The Classic MotorCycle October 2025

This issue, all the archive pictures feature three-wheelers which, obviously, has made me start looking at said devices, as an addition to the shed – me being easily influenced. While a Servi-Car (or even better a swamp buggy, like a Servi-Car hotrod) would be great, that’s well beyond my orbit, but a motorcycle and sidecar… As I’ve recounted before, when I was a boy I spent a lot of time in a sidecar – and loved it. The old Royal Enfield V-twin and matching chair is still in the family; in fact, I took it for a spin around the block a few weeks ago, first time I’d ridden (driven?) it in 20 years. I set off with no weight in the sidecar, which proved a mistake at the first…

This picture was published in the October 23, 1924, edition of The Motor Cycle, included as part of an article called ‘Passenger machine topics.’ The photograph itself was captioned: “SIDECAR SPORT: Motorcycle polo is a new game which demonstrates the extraordinary manoeuvring capabilities of the two-track three-wheeler. So swift is the game that, as will be seen, sidecar tyres are frequently shed – without much detriment to the rims, however, since the game is played on grass. Incidentally, the above incident forms part of The Motor Cycle film for 1924-25.” Well, what can we make out from the picture itself, as the caption gives us nothing regarding location, makes of motorcycle or name of protagonists – and there’s not a lot to see either, as the ‘chairs’ are facing us.…

Gardner and Marshall top the starring bill Two big motorcycling icons have been confirmed for the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, sponsored by Carole Nash, this October 11/12, 2025. Taking place at the Staffordshire County Showground, the show will welcome two legends of the sport – Wayne Gardner and Roger Marshall. The 1987 World Motorcycle Grand Prix Champion, Wayne Gardner has been confirmed as guest of honour. Gardner began his racing journey on a five-dollar dirt bike and quickly rose through the ranks, making his 500cc GP debut in 1983. On Hondas, he won his first Grand Prix in 1986, then went on to claim the 1987 World Championship title, aboard the fearsome NSR500 two-stroke V-four. Joining him on stage will be Gardner’s best friend, multiple British champion and former Grand…

1925 Brooklands paddock rumours implied JAP, as an economy measure, was planning to close its racing engine department by Christmas. With the firm’s customer base dwindling as motorcycle maker after maker closed factories, the Tottenham engine supplier planned to rest its fortunes on manufacturing familiar, worthy side-valve and ohv designs and economy lightweight engine development, rather than competition offerings. It was speculated JAP’s two most innovative racing engineers, Val Page and Bert Le Vack, would be heading to pastures new. 1950 German makers were prohibited from making any motorcycles after the Second World War. These regulations relaxed, to first permit the manufacture of 60cc machines, then 125cc, for which BMW designed the flat twin, two-stroke R10, which never entered production after the rules were further eased to allow the manufacture…

Author: David Crawford Foreword by Sammy Miller MBE Published by Lily Publications Ltd, PO Box 33, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM99 4LP www.lilypublications.co.uk Fax: +44 (0) 1624 898 446 Softback, 195 x 280mm (portrait); 192 pages with over 250 photographs and illustrations. ISBN 978-1-907945-37-3 £16 Here is a book which someone had to write, as a richly deserved tribute to one who made a remarkable contribution to motorcycle sport between the First and Second World Wars. In the days when the word ‘superstar’ was virtually unknown, here was a sportsman who could justify that description, especially for his performances in the Isle of Man. Between 1923 and 1939, he entered in 37 TTs, won 10, retired while leading three more and was beaten in three more by a total of…

There were 414 entries in the 1957 incarnation of the Jack Pine Enduro, in Michigan, USA, as reported in the September 9 edition of The Motor Cycle, with a quartet of them using ‘swamp buggies,’ as exampled here. The caption accompanying the photograph reads: “Jack Pine novelty: Harold Ward and Sherman Manchester in their ‘swamp buggy’ with which they won the Class A award for sidecars. Their Harley-Davidson Servi-Car is fitted with a 1250cc overhead valve engine and a solid rear axle. Four swamp buggies started in the trial.” Reading the main body text though, it says: “The sidecar award was won easily by Kimball and Kurcher driving an extensively converted Harley-Davidson Servi-Car – a single front wheel commercial tricycle. Among the many modifications are substitution of a 900cc overhead-valve…