The Classic MotorCycle March 2023

Looking back for some pictures to illustrate a couple of news stories, I was suddenly struck by a sense of how many places my classic motorcycle interest has taken me, as well as the number of people I’ve got to know through our shared interest. The ‘abroad trips’ have been some of my most memorable holidays (for want of a better word), with sojourns to Italy and France chief among them – I thought of both as I was compiling the news pages, in particular the Coupes Moto Legende in France. The first time I went and rode it was still held at Montlhery, while there’s been the relocation to Dijon-Prenois too, where I’ve also been fortunate to participate. The idea that there’s 1300 motorcycles expected this year makes me…

Although The Motor Cycle article – published February 5, 1920 – gives the impression that the Militor is a new machine, in fact the only thing reasonably new about it, really, was the name ‘Militor’ – for the company had already been through several iterations and names by this time. In fact, the man behind the business – which was based in multiple places – Norman Sinclair, apparently went bankrupt five times, but, every time he managed to dust himself down and set up again, convincing investors of the potential success and viability of his ‘two-wheeled car.’ Norm must’ve been some salesman. The story begins in the autumn of 1910, when the Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal carried details of the Deluxe, built in Cleveland, Ohio. Its specification included retractable…

Stars of the Bristol Classic MotorCycle show, at the Royal Bath and West showground, Shepton Mallet, over the weekend of February 25/26, will be Norton rotary guru Brian Crighton and star rider, Trevor Nation. They’ll be joined by a selection of the rotary racers, machines which had British fans flocking back to the tracks in the late 1980s/early 1990s, as the unlikely team and their moody, black, fire-breathing motorcycles routinely humbled the big budget Japanese efforts. Nation, born in Somerset, endeared himself to race fans with his style and hard-charging, which won him the MCN TT Superbike championship in 1990, during his several seasons racing for the team. Away from Norton, he was also twice a TT winner, taking proddie bike wins in 1984 and 1986, was runner-up in the…

■ SPICER AUCTION The first of Spicer’s 2023 sales takes place on March 25. Machines offered already include a Vincent Black Prince and Ducati 900SS. Details from spicersauctioneers.com ■ NO FESTIVAL OF 1000 BIKES THIS YEAR The VMCC has taken the decision to cancel its 2023 edition of the famous Festival of 1000 Bikes, which has been held recently at Mallory Park. The Cadwell Park track weekend, held in 2022, won’t be taking place in 2023 either; in fact, all non-competitive track events will be postponed until 2024. ■ CHARTERHOUSE SALE IN MARCH Have a look at www.charterhouse-auction.com for details of the March 30, 2023, sale. Already consigned are a Matchlessengined SS100 Brough and a Series C Vincent Rapide.…

This year’s Classic Dirt Bike Show, being held at the Telford International Centre, over February 11/12, will welcome three-time world champion motocross star Dave Thorpe as guest of honour. As Britain’s most successful motocross racer, with three 500cc world championships, a veterans world title and multiple British championships to his name, Dave remains the last British rider to win the premier division in world motocross. He began his career with Kawasaki, switching to Honda in 1984; his first world title came in 1985, he retained his crown in 1986 and won again in 1989. Star motorcycles featuring at the show include Jeff Smith’s 1955 Scottish Six Days Trial-winning Gold Star, an ex-Scott Ellis C15T – winner of the 1964 British Experts – and Mick Andrews’ Scottish-winning, landmark monoshock Yamaha. Further…

Author: Ian Falloon Published by: Motorbooks, an imprint of the Quarto Group. Email: specialsales@quarto.com www.QuartoKnows.com Available from: Specialist bookshops and Amazon. Hardback, 255 x 310mm (portrait): 280 pages with over 530 colour and black and white photographs and illustrations. ISBN: 978-0-7603-7373-6 £45 GB; $60 US; $80 CAD; $81 AUD Founded in 1926 by Adriano Ducati, a brilliant technician and radio pioneer, with his brothers Bruno and Marcello, they set up a company building condensers and other radiographic components. Encouraged by the fascist dictator Mussolini, the company, near Bologna, thrived and by the late 1930s, Ducati employed 11,000 workers. However, following the Second World War, Ducati became bankrupt and passed into Government control, with a mixture of good and bad political decisions that would determine Ducati’s history over the next…