DECEMBER Update

Where did 2015 go? Once again we crammed a lot into a short time and it seemed that everything was happening in September. We did skip a blog in August and are still struggling to edit the footage from the Brooklands Great War 100, but we should catch up over the next few weeks. Here is a brief summary of our world.

Warbike Project

The book is now available via the link above or Amazon etc. The project is however more than just a book, and work continues to ensure that the full story of War Office Procurement, the motorcycles and their riders continues to be captured. The book is now lodged with the Research Libraries of the Royal Logistics Corps, The Tank Museum, Brooklands Museum, the Manx Aviation & Military Museum and the Imperial War Museum.

Brooklands Great War 100.

The commemoration of the 1915 Military Motorcycle events was well received and the early indications from Brooklands Museum suggest that it will be possible to have a similar WW1 period motorcycle event either as part of the 2016 Great War 100 or as part of a separate event earlier in the year. 

Brooklands Great War 100 2015

I think that it is important that we give both owners and the public every opportunity to see these motorcycles running.

Kempton Southern Off Road Show.

Once again we will be supporting Brooklands Museum at the event which is being held at the Kemptom Park Racecourse on 5 December 2015. We will be transporting a couple of racing bikes for the stand.

Norton OC at  Kempton Show

Kempton Off Road Show

 In search of ABC Motors

Brooklands ABC

I have recently been documenting the rebuild of Brooklands Museum's ABC. The motorcycle is a 1921 398cc ABC designed by Granville Bradshaw. It is somewhat unique in its design having front and rear leaf springs and horizontally opposed cylinders, reputedly later copied by BMW.

ABC Rear Leaf Springs

 Whilst the engine was on the bench several people remarked that it looked like an early aero engine; and they are not far wrong as ABC/Bradshaw were making aircraft engines for Sopwith during WW1. This engine owes much to its aero cousins in the form of lightweight castings and relative simplicity.

ABC Front Leaf Springs

I had already crossed paths with Bradshaw during the Warbike research. ABC were originally based at Brooklands where Bradshaw came into contact with motorcycle racers and manufactures of the day. It is easy to imagine how the ever active engineering brain of Bradshaw was soon developing unsolicited ideas and suggestions for faster motorcycles. This was no doubt the seed that launched a lifelong friendship with Freddie Barnes of local manufacturer Zenith.  At the outbreak of war Bradshaw was forced to move from Brooklands which was being taken over by the Royal Flying Corps. ABC moved to nearby Hersham where they changed the name of the company to ABC Motors Ltd. Here they manufactured stationary engines for the military and a few bikes including a consignment for Egypt which ended up at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

After a bit of digging I discovered that the old ABC works still exists. However, just as I was preparing to take a visit, I was informed that the site was about to be demolished to make way for a supermarket. Wasting no time I took the next opportunity to photograph the site. It was an overcast day, but I managed to get all of the buildings documented before the bulldozers arrive.

Site of ABC Works Molesey Road Hersham

I am now on the trail of Bradshaw's close friend, Freddie Barnes of Zenith. More on this during 2016.

Barry M Jones has just published an excellent revised edition of “Granville Bradshaw a flawed Genius?” ISBN:9870956497574 published by Panther. This book written with access to the Bradshaw Family archives is well worth a read. Barry says that he became interested in Bradshaw whilst researching Phelon & Moore. Bradshaw really did have connections with so many developments. As a postscript I even saw a Bradshaw oil cooled engine advertised on ebay last week. If you are interested in what connects ABC to Suzuki, VW Beetles, 3D TV and Wankel rotary engines, you need to get the book on your Chirstmas List. 

Website

Work on the website continues, but it is all too easy to be presented with a great looking site with little or no content. So; there is a bit more work to be done before it passes the content test. However, it will still have to continue to grow after launch. The shop is slowly being stocked and we also expect to have a regular stall at Kempton Park Bike Jumble during 2016.

1930's Projects

The AJS came out for a photo-shoot in October (more on that in 2016). It is a bike with a special back story and we should have it back on the road in time for the 2016 Shere Hill Climb.

250cc AJS Project

The Sunbeam is now owed a bit of workshop time. I do love an oily rag machine, but too many bits have been breaking lately! The silencer needs to be replaced, and the valve-lifter let go at Shere. The Engine and gearbox will come out early next year and everything will be inspected and the motley assortment of non period fixings and electrics from its 1980s rebuild will be replaced.

The 1935 Sunbeam waits to burst into life at the 2015 Shere Hill Climb

We would always recommend that bikes which no longer require MOTs are regularly inspected and receive a full independent check every two to three years. This will ensure that the bikes remain in a condition to be enjoyed by us and future generations to come.

The second AJS Project is a sound bike, but needs to be registered and a lot more work before it can be put back on the road.

Fenland ClassicsTV

Click below for this month's selection of Bike related Films:





Old Timer

WARBIKE: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919

 Still at the launch price.