The Classic MotorCycle January 2019

Welcome to the first issue of the 2019 series – so it’s time to wish one and all a good riding (and reading) year to come, indulging ourselves in this classic motorcycling world. This month, I’ve been intrigued by Norton ES2s plus spent far too long looking at the picture of the Crocker coming up in Mecum’s January auction – have a look on page eight, what a great looking motorcycle. Guess what’s at the top of my new ‘lottery win list…’ A week or two back, a friend sent me a message from the barber shop’s waiting room, saying he’d picked up a copy of The Sun newspaper, in which there was a First World War centenary commemoration supplement, with a few interesting motorcycle-related bits in it, and ‘worth…

In many ways, this 1962 picture (printed in 1963) could be said to perfectly encapsulate the year it was taken, as a ‘big banger’ British 500cc single is harassed and harried by a lightweight, two-stroke Greeves in a motorcycle scramble on a farm near Salisbury. But the picture wasn’t taken at Salisbury in the UK, but in what was then Southern Rhodesia. And rather than being the changing of the guard, it was in fact a new guard entirely, as scrambling (motocross) had been introduced to the continent in an organised and structured form as recently as 1961. The Bogwheelers’ Club in Salisbury was only formed in 1960, with a first meeting held in then Northern Rhodesia in 1961, where riders from the North and South Rhodesias did battle, or…

Winter classic The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic, being held at Newark showground on January 5/6, welcomes American ex-racer Freddie Spencer as guest of honour. He’ll be interviewed on stage by ex-TT winner Steve Plater. There’ll be a whole raft of classics on display, owners’ clubs and a sprawling autojumble. Ace Classics calendar Triumph specialist Ace Classics’ 2019 calendar is available now. Beautifully photographed, it’s a must for the Triumph fan. It’s only £10 plus P&P – visit www.aceclassics.co.uk or 020 8698 4273. Rachael’s TT Milestones Our monthly contributor Rachael Clegg’s cult Milestones calendar is now available, containing its usual mix of surrealist photography and TT fact. Produced on lovely, heavy art paper, it costs £25; go to www.rachaelclegg.com…

The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club (founded in 1924) staged its first Pioneer Run to Brighton in 1930. The run has been repeated every year since, except in exceptional circumstances, so, consequently, in 2019 the club will be celebrating its 80th running of the event on Sunday, March 24. The Pioneer Run always attracts the largest gathering of pre-1915 solos, sidecars and tricycles in the world, providing the public with the opportunity to see some 300-plus early machines aged between 105-123 years old, in action on the road and displayed at Brighton. For some time there has been concern about the safety of riders, where the traditional route rejoins the A23. Therefore, 2019 will see a new route. Regulations and further information may be obtained from Ian D McGill (01293 771446…

Vintage Tyres’ new tyre-fitting branch at Bicester Heritage, the UK’s hub of historic motoring excellence, is now open. The tyre-fitting kit is freshly-installed and they are ready to supply and fit tyres to your car or motorcycle from the 1890s to the 1990s. They are in Unit 94 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week from 10am. Bicester Heritage is just four miles from junction nine or 10 of the M40 in Oxfordshire. More information from 01869 243528 or bicester@vintagetyres.com…

Entries are open for the 2019 commemorative regularity rally which celebrates the 106th anniversary of the staging of the motorcycle road race between Durban and Johannesburg that was staged annually between 1913 and 1936. Motorcycles are therefore limited to those manufactured before the end of December 1936. This regularity rally has attracted fields of as many as 130 competitors. It carries international status and has drawn entries from as far afield as Europe and Australia. The 2019 event will start from the Colony Shopping Centre in Hillcrest, outside Durban, on Friday, March 15, and finish the following day at the Classic Motorcycle Club premises in Germiston the following afternoon. The route is approximately 310km on day one and 328km on day two, making a total of 638km. Entries will be…