they complied with their ‘free of duty’ licences to the letter and refused to pay the local taxation, they would have been absolved of forwarding duty to the government, which was the course of action they were both taking henceforth. 1942 On October 1, the War Office amalgamated the RAOC…

Rather than just acollection of regurgitated product pressreleases and ‘official’ pictures,thisisthe clothingthatt hasactually been worn, used,abusedd and stood the test of time.Some is oldand tattered, other bits are new this year,while one pair of boots replaces what went before and is the closest like-for-like onthe market. Personally,Ihave different outfits for what I’m riding, where I’m going or what I’m doing. The two-piece Richa suit will probably getthe most use, though my ‘khaki’Barbour has served well too.Often, it’s amix and match – I do like leather jeans,often with one or other Barbour, for example, while if on something‘vintage’ then the gauntlet gloves are often used, being much lessbulky. Crash helmets again are teamed to the occasion – I generally wear an open face when riding the old bikes, from personal preference,…