The Classic MotorCycle August 2024

Books have always been a big thing for me, not exclusively motorcycling ones, though I have always enjoyed ones on that theme. I try to split my reading up, with either a motorcycle/car/sport biography/autobiography, followed by fiction, then back to non-fiction, fiction and so on, though often overlap the two, so can pick and choose which to read depending on mood of an evening. A few things brought motorcycling books to the forefront of my mind and hence this comment, this month – Roy Poynting’s mention of Roy K Battson’s Land Beyond the Ridge (see page 94) being one, it being a lovely read and insight. A true different era. Then Neale Shilton’s A Million Miles Ago was mentioned in Ian Kerr’s feature on the Greeves (page 62) which was…

When this picture first came to light, it simply looked to be the most wonderful depiction of late 1950s Britain, with motorcycles the overwhelming choice of vehicle for a trip to the seaside, just before the ‘family car’ became a real thing, and the days of motorcycle as pure transport for the mases ended. However, it’s not quite that… In fact, the picture was used as the header for a Motor Cycle feature entitled ‘What’s Gone Wrong?’ and published in the July 30, 1964, issue. The caption describes the ‘what’ and ‘where’ regarding the photograph – it’s the seafront at Rhyl, Wales, in 1962 – while the article itself is about the ACU’s National Rally. And the author? Bob Currie, founder of The Classic MotorCycle and, in 1964, Midlands editor…

HRDs at 100 The recent Banbury Run, on which there’ll be more next month, saw a trio of Wolverhampton-made overhead valve HRDs take part, in a move to mark the 100th anniversary of the company, founded in Wolverhampton in 1924. Above from left, Ian Alexander with his 90, then Chris Chant and Vincent OC chairman Stuart Wood with Chris’s 90, ridden by Stuart, then Bill Morris, with the 350cc 80. Gerry Allen Former editor of Cotton Pickins (sic), the Cotton Owners Club journal, Gerry Allen, died on June 11. Our condolences are expressed to his family and many friends. Fowlers Motorcycles MND charity bike nights June’s Bristol Bike Night at Fowlers Motorcycles attracted hundreds of riders and raised £3950 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The charity was chosen by…

1924 Despite makers’ reticence to divulge production figures, The Motor Cycle had estimated, from data available, that British makers manufactured 93,308 motorcycles in the period to May 31, 1924. Of these, 26,383 were exported. In the same 12-month period up to May 31, 1924, 446,775 motorcycles were licensed. Often, Road Test models came from the mainstream makers who manufactured the largest number of motorcycles last year, but this month The Motor Cycle featured examples from three smaller factories: The 349cc Spring Frame PV built by PV Motors, Perry Vale, London. Priced at £60 this Barr & Stroud sleeve-valve powered model features drip feed lubrication, all chain drive, Burman three-speed gearbox and dummy rim brakes. Although with over 10,000 miles under its belt, this PV remains lively and offers good pulling…

“British motorcycles 1945-1965” From Aberdare to Wooler Author: Rinsey Mills Published by: Herridge & Sons Ltd, Lower Forda, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5SY E-mail: info@herridgeandsons.com Hardback, 210 x 270mm (portrait); 600 pages with over 1500 illustrations ISBN: 978-1-906133-61-0 Original price: £60 GB; $76 USD; $103 CAD; $117 AUD. Aberdare? Never heard of them? Well, they made motorcycles and small-capacity two-stroke motorcycles under the name of Bown in Wales in the 1950s. The obscure four-cylinder Wooler, however, should be of interest because of the fascinating eccentricity of John Wooler’s designs. In between the letters A and W you will find all the familiar names, with a number of unfamiliar ones and lost causes too. As for the bigger makes, the book contains 75 pages on AJS and Matchless, 27 on Ariel,…

Published in the June 9, 1921, issue of The Motor Cycle, this picture carried the caption: ‘Lady motor cyclists in all night trial. In spite of the strenuous nature of the Newcastle and District MC trial, these two ladies, both astride 3½hp NUT machines, put up an excellent performance and finished on schedule.’ There is no other mention of who the two ladies are, but a trawl through finds an event report in the June 2, 1921, issue of the same publication, which provides some answers, in a report headlined: ‘Record public interest in a trial’. It states: ‘Several thousand spectators assembled at the start of the Newcastle and District MC’s all night run to Edinburgh and back on May 21/22. There were 72 starters, including two ladies – Miss…