Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i The Classic MotorCycle

Family Panther My aunt recently gave me a copy of a family photograph which I thought may be of interest to readers of The Classic MotorCycle. It shows my father’s Red Panther motorcycle in about 1948. I think it is a Model 20, 250cc, hand change, new in about 1939. My father, George Cooper, lived at Staxton Wold, at the top of Staxton Hill, North Yorkshire. Every day he had to cycle to Scarborough and back to work as a grocer’s assistant, a round trip of over 16 miles. At the nearby Staxton Wold Chain Home radar station an RAF officer had a motorcycle for sale and father thought it would be ideal for his journey to work. However, shortly after purchasing the bike, he was called up for the…

These photos were taken at the Llandrindod Wells finish of the 1974 Welsh Two Day Trial. Former editor of The Classic MotorCycle Bob Currie is taking notes, as Doris and Alf Palmer run the final time check. Riders 157 (T Fayer – Army B40), 158 (John Pease – 360 Jawa), 162 (D Smith – 360 Jawa) and a Bultacomounted competitor clock in. The time clock is one of the original batch from the 1920s ISDT; one was donated to the VMCC by the Welsh Trials Committee a few years ago. Other photos show Louis Bridgeman on a trials Douglas at the Griffin Inn, Cwm Owen, and no. 20 (H Hartmann/ W Rheinhold, 900cc BMW) at the start of day two. Doris and Alf were well-known for their support of British…

And so it was back to Stafford ‘proper’, numbers having had to be controlled and managed at the summer edition, with no such restrictions applied for this October spectacle. Though crowds were not back to pre-pandemic levels – of spectators, of traders, of clubs, of private entries – they were hugely up on the July 2021 effort, with the show actually feeling like Stafford again. There were plenty of people unable to attend for various reasons (some Covid-related, some not) but, on the whole, there was an atmosphere of ‘we’re back, and we’re glad’ which was echoed and reiterated all over the showground. It was, indeed, good to be back. This event focusses, primarily, on motorcycles from the Japanese manufacturers, and so naturally it’s heavy on 1970s and 80s classics…

Nostalgia, a cavalcade of older speedway bikes, and a chance to ride and slide in some close racing were highlights of the package on offer at the Veterans Speedway Riders Open Championships held at Lydd in September. Lydd Speedway track is hidden away on the Romney Marsh in Kent. While there is an elite pool of talent that makes a living out of riding speedway professionally, for every one of those professionals there are many more who enjoy this slightly arcane form of motorcycling at a less dedicated pitch. It is as addictive as that unique scent generated by the methanol fuel and castor oil. Lydd brings together once-regular riders who simply enjoy keeping their skills sharp and others who just want to have a go and see how they…

When Alex Taylor wanted a pre-Second World War motorcycle for runs with the pre-Second World War only Sunbeam Club, he chose this 350cc, ohv 1937 Royal Enfield Model G2. Alex, a retired garage owner and classic collector, has had several machines featured in The Classic MotorCycle, including a very nice postwar Model G, and is a member of the REOC. He secured the 1937 single at Richard Edmond’s auction in Chippenham – but it came with a heftier price-tag than postwar equivalents. De-Luxe and De-Lovely? The compensation was a high degree of originality, though there were some exceptions. Enfield’s roadster range for that year had employed fishtail-type silencers, not the later uptilted tubular item seen here. The taillight fitted was no longer the circular original, and the oblong toolbox was…

For proprietor of Midlife Classics, Tim Slaughter, opening day arrived, and went something like this: “We opened on Monday morning and closed Monday evening, as the first pandemic lockdown rules came into force. “While not ideal, we’ve reinvented ourselves several times at Midlife Classics, so we looked at our options and on the whole it’s been good for us.” In part, the success of Midlife Classics at this unusual time has been the Herald range which dovetails nicely into the more traditional classics they handle. “At Midlife Classics we concentrate on the 1960s and 70s machines, it’s the era I’m interested in,” grins Tim, “I’ve a penchant for 1970s Kawasaki triples, but the interest covers British, European and Japanese machines.” Alongside the actual machines, Tim has concentrated on the apparel…

While sketching at Dragstalgia in July, 2021, I was so taken by the family affair around Stormin’ Norman’s iconic, double engined drag bikes that I had to take a deeper dive into the history. Gary Norman was very generous with his time and shared a lot about his father Dennis’s story, not only displaying admiration for his dad, but also an almost genetic affiliation with motorcycles and the eternal quest for speed. The salad years Dennis Norman, born July 3, 1925, in Harrow, Wealdstone, was one of six siblings – three brothers and two sisters. Dennis was an adventurous child and soon gained a reputation as ‘a bit of a rascal,’ having an affinity with two wheels and mechanics from a young age. At 17, he started an apprenticeship as…

