Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2023 i The Classic MotorCycle

While putting the news pages of this issue together, I couldn’t help but enter into a theoretical debate inside my own head, as I contemplated which I’d like better, the 1915 James or 1975 Ducati GT750, both being offered in H&H’s forthcoming sale (see page 12). The estimate is around about the same for each, so I spent rather longer than is necessary – especially as this is only a theoretical debate – deciding which one I’d prefer. And, no surprise here, I just couldn’t make a decision, as I’d love both of them, or indeed either. The Ducati lust has of course been fuelled by the 750S in this issue; what a glorious-looking machine, though I’d actually prefer the GT, being not that keen on clip-on handlebars; I just…

The next of H&H’s successful National Motorcycle Museum sales, held at the Coventry Road, Bickenhill premises, will be the December 7, 2022, event. There is an eclectic range offered, with among them the two illustrated – the fabulous James Model 6, a 4¼hp (so 600cc) version of the famous Pineapple. Originally sold in Australia, its first keeper kept it until 1958, then it’s only had two more since. Estimate is £16,000-£18,000. The gorgeous Ducati is a 1975 ‘Roundcase’ 750GT, originally sold new in America. It’s been lovingly restored and recently recommissioned. Estimate is £15,000-£19,000. More details and lots more to view at www.handh.co.uk…

We want to learn more about our TCM readers so we can ensure that not only the magazine and its features are as relevant to your needs as they can be, but also the advertisements which are included. We’ve created a survey (link located on our website www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk), or you can scan the QR code above to take you directly to the survey. By way of thanks for completing the survey, all those who take part will be entered into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to be in with a chance of winning a pair of Held Gore-Tex Twin II four season motorcycle gloves worth £190. The survey will only take you a few minutes to complete, so many thanks and good luck in the prize draw.…

You were asking | Expert advice YOU WERE ASKING IS SPONSORED BY CASTROL CLASSIC OILS Coincidences Mid-October 2022, my son Peter and I visited the VMCC’s East Herts section and enjoyed meeting members and friends, including Scott man Glyn Chambers. During the evening, the former London fireman pressed into my hands a number of items, including a paperback written by former TCM (and other classic motorcycle magazines) contributor, the late Peter Dobson, entitled ‘Honey and Gemma (Dobber’s dogs)’ and the accompanying picture of Captain (later Admiral) Sir Robert Arbuthnot (1864-1916). A couple of weeks later, the December 2022 issue of TCM dropped through our letterbox. Flicking through the pages, I spotted Andy Withers’ evocative report of the year’s Arbuthnot Trial organised by the Salisbury Motorcycle and Light Car Club. (TCM,…

MECUM LAS VEGAS Keep checking at www.mecum.com for details of the 1750 machines on offer at the South Point Hotel and casino sale, on January 25-28, 2023. There’s lots of Harleys already, with a 1908 ‘Strap Tank’ and a trio of Knuckleheads chief among them, all three immaculate and offered with no reserve. WARD AND TRIBBLE Two of the greats from 1950s and 1960s British scrambling, Geoff Ward and John Tribble, have died, within a few days of each other, at the end of October 2022. Condolences are expressed to their families and friends.…

1923 As the Brooklands racetrack had officially closed on Saturday, November 25, 1922 for the winter, a three-month repair and improvement programme was started. In the annual record-breaking spree before shutdown, Bob Dicker and Bert Mathers rode a 998cc ioe V-twin Rudge for 600 miles on the outer circuit, setting many new Class E (1000cc solo) records including six hours at 75.02mph and 600 miles at 71.27mph. Bert Le Vack (250cc ohc New Imperial-JAP) at circa 68mph broke one and two hour, plus 100 and 200 mile records. Douglas Hawkes, driving a 1098cc Morgan-Anzani, posted a new flying start kilometre record of 86.94mph and last man out Frank Longman (349cc AJS) broke the one-way and mean standing start mile Class B (350cc solo) records with 66.96 and 66.17mph respectively. As…

THE LT COL ‘TINY’ AYERS MEMORIAL TROPHY To the rider with the greatest combined age of rider and machine. Tony Donnithorne Zenith Gradua 1913 Total Years 200 Runners-up: Derek Webb Triumph 1909 Total Years 195 Jonathan Bewley FN 1911 Total Years 194 THE LAURIE FENTON MEMORIAL TROPHY To the rider with the greatest age difference between rider and machine. Vyvyan Bewley FN 1911 Age Difference 92 years THE LADIES AWARD To the Best Lady Rider Dee Searle Triumph 1914 THE BOB CURRIE AWARD For the most meritorious performance. Dave Meades Triumph 1913 THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE TROPHY For the best ‘Authentic & Unrestored’ machine. Christopher Cook Douglas 1914 DUTCH HORSEPOWER TEAM TROPHY To the Team of Three Riders. One from each class, with the greatest combined age of riders and machines.…

