October 2019 Update

After a long break the blog is back. A busy schedule both in the workshop and out on the road means that it is often difficult to also get stuff down on paper. I recently asked Rick Parkington how he manages his seemingly endless record of activity. His answer was " I don't". Whilst on the subject another prolific practitioner is  artist Martin Squires. Just how he manages to produce so much material is beyond me. I put the same question to him whilst he was launching his Banked Track Heros project and the answer was characteristically modest. More on Martin's Project in a future Blog, but in the meantime  I intend to fire of a few words when I can and leave the rest to be picked up on the Instagram and Twitter feeds at @Fenlandclassics 

Hollis Motorcycles

The Hollis Type 'A' Motorcycle

Jumping right back to the beginning of the year, I was getting to know the team behind the Hollis Type A Motorcycle. 

Steve Hayes joint owner explained that he met Custom Bike builder and business partner Steve Lowe a few years ago and they got talking about re-creating something old, but built using modern techniques. It started out in theory as an Edwardian pioneer motorcycle, but as these idle thoughts moved to more serious discussions about the feasibility of producing a machine more relevant to the current market, the Hollis Type ‘A’ was born.

An early Type 'A' taking shape in the Hampshire Workshop

Sketches became drