OCTOBER_Update

Warbike Project

After a busy two months. The waiting is over and Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899 - 1919 has been published. The book is the culmination of a three year research project exploring the development and procurement of military motorcycles from the pioneering days of the late 1900's until the end of the First World War where the motorcycle saw action for the first time.

This is a book that deals with "motorcycling" rather than concentrating just on the machinery. It has become clear during the research that the development of the military machine was driven by the riders rather than the Army. It was entrepreneurs and pioneers of military cycling who first brought the motor-bicycle to the attention of the authorities. However, in 1908 the War Office were embroiled in a race to develop a replacement for Horses and Mules as the logistical driving force behind the Army and were not interested in motorcycles.

Access to original War Office documents has provided a fascinating insight into how the motorcycle first found its way into the Army Service Corps, Royal Engineers and the Royal Flying Corps. The documents also reveal how Douglas, the second most successful manufacture in WW1 struggled to make the grade.

Access to contemporary letters, interviews and military records has uncovered the story of the individual men and women who took their motorcycles to War for the first time.

The book is available now at a launch price of just £8.50

Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899 - 1919

ISBN: 978-1-326-40667

116 Pages

70 Photos & Illustrations

Click on the Sales Page Button Below to Buy:

Francis Barnett Owners Club

In August we joined the Francis Barnett owners club on their AGM at Brooklands Museum. Members met to discuss club business and take their bikes up Test Hill.

Whilst the owners were engaged in official business we took time out to meet Andrew Longfield the owner of the Francis Barnett brand. It turns out that Andrew is just an ordinary bloke from Coventry who is driven by a passion for Fanny B's. He was at Brooklands to give his latest bike "The Falcon" its first outing.  Andrew explained that he was up until the early hours preparing the bike, which has only recently been delivered. Asked about the official launch he replied modestly "well I suppose this is it"

We also discussed another mutual interest: Electric Bikes, and for those new to the blog we support electric vehicles on the basis that it means more petrol for vintage vehicles!

Andrew says that he has been playing around with the idea of launching a range of Francis Barnett bicycles and power assisted bicycles; saying “I plan to do what Francis Barnett never did”.  A reference to the fact that many motorcycle brands grew out of bicycle manufacture, whilst Andrew plans the reverse; and we wish him every success.

Shere Hill Climb

On 6 September we adjourned to the picturesque village of Shere in Surrey where we were invited as part of the Brooklands Trust entry. The hill climb is a non-competitive, mainly car based event held on Staple Lane off the A246, a location more used to hosting Cyclists on the Tour of Britain and London/Surrey 100 than Motorcycles.

We were privileged to be the first Motorcycles to be invited since the event held in aid of local charities was started three years ago. Co-incidentally the event was being held exactly 100 years after an Army & Navy hill climb at nearby Newlands Corner on the A25.

For the last few weeks we had been preparing the 1935 250cc Model 16 Sunbeam for the event, and whilst doing so flushed out the tank and carburetor to try out Aspen, Ethanol free fuel. Keep a look out for the full review of Aspen in the November Blog.

We arrived just before 8am as the early morning mist was clearing to reveal a wonderful autumnal day. Accompanying our bike was a Model 9 Sunbeam, a 1930s Velocette Street Sprint Special and a 250cc 1930s Triumph. Sadly a further 250cc 1930s Velocette had to stay in the paddock suffering oil circulation issues.

As we formed up for the first run the model 16 was smoking a bit, but amused the crowds as we gently left the line at a sedate pace. Also joining us for the run were the guys from Guildford Harley Davidson providing the visitors with a moving Motor Show. I was joined at the top of the hill by the Triumph and Model 9 Sunbeam and we had an enjoyable run back over Newlands Corner before returning to the Start.

On the third run I managed to dislodge an oil line resulting in an unwanted conversion to 2-stroke fuel as the spray got sucked into the carb. However, the run was completed and it was a big thumbs up to Aspen fuel, not least because there appears to be no residual smell, although in my case the overalls over my leathers did smell of burnt oil!

Brooklands Great War 100

On 27 September Brooklands Held its second Great War 100 event commemorating the First World War. This year’s event was overshadowed by the cancellation of the Air Display. However, it gave the motorcycles an opportunity to take centre stage as the volunteers commemorated the Centenary of the Brooklands Services Meetings held in August and September of 1915.

23 period motorcycles took their place in the hallowed ground of the Brooklands Race Bays before taking part in a re-run of the 1915 Serpentine Race. Riders negotiated a series of “gates” as slow as possible without putting a foot down. The majority made it look very easy masking the real skill needed to manage these 100 year old bikes. There was a variety of bikes from Rick Parkington’s VERY original Blackburne TT Sports, to a concourse, museum quality Douglas that had been ridden 15 miles from Camberley. This was incidentally this was the same journey made by the Army entrants based near Aldershot in 1915. 

For the afternoon session the riders moved to the start/finish straight were they took part in “Race Starts” before disappearing onto the banking under the Members Bridge. The Castrol “R” began to drift from the air as the bikes re-appeared to the waiting crowd.

Also on static display was the Vickers Matchless Gun carriage which was kindly loaned by the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust. The Matchless together with WW1 re-enactment groups, period military Lorries and four period aircraft added to the occasion.

There was a moment of unplanned reflection when the crowd fell silent as the military vehicles lined up for publicity shots during the afternoon. It was an opportunity to remember all those affected by WW1 and in particular 2^nd Lt Frank Houghton; the Architect of the 1915 Motorcycle Services Events who went on to become a pilot, and was killed just six months before the end of the War whilst testing aircraft to aircraft radio.

More images and Video of the event will appear on the Brooklands Museum Motorcycle Volunteer’s Facebook page  and FenlandClassicsTV over the next couple of weeks.

Next Time:

More from Great War 100 and the Aspen Petrol Review

Old Timer