With reference to Ian Hodgkinson’s letter in the November issue, I also enjoyed the article on the 850 Le Mans featured in October’s TCM. I am not sure what model Mr Hodgkinson is referring to – the V7 Sport 1972-73 had drum brakes, with the 750-S 1974-75 a twin disc front brake. The 750 S3, introduced in November 1975, had three disc integral braking system. My photos, taken recently, are of me with my oldest and youngest Moto Guzzis. Oldest is my 1928 500cc Sport. According to Moto Guzzi records, this machine was built on June 13, 1928 (13 years to the day before I was born) and dispatched to Armaroli of Bologna on June 18, 1928. Youngest is my 1972 V7 Sport – in another few months it will…

So, there you were, eagerly awaiting the all-new BSA range being shouted about in the press at the tail end of 1970. New bikes were promised as well as the latest versions of familiar favourites. Unfortunately for BSA, it was a known fact at the time the once giant company was on the back foot, with little available funds to redesign things such as engines, and the budget it had was going on the triple and Edward Turner’s project for the group – the Bandit or Fury, depending which camp you were in. Their much-heralded super sports 750cc triple had received rave reviews but been trumped at the last moment by Honda’s 750/4 with a much more exotic spec. Still, big things had been promised as the BSA group embraced…

The 1973 MV Agusta 750GT, belonging to the late German film critic Hans Schifferle, was the star and top lot of the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale, more than doubling its pre-sale estimate to achieve £126,500, a new auction world record for the model. The rare Italian grand tourer led a 40-strong collection of motorcycles amassed by the late enthusiast, which all sold on October 10, in day two of the auction, which achieved a total of £2.1 million, with a 92% sell-through rate. Five Hans Schifferle collection machines made the sale’s top 10, including a 1941 Indian 1279cc Four and a 1955 Vincent 998cc Black Knight which both exceeded their top estimates, selling for £57,500 and £37,950 respectively. Another strong top 10 result was that of a glorious American-made 1911…

To the casual observer, this combination would appear to be nothing more than a mid-1950s ‘bitsa,’ based around an Ariel Red Hunter with a rather wide sidecar attached. However, for me, it’s a very special machine, as it was made by two men who I have known for all of my motorcycling life, and used on an event I was proud to be involved in for 15 years. The bike is now owned by West Country enthusiast Owen Ingram, but in the mid 1990s it was constructed by Frome motorcycle dealers and enthusiasts Ernest ‘Nobby’ Clark and John Ransome, and regularly used in the Circuito Del Mendip. The ‘Circuito’ was the annual Frome Classic club’s 100 mile lap of the wonderful Mendip Hills in North Somerset, and was once described…

THE SPECIALIST The Norman Cycle Club is an enthusiastic organisation keeping the memory of the long-defunct manufacturer alive and helping owners of Norman autocycles, mopeds and motorcycles functioning as their maker intended. Club official Eddy Green has experience of much of Norman’s output and our grateful thanks to him for making this guide possible. ■ Norman Cycle Club: www.normanmotorcycles.org.uk MODEL HISTORY Norman, of Ashford, Kent, was well-established as a cycle manufacturer, moving into powered two-wheelers before the Second World War and expanding its range when peace resumed. In 1953, the family concern was taken over by Tube Investments (TI). In 1955, Norman’s popular Autocycle continued production, while a German-made Achilles was sold under licence as the Nippy. The following year, the Mk.2 Nippy combined a Capri version Achilles with plunger…

Edward Clifford has emailed two photographs of his father, also Edward, via Suffolk classic motorcycle dealer Andy Tiernan, for identification. One is a military shot taken circa 1948-1950, when Edward Clifford senior served with the Royal Warwickshires, and the other, a little later. Other details apart, the timing chain cover and girder front fork identifies the military machine as a Matchless G3 (G3WO). The War Office first evaluated the 347cc ohv single cylinder Matchless in 1935. During 10,000 miles of hard, all-terrain use, the Plumsteadbuilt machine needed a new gearbox and sprockets before the trial was over. Transmission problems apart, the Matchless must have impressed, as the WO ordered modest batches of the model over the following three years. During this time, AMC improved and updated the model and the…

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 NOVEMBER 2021 6 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 6 Rufforth Autojumble, Rufford Park, York YO23 3QH. Tel: 01904 738620; 07713 164848. www.rufforthautojumble.com 6 The Vintage Motorcycle Club, Somerset section Indoor/ Outdoor Autojumble. Royal Bath and West Showground, nr Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN. Tel. Dave Atterbury 01297 32853; 07847 430741. autojumble@vmccsomerset.co.uk 7 Ton Up Day – England Expects: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD.london.acecafe.com 13 South Midlands Auto Jumble, Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre, Oveross, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QQ Tel: 01989 750731 or 01989 769191. 14 Poppy Day Parade…

Norman Cycles was the only motorcycle manufacturer based in Kent and during its years of operation a workforce of hundreds turned out thousands of machines. Production of mainly Villiers-engined motorcycles ceased in the early 1960s, but there are a good number of survivors. With so much common interest, a club was formed in 2000 and soon attracted enthusiasts, former employees and also Kent historians. The club usually offers the chance, twice a year, for interested parties to meet at its museum and clubhouse adjacent to the imposing Willesborough Windmill at Ashford, about a mile-and-a-half from the former Norman factory. The pandemic has meant this was the first such gathering in some two years, but with everything ready, the sudden fuel shortage meant attendance on September 26, was a little less…

On page 15 of the November issue, Rodney Wildsmith’s wonderful picture of Mike Hailwood airborne at Ballaugh Bridge is of particular interest to me. It is the first time I have seen evidence of a rider declutching as the rear wheel is about to land. The shock loads on the transmission, and drive-chain in particular, are massive. The chain is constantly stressed with the transfer of power, but the stretching forces applied by the rear wheel’s up and down movement is an additional issue, and is at its worst when landing after a jump. I have looked at many similar photos, and this is the only one I’ve seen where the rider has the clutch lever held in. Although Mike is riding an MV in the picture, I would imagine…

Traditionally, the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club’s Pioneer Run for veteran machines takes place around the spring equinox. For hibernating machines (or riders) it’s the first major event of the riding season. All was prepared for the 2020 Pioneer, but it became one of the first casualties of the coronavirus lockdown that kept everyone at home. Fast forward to later that year, by which time Covid-19 had entered the national lexicon. The Sunbeam organisers started to look, hopefully, at plans for 2021. Cautious elements thought an autumn date might be a safer option. They were almost right. The entry was markedly down on the usual circa 300 numbers. Many European countries have major events equivalent to the ‘Pioneer’ and supporters cross the Channel to take part in these events. Continental clubs…

Although beaten to the honour of creating America’s first four-cylinder motorcycle by the Pierce Four introduced in 1909, when Scottish-born brothers William G and Thomas W Henderson founded the Henderson Motorcycle Co in Detroit, Michigan in 1911, their aim was to manufacture a luxurious, reliable four-cylinder machine that was substantially better than anything else yet available in a US marketplace, then dominated by often primitive singles, and the more potent but still evolving V-twins. While Tom Henderson ran the company, brother Bill proved to be one of the finest engineers in the USA’s early days of motorcycle research and development, and the quality of his designs arguably outranked anything yet made by a European manufacturer – even Belgium’s FN company, which had invented the four-cylinder motorcycle in 1904. This resulted…

ISDT form While countries entered the Trophy and Silver Vase (some nations entered two teams for this as A and B), over half of the entry were privateers. For some enthusiasts, to ride in the ISDT was a lifetime ambition, like competing in the IoM TT was for racers. Britain’s teams were on the back foot before they boarded their ferry for the Continent and then Bad Aussee, Austria, for the 35th International Six Days Trial. Officially, British factories weren’t supporting the event, thus some team riders collared an ‘unofficial’ factory mount, relied on dealer support and self-funding wasn’t unknown. Unfortunately, the ISDT didn’t have a massive British following, whereas for Austrians, Germans (East and West), Czechoslovakians etc, in 1960 the ISDT and Trophy or Vase victory was an event…

Despairing of ever finding a side case points exhaust cam at anything like a reasonable cost and asking Engineering Lad to try out a special nut to replicate the taper needed to carry a points bob-weight advance and retard unit, all of a sudden, just such a cam became available. The cam is almost the same as the one used in the distributor motor but has a short nosing on the end to take the advance and retard unit taper. With a twin engine such as a Triumph, the cams are inside the crankcase, a single engine such as the BSA B40 I had until recently, the cam can be changed without splitting the crankcase… thankfully so too can the cams on a unit 350/500cc Triumph engine. It is a…

My BSA A10’s clutch drags from cold, hot or, in fact, anytime. The cable is adjusted properly, so where do I go next? Mr A Rolfe, East Anglia. The following thoughts are based on experience of clutch freeing problems, but isn’t an exhaustive list and it is worth noting BSA clutches will drag if one slides them for long periods in heavy traffic, for example, or keep the machine in gear when stationary with the clutch freed. Both cause the clutch to heat up and then they start to drag, usually normal service resumes on cooling, unless one really cooks them… ● Misadjusted or uneven adjustment of clutch springs with multi spring clutch as your BSA has, for single spring clutches the spring may not be sitting squarely. In both…