Thanks mainly to work by mechanic, engineer and BSA M-Series enthusiast Len Page, my black 1955 M20 was now starting reliably, held road well on new Avon tyres (the previous rear cover had been from 1950!), and pulled surprisingly well. But one problem did persist. The gearbox with its six-spring clutch still hosted a load of unwanted false neutrals, which on the move compromised the side-valve 500’s need to husband its borderline ‘power.’ So I bit the bullet and ordered a replacement four-spring clutch kit from Kidderminster Motorcycles (telephone 01562 66679). From both my previous A10 and a long-term M21, I knew how well these clutches worked. Kidderminster said that with my year M20, no adaptor kit would be necessary, as it was for BSA twins. The price of 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 DECEMBER 2022 2 JANUARY ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE 3 London Classic Off Road & Racing Show, Kempton Park, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ www.kemptonautojumble.co.uk 3 YOUR OLD BIKE MART WITH YOU TODAY 3 Santa Toy Run & Christmas Market, Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley Cross Road, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5SZ Tel. 01425 620777. 4 Bike Day and Ace Cafe Club Day Christmas Meet, Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW10 7UD acecafe.com 5 DECEMBER ISSUE OF REAL CLASSIC 10 VMCC…

Sotheby’s motorcycle sale in Hendon 1994 sticks in my memory for two reasons, the first being that I rather incautiously bought an as-new-but-seized mid-1970s, 125cc two-stroke Harley-Davidson/Cagiva on a whim. No bids… “What about £150?” the auctioneer implored, so I stuck my hand up and it was knocked down to me. Why so cheap? Undoubtedly, because it was seized and the auction was populated mostly by dealers. No matter how nice the baby H-D was, they wanted easy, ready to sell stock, not a heap of work. My impulsive bid wasn’t entirely foolish, as £150 was not much for a machine that was essentially brand-new – it had covered fewer than 250 miles before seizing. Whatever the reason for its engine’s early demise, it had had been put away in…

The Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic was establishing itself as something of a mainstay, the season opener for many, taking place at the start of January, each year. However, after Covid did its worst, it’s been missing for a while – but in 2023 it bounces back, still at the handily-placed-for-many Newark showground. The next edition will see James Whitham and Carl Fogarty top the bill as star guests, so expect plenty of laughs and funny stories, as the ex-world Superbike and GP duo regale with their paddock stories. The event takes place on January 7/8, 2023 and tickets are available via www.classicbikeshows.co.uk or 01507 529529.…

The Sussex seaside resort of Hastings is known throughout the country for the eponymous battle that changed the course of history. The year 2022 was the 956th anniversary and nowadays the town devotes a week to mark that time. Celebrations include the Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Show, this year held on October 15, and which returned for a fifth time. Organiser Bruce Dowling was pleased with his final tally of 89 motorcycles, a new attendance record, lined up on The Stade, an area in Hastings Old Town near the fishing community. Support came from the BSA Owners’ Club and the Vintage MCC, East Sussex Section. Some riders had covered many miles to be part of the occasion resulting in a fine varied display of machinery. Qualifying date is 1982, but…

“MV Agusta since 1945” Birth, death and resurrection: The story of one of the world’s most famous motorcycle marques Author: Ian FalloonPublished by: Veloce Publishing Ltd, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3ARTel: 01305 260068 Email:sales@veloce.co.uk Hardback, 305 x 250mm (portrait); 288 pages with 726 photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-787113-59-6 UPC 6-36847-01359-2 £90 (UK); $101 USD; £139 CAD; $161 AUD This edition is limited to 500 copies. Born in Palermo in 1879, to a wealthy aristocratic Sicilian family, Giovanni Agusta was a pioneering flyer, who as early as 1907 built and flew his first biplane, the AG1. In 1923, Giovanni Agusta moved his thriving aircraft manufacturing and repair company to the tiny village of Cascina Costa di Verghera, near Milan. Cascina Costa would…

More on Ambassador Delighted to read Alan Cathcart’s feature on the Sammy Miller Museum’s 1962 Ambassador Electra 75 in the December issue. The photography especially was very impressive, and the Cathcart feature was detailed and thorough, as always, although a little confused in references to the early models. However, from the perspective of being the VMCC and BTSC’s Ambassador marque specialist, I’d just like to add some extra information to the story of the Electra 75, if I may. This particular Electra 75 was originally restored c2007 by Gerry Gwynnett of Gloucestershire, and then later also owned by a noted collector in Somerset. The bike, manufactured in October 1961 (making it a 1962 model), is currently one of 14 known surviving Electra 75 models recorded on the Ambassador Machine Register,…

Recently, I have been making efforts to visit private collections, something that I’m hoping to do more of going into 2023. Traveling to collections is always fascinating; not only do I get to see multiple machines in one place, I also get to meet the owner and gain an insight into the collector’s mindset. This summer, we took a family holiday to Malta, a small island that has had historical influences from many different cultures, due mainly to its location in the Mediterranean sea. Its influences includes the British, who were instrumental in expelling the French in 1800, and Malta subsequently became a British Protectorate in 1813 as a result. With a long association with Britain, Malta inevitably became home to many British motorcycles, especially ones bought over by the…

There are umpteen factors influencing the birth of our motorcycling careers; from the practical to the fanciful, and from the positive to the negative. We might have needed transport and been unable to afford anything else, we might have already felt the lure of the open road, or we might have succumbed to peer pressure or parental influence. The last factor is often the decisive one, as many older enthusiasts followed a family tradition of motorcycling, with fond memories of riding on the back of their uncle’s solo, or in the sidecar attached to their dad’s bike. Unfortunately, those folk are probably outnumbered by the non-starters, as I’ve often heard would-be riders say: “I’d have loved a bike, but my parents said it was too dangerous”. And it’s not uncommon…