Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i The Classic MotorCycle

Another day at the office After reading the piece about the legend Mike Hailwood, I thought the attached may be of interest, while it also reminded me of what a personable chap he was. I was at the Race of the Year meeting at Mallory Park, l think it was 1963, where Mike was racing and l had with me a picture l had taken of him jumping his MV at Ballaugh Bridge during the Senior TT. I was in the paddock and Mike was walking towards me. I had the picture in my hand and asked him if he would autograph it for me. After a little chat he said he wouldn’t sign it on the front as it would spoil the picture, but said he would sign the…

It’s about time the truth was made clear regarding how Brough Superior gained its name – here is the gospel truth edition – and how it came about. The naming story starts with Harold Bowden (Sir from 1921, after inheriting his father’s baronetcy), born 1880, a cyclist who took on the firm that he named Raleigh, after the street where the firm was, and later owned Sturmey-Archer of gearbox and hub gear fame. On May 11, 1916 a 3½hp flat-twin Brough, weighing in at 180lb, was registered in Bowden’s name, bearing a Nottingham county number, AL 4659. Harold Bowden kept the Brough until February 22, 1919, when it was sold to Robert Blay, of 154 Noel Street, Nottingham. In the 1911 census, the only name match is Robert Blay of…

The background To East Anglians (adopted in my case) and others, the Greeves story is legend. Of English parentage, Invacar founder Oscar Bertrum Greeves (b.1906, Lyon), rather than follow his father into the leather trade, was apprenticed to Austin cars and later worked as a draughtsman to dynamometer makers Heenan and Froude, before setting up a small garage business in Surrey with his brother, which was involved with small mechanical and engineering jobs for the Government during the Second World War until targeted by a German rocket in early 1945. Out of hours, Bert Greeves motorised a wheelchair for his near paraplegic cousin Derry Preston-Cobb (Derry had some right hand movement) with a small Villiers two-stroke engine. This development encouraged Bert to set up Invacar Ltd, initially at Westcliff-on-Sea, where…

As it isn’t a terribly involved task on an engine like this to lift the rocker boxes off and fit the pushrods, they were left out until it looked likely an ignition was sorted. As mentioned last time, a later cam proved either too expensive for the concept or too scarce – which on reflection amounts to the same thing – and thoughts turned to a simpler solution, or at least something which seemed simpler to me. A nut similar to the one with an eccentric lobe which drives the oil pump but running concentric to the bearing surface of the cam, and having a taper bored in to take the ignition trigger, might just work. An engineering friend offered to test the theory and bits were provided to try…

Although there are many types of cams, including wheels, shafts, discs, tooth, drum, cylinder to vinyl record disc grooves, they usually serve a similar role, as they are all designed to convert rotational (or occasionally sliding) motion into reciprocating or oscillating motion (cyclic) or even single motion (occasional), such as axle position adjusting snail cams. Commonly, this is linear motion, but there are rare exceptions, which needn’t worry us. Before the advent of modern, cheap electronics, cams were employed for a huge range of electrical control systems. Valve control by lobular cam The cam lobes are applied to cam wheels, often singly or doubly, or camshafts; sometimes (and rarely) singly, but more commonly in multiple. With four-stroke engines, cam wheels usually rotate at half engine speed. For our older motorcycles,…

EDITOR James Robinson Tel 01507 529405 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 Dave Clark, Sally Clifford, Erik Meesters 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…

This picture was printed in The Motor Cycle of October 15, 1931, captioned: “The seven Jewish motorcyclists who have ridden from Palestine to this country on their OHV Sunbeams, snapped in London, just before beginning their long return journey.” Frustratingly, that is as much information as is given, on what must have been a fairly epic journey. Which way would the Sunbeam seven have gone? Would they have gone out one way – so, say, effectively south west initially, then follow the coast through Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and onto Morocco, before crossing over (from Tangier?) to Gibraltar perhaps (via the Strait of Gibraltar) then up through Spain, the same in France, before negotiating the English Channel over to the UK, and onto London – then come back the other;…

Among the exciting machines offered in Bonhams’ October Stafford sale (over October 9/10 2021) is this exceptional 1931 Vincent-HRD, one of the earliest examples of Phil Vincent’s own built machines extant. It was featured in our April 2003 issue, and is still in much the same condition today, as well as having been in long-term family ownership. It is powered by a 500cc JAP twin port engine, while the frame is of the early Vincent-HRD type. Estimate is £40,000-60,000. Elsewhere in the sale are a number of gorgeous offerings, ranging from a bevel drive 750SS Ducati to an 1918 Excelsior (American X in the UK) V-twin, among many, many others. A pair of early road-going MV Agusta fours make an eye-catching duo, too. Details at bonhams.com…

Covid regulations forced Brooklands Museum to move its annual Motorcycle Day from the traditional July date, and unfortunately, the new date clashed with the VMCC’s 75th celebrations at Cadwell Park. As visitors were admitted and the motorcycle park at the top of the Finishing Straight rapidly filled, it soon appeared there was a considerable national demand for a bike-focused day out. The lines of machinery spilled over to the base of the Members Banking and then made a long line down the Finishing Straight. The mix of ancient, classic and modern was a bonus sideshow. The Finishing Straight area also hosted a fine turnout from two of the local VMCC sections. The Brooklands Section had pulled out all the stops in support and the result was a display that represented…

Through his work as a racer and constructor of two and four-stroke motorcycles, Helmut Fath collaborated with a number of big names from the English motorcycle history – men like Colin Seeley, Chris Vincent, Phil Read, John Blanchard and Billie Nelson. Fath successfully raced his legendary URS on many famous British tracks, and, of course, at the Isle of Man TT races. Helmut Fath was the most exceptional racer and tuner of his time. Sidecar racing In Europe, sidecar racing has been popular for decades. Big names like Eric Oliver and Cyril Smith on the English Nortons and Ercole Frigerio, Ernesto Merlo and Albino Milani on the Italian Gileras competed for the highest honours in the early 1950s. In 1954 there was a major change. Although the drivers at Norton…

Sometimes, when one climbs aboard a motorcycle, one just knows it’s going to be just right. That was the feeling I had, when Colin Jansen left me to play with his 350cc Ducati Scrambler. I knew I was going to have a ball. When I was 17, my first road-going motorcycle was a 1973 TS125 Suzuki, bought from the man across the road, who’d had it from new. After having Bultaco trials bikes and so on, the Suzuki just felt natural to me and while lots of my contemporary pals, and my brother, all went ‘race rep’ pretty quickly, for me, I’ve always been happier on a ‘sit up and beg.’ It just feels right, so far as I’m concerned. To this day, a motorcycle with clip-on handlebars on the…

A parts washer is a great and useful thing, some use an old oil tin – I did for years – then invested in a small bench top recirculating washer. The fluid was changed regularly and all was well until I used the last of my old fluid. The regular stuff isn’t as available as it was, so some new stuff is being sourced. I think I have found something which will clean grease and oil off parts, is safe on all bits of an engine and is eco too, but I’m still interested in what other people use in their washers.…

Star guest at October’s Stafford show (over October 9/10) is Michael Dunlop, the Northern Irish superstar who has carried on the Dunlop family’s proud tradition of success in the Isle of Man. Winner of 19 TTs, Michael was also the first man to lap Mona’s Isle in under 17 minutes, that’s an average speed of 134mph. Michael also memorably completed a special Bob McIntyre commemorative lap on Kay Engineering’s Gilera four replica in 2017, when Dunlop – complete with Bob Mac pudding basin and dustbin fairing – hustled the number 78 Gilera round at over 100mph. No stranger to classics, Michael also races motorcycles regularly at Goodwood, as well as competing in car rallies in his Mk.2 Ford Escort. Hopes are that Stafford will be ‘back to normal’ with the…

The Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Group organised the first Festival of Transport at Broad Farm, Hellingly in 1976. After the cancellation of last year’s event it was back again over all three days of the 2021 August bank holiday weekend, and, judging by the crowds it attracted, was welcomed all the more. Carter’s Steam Fair offers the full nostalgic experience and Messham’s Wall of Death occupied a prominent position. At regular intervals the sound of an ancient Indian V-twin on open pipes being warmed up draws the curious to hear the ‘barker’ persuading patrons to part with their money. Once sufficient spectators were packed into the viewing gallery to look down into the wooden bowl of the track, the awe-inspiring riding skills do not disappoint. As a heritage transport show Hellingly…

Which Monty Banks? I refer to the Classic Camera piece in TCM for October, concerning Valerie Peto. According to the caption, she was a Streatham resident, so possibly a member of the Streatham & District MCC. At one time this was one of the larger clubs in the ACU’s South-Eastern Centre, organising social and all types of sporting events, including the interests in which Mrs Peto took part. Sadly, the Streatham Club folded some years ago and no one seems to know if archive material survives, or who might still hold it. There is also a reference to a ‘Monty Banks Gold Star’. This is where social history gets rather foggy. The original(?) Montague ‘Monty’ Banks was married to Gracie Fields, both were hugely successful comics and actors. The couple…

Regular readers with intact medium-term memories may recall us featuring a 1960 ‘Bathtub’ 500cc Triumph T100A in The Classic MotorCycle, January 2021. That machine belonged to former garage owner Alex Taylor, and he has now acquired a panelled 650. But this 6T Thunderbird comes from 1964, after Meriden’s 650cc engines had changed to unit construction for 1963. The latter year also saw Edward Turner, Triumph’s charismatic MD, and the main proponent of the panelled models, standing down. So the softer single carb 650cc T’bird, along with the sports 350 and 500cc twins, now featured redesigned, abbreviated versions of the sheet metal enclosures. These were quickly dubbed ‘bikini’, in allusion to the increasingly popular, skimpy two-piece ladies’ swimwear (think Ursula Andress in 1962’s ‘Dr No’). It had been time. The bathtub…

As this month’s test subject fired into action, I was immediately transported back to those days of the early 1970s when the streets of our towns and cities were filled with the sight, sounds and sweet-smelling exhaust fumes of buzzing 50cc two-strokes, with their throttle-happy teenage pilots at the controls. Until late 1971 it had been possible that, on reaching the age of 16, and without any training though subject to having sufficient money, a budding young motorcyclist could take to the roads on a 100mph 250cc machine. Due to the sensational reports in some of the national media concerning accidents and deaths among this age group – which did little to enhance the overall image of motorcycling in general – the result was that Ted Heath’s government decided it…

Ducati brought out its new Scrambler for 2015 (production began in late 2014, after it was unveiled at Intermot, Germany, in October) and it was an instant hit. The new Scrambler took elements of the old, but thoroughly reimagined them, while the engine was now a V-twin, not a single. I was lucky enough to have one of the first in 2015, on which I did quite a lot of miles, riding it to go touring in Scotland as well as doing a track day at Cadwell Park on it. I really enjoyed it, all of it. The new Scrambler range has grown (both smaller and larger) but they do all bear some relation to the original, single-cylinder offering, even if it is just the name on the petrol tank…

THE SPECIALIST After owning Ducatis for more than 30 years, Howard Davies decided to turn his enthusiasm for the marque into a business, with Widecase.com The company's name neatly defines its main interest. Now, years later and the business well established, thanks are due to Howard for taking time out from a busy period to assist with this month's restoration guide. ■ Widecase.com: 01490 412621; www.widecase.com ■ Also: www.discovolantemoto.co.uk MODEL HISTORY Ducati's legendary singles began in the mid-1950s. By the next decade its quarter-litre models soon became a benchmark for lightweight performance machinery. A 1967 revision involved widening the crankshaft and crankcases, hence ‘widecase’, as the earlier bikes then acquired the ‘narrow case’ moniker. The update capitalised on racing successes with 250 and 350 factory bikes, achieved with desmodromic valve…

YOUR EVENT SHOULD BE HERE The Classic MotorCycle is anxious to learn all about your motorcycle-related events. Contact us at The Classic MotorCycle, Mortons Media Ltd, Diary Listings, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ or email obmwallplanner@mortons.co.uk OCTOBER 2021 1 NOVEMBER ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE ON SALE TODAY 2 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 2 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufford Park, York YO23 3QH. Tel: 01904 738620; 07713 164848. www.rufforthautojumble.com 2-3 CRMC Race Meeting at Croft plus Grand Prix Bike Display and Demos. www.croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/classic-bikes 3 End of Summer Scooter ’n’ Mod Special: Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD.london.acecafe.com 3 Classic Motorcycle Day in conjunction with Vincent HRD Owners’ Club. Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Matlock, DE4 5DP. Tel. 01773 854321. www.tramway.co.uk 3 British Motorcycle Preservation Society Autumn…