APRIL Update

Warbike Project

Research is a funny old game. You can spend months, sometimes years searching for information on a particular subject, then up it pops right in front of you. This has happened on a few occasions, but just recently I was looking at some references to the early testing of military motorcycles by the Army. The trail led to HCL Holden, who was the designer of the Brooklands Circuit and a member of the Army's Mechanical Transport Committee. A random Holden reference led me indirectly to the 1914 Red Cross Field Day at Brooklands.

About two years ago I had been looking at the event and had concluded this was likely to be a closed exercise open only to members of the Red Cross, Military and other interested parties. There was one intriguing report that hinted at advertising posters, but this was not directly concerned with my Sidecar Ambulance research so I left it.

This latest gem pointed me to the Welcome Collection and here I found a treasure trove of information including two Red Cross Field Day programmes and a flyer advertising the event to members of the public. Still nothing further on Ambulance Sidecars, but some fascinating insight into the scenarios played out on the day.

It transpires that the Event was in fact a full scale Red Cross exercise run with the military which included a two pronged invasion from the South and East including locating and retrieving casualties from miles beyond the Brooklands track, as was previously thought. So lots more to write up and place in the Brooklands Library.

Historians, unlike archaeologists have the luxury of being able to focus on a single subject without being bogged down by other things they discover. However I often feel obligated to explore the side shoots which is just a long way of explaining that the final stage of editing the Book is a slow process.

I recently spent some time at the Royal Logistics Corps Museum in Surrey. Here I found some excellent documents that tell the early story of military motorcycling. I am now able to tell the real story of how Triumph and Douglas became the most successful of the WW1 manufacturers and how Douglas's bid nearly foundered at the bottom of the Brooklands Test Hill. And, as they say on the TV news; more on that later!

Vintage Revival

The biannual Vintage Revival takes place on 9/10 May 2015. The event is an eclectic mix of old vehicles which can be seen on the oval banked xx circuit. The track is still in very good condition and the Brooklands Museum Railton 4D Experience production team used the French circuit to recreate the feel of the Surrey track in period.

The Brooklands Motorcycle Volunteers are currently preparing bikes for their third outing to the event. This year they plan to take some of the oldest machines which has its challenges. The Zenith is not run very often as its mousetrap carb makes this bike a bit of a handful. However this has been temporarily replaced; new grips and footrest rubbers have been fitted and the pillion carrier removed. The loose bits have been wired up and it ran like it was just out of the factory.

The Zenith gets a test

Less successful was the 1921 ABC 500cc twin. This bike was built in Hersham after the company was forced to move from Brooklands when the Royal Flying Corps took over. The bike has a few issues, but these were rectified over the last few months and the bike was test run on the banked circuit. Unfortunately the engine still had a nasty knocking which was traced to the main shaft bearing. Fine for running round the temporary track at Brooklands, but this Bradshaw designed machine is too precious to be risked on the big French oval. Work has already begun and the engine will be removed during the next few weeks.

Meanwhile the hunt is on for a replacement. The Museum's 1920's Sunbeam was test run a couple of time and is looking good for a place on the trip.

More news on the preparation next month.

The Bike Shed Events 2015

The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club is a group passionate about the street custom scene. This year they have spread their wings across the channel to Paris where they will be holding their first French event at Carreau de Temple on 11/12 April 15 which promises to be an awesome weekend showcasing all that is current in the Cafe racer/custom world. Don't worry if you can’t make it to Paris, because they will be doing it all again at Tobacco Dock in London on 23/24 May 15. Click Here for Tickets and more information on both Events.

Shed Finds: Triumph Model H and Tyler JAP

Triumph Mod H

A few months ago we were privileged to be present when a collection of bikes were discovered in a shed in West London. Among the mountain of spares and various post War bikes was a Model H Triumph and a JAP powered Tyler. Both bikes were in very original condition. Whilst the Tyler was a bit on the poorly side the Model H looked as if it had been placed in a shed the day after it was purchased. Both are due to be auctioned at Stafford later this month and we will have more about these machines in the next update.

Website

We are currently working on a new website, which will include articles, films and information as well as a virtual Museum and Shop. Watch out for more announcements on Twitter @Fenlandclassics over the next few months.

Fenland ClassicsTV

This month we have unearthed some more great shorts:

• The Build By EXIF
• Harley Iron Head from the slightly strange but Brilliant Cafe Racer TV
• Cafe Racer Themes: Music collection by Kevin Sparrow
• And the latest Bike World Episode 9 Episode 2

Old Timer