Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i The Classic MotorCycle

The Despatch Rally is establishing itself as one of the more unusual classic motorcycle events on the calendar, after running for the fourth time over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at New Milton in the New Forest. The 2020 event had fallen victim to Covid restrictions, so this year’s event was highly appreciated by the 100 motorcyclists taking part. Owners of classic and modern Royal Enfield and Moto Guzzi machines were especially invited as both marques are celebrating anniversaries this year, but the main focus was on activities inspired by the unique motorcycle role that despatch riders (DRs) played in history. Why celebrate the despatch rider role? DRs were first used in the First World War, performing a wide range of essential roles, and this continued in the Second World…

On Monday, March 23, 1981, at 3.20pm, Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, MBE, George Medal, died, eight days shy of his 41st birthday, the result of a road accident two days earlier, which had claimed the life of his nine-year-old daughter Michelle. Mike, Michelle and six-year-old David Hailwood were travelling in the family Rover SD1 to collect fish and chips when a lorry performed an illegal U-turn across their path. Michelle died instantly and Mike two days later, while David survived with minor injuries. The death of ‘Mike the Bike’ left the two-wheeled world reeling. The greatest of all time? Well, others will have a claim and their supporters, but to many, Mike was the best bar none. His reputation was cemented by his incredible 1978 comeback when this legend from…

Requirements covering motorcycle brake lights is confusing worldwide, and the UK is no exception. Here in Britain, motorcycle brake light legislation has been introduced progressively, was sometimes retrospective, dates and/or requirements have been manipulated and there are exceptions. Advice is contradictory, but taking the MoT tester’s manual as a guide: motorcycles (arguably over 100cc) required a brake light on or after January 1, 1936 (previously dates in 1937). There are detail changes to under 100cc capacity requirements but essentially if the machine cannot exceed 25mph or was first used before April 1, 1986, and is under 50cc, a brake light isn’t required. Machines devoid of all lights do not require brake lights and likewise those which had had lights disconnected and lamps painted over or masked off. But individual MoT…

SEPTEMBER 3 OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE ON SALE NOW 3-4 The Eurojumble, Netley Marsh, Southampton SO40 7GY www.netleymarsheurojumble.com 4 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 4-5 CRMC Race Meeting at Trac Mon Anglesey. www.crmc.co.uk 4 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufford Park, York YO23 3QH. Tel: 01904 738620; 07713 164848. www.rufforthautojumble.com 4 Buntingford Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, High Street, Buntingford, Herts. Tel: 07963 609143. 5 Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Cafe Racer Rendezvous. www.sammymiller.co.uk 5 Stratford Autojumble, Stratfordupon-Avon Racecourse, Warwickshire CV37 9SE. www.stratfordautojumble.co.uk 5 North Wales Classic Car & Motorcycle Show at Bodrhyddan Hall, near Rhyl, LL18 5SB Tel: 01484 667776. www.classicshows.org 6 SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC OUT NOW 6 Perce Simon Reunion, Ibsley Village Hall, near Ringwood. Hampshire. BH24 3NL. (Reunion of past riders of the National Perce…

In an article published in May 1920, writer George D Abraham – a climber and photographer, the D standing for Dixon, born 1871, died 1965, who made photographic records of many of the pioneer climbers and wrote many books, including The Complete Mountaineer and Mountain Adventures at Home and Abroad, among others – rather poetically lamented the wet weather blighting England as spring turned to summer. “Record rainfalls have been the rule… there seemed small chance of the arrangements for a day among the hills come to fruition. However, just as it is darkest before dawn, so may it be dampest before the drought, and three days and nights of sodden downpour culminated in a glorious morning of sunny splendour.” With the weather favourable, Abraham and his pals assembled. “We…

In 1934, the writer Roald Dahl, aged 17 and in his last year at Repton public school in Derbyshire, owned a second-hand sporting twin-port Ariel 500cc single; these had been known as Red Hunters since 1932. “The Ariel was first registered in 1948, and up to the early 1960s its creator enjoyed it, until the Ariel went into a shed, where it remained until the owner passed away in the late 1990s.” It was kept at his home during term-time, but after Roald’s half-brother took it out, unauthorised, and broke its mascot, the future author hid the machine and his riding gear in a garage he had located near the school. Swathed in a helmet, goggles, scarf and old raincoat, Dahl had fun roaring through Repton town, once riding right…

One of the few surviving BSA ‘wrecking crew’ that achieved BSA’s historic win at Daytona in 1954 has left us – Gene Thiessen died on July 12, 2021, aged 93. Gene may not be well known to many vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, but he played a critical role in establishing BSA in the USA in the late 1940s and early 50s, when US sales were so important to their economic survival post-Second World War and establishing the Gold Star in the US. He on the West Coast, along with Tommy McDermott on the East Coast, were the riders first adopted and sponsored once BSA had appointed US distributors. It was Thiessen’s and McDermott’s early racing successes that promoted BSA as a brand in a market where BSA was not well known,…

When I’m at the Riding Into History bike show in Florida, people there sometimes hear my accent and ask why a man comes all the way from Scotland to a vintage bike show in Florida? My answer is always the same – “that I like vintage bike shows and I heard y’all have a good one here… so why not?” But you’ve never heard of it? Well, I’m here to tell you that it is a very good one and is possibly the biggest vintage motorcycle show in the US. While the Quail Motorcycle Gathering and Pebble Beach concours d’elegance events on the West Coast are more well known and usually court more publicity, Riding Into History has been has been quietly going about its business and raising hundreds of…

THE SPECIALIST This guide focuses on Cotton motorcycles fitted with Villiers’ Starmaker engines. The Gloucester manufacturer had benefited from access to early prototype engines. We thank Paul Powell, Cotton parts specialist, for his in-depth marque knowledge. Note that Paul’s website also lists parts for other makes and models as, like the guide, much is relevant to other end users of the Villiers units, officially the Type 225H. ■ Paul Powell: 07831 421455; cottonvilliersspares.co.uk ■ Cotton Owners’ and Enthusiasts’ Club: cottonownersclub.wordpress.com MODEL HISTORY In the early 1960s, Cotton was one of many makers of lightweight motorcycles for road and sporting use dependent on Villiers for engine supplies. Villiers dominated the sporting market, but an increasing number of manufacturers were fitting their own heads and barrels to the base units. Concerned that…

Ribbon’s cut on Miller’s extension After a delay caused by the Covid lockdown, the latest extension to Sammy Miller’s ever-expanding motorcycle museum – “built in less time than the electricity board quoted for the re-wiring”, Sammy drily noted – was formally opened by the Duke of Richmond on July 22. The Duke is perhaps better known as Charles, Lord March, and is famous as the driving force behind the Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed. Sammy had attended every one of the 28 Goodwood Festivals held since their inauguration, and as he normally takes three or four bikes to parade, that adds up to more than 100 demonstrations of attractions from his museum, the original part of which Lord March had opened 25 years ago. As for the opening day’s…

Alfred Wilm’s Mountain Farm With reference to the mention of duralumin in the September 2021 issue. On a visit to the Sudetes Mountains, my wife and I booked a room in an Agrotourist farm, called The Mountain Farm, in the village of Zachelmie, south west Poland. The farm is in a beautiful location with outstanding views of the surrounding countryside and the medieval Chojnik castle. Following the Potsdam agreement of 1945, the German inhabitants of this region were relocated and the farm was occupied by the parents of the current Polish owner. There are layers and layers of history to be discovered. We took our breakfast on a patio at the side of the house under an impressive oak plaque fixed to the front of the house. This was carved…

The first production machine to carry the now famous name of Moto Guzzi and its flying eagle on its petrol tank was produced in early 1921, so what better way to celebrate the iconic Italian manufacturer’s centenary than a test ride on one of its most famous V-twins – the 850cc Mark I Le Mans. Launched in November 1975 at that year’s Milan show, the Le Mans was described by the period press as a ‘remarkably aggressive and attractive motorcycle’ and five decades on, it’s now regarded as perhaps the most beautiful V-twin to ever emerge from the Mandello Del Lario production lines. After covering over 250,000 miles on three of the Le Mans siblings – a Spada Royale and two Spada NTs – you can safely assume I love…

To date, this series has looked at Granville Bradshaw’s motorcycles and engines which entered production. Outside motorcycling and cars, he was involved in the design of much more, from amusement machines to aero development, and screws to marine components. Again, some went into production, others were patented but got no further – and lots remained as sketches. Alongside this work, lecturing and writing, he was called upon by makers to improve and/or modernise existing designs. In this final part, we look at some of Bradshaw’s often advanced designs which never progressed, and an example of his design improvement work. The GB Radial In his correspondence to the motorcycle press readers’ letters pages and commissioned irregular technical columns, Mr Bradshaw regularly expressed the notion that motorcycle designers and development engineers should…

Are you one of those enthusiasts who seem to be in just the right place when what you need turns up on an autojumble stand? Or are you, like me, a few paces behind in the queue? You know what I mean I’m sure, you’re scouring autojumble to no avail then just when you’re giving it a break and enjoying something delicious from a vendor and reviewing the situation, your mate comes by and has found just exactly what you were looking for at a ridiculously cheap price. Given the pandemic and its effect on our world at the moment, autojumbles have been a bit thin on the ground for 18 months, so the other, cyber, autojumble has been scoured… at least with this version there’s little chance of getting…

EDITOR James Robinson Tel 07739 615604 Fax 01507 371066 email jrobinson@mortons.co.uk REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Tim Britton, Alan Cathcart, Jonathan Hill, Roy Poynting, Richard Rosenthal, Martin Squires, Jerry Thurston, Alan Turner, Andy Westlake, Steve Wilson CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Myles Raymond, Andy Withers PRODUCTION EDITOR Sarah Wilkinson ART EDITOR Kelvin Clements DESIGNER Charlotte Fairman PUBLISHER Tim Hartley GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER Sue Keily DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Tom Lee ADVERTISING Sarah Mitchell-Savage Tel 01507 529418, email smitchell-savage@mortons.co.uk SALES AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Carl Smith MARKETING MANAGER Charlotte Park COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Nigel Hole PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dan Savage EDITORIAL ADDRESS PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk GENERAL ENQUIRIES & BACK ISSUES Tel 01507 529529, 24-hour answerphone email help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk Tel 01507 529423 SUBSCRIPTION Full subscription rates (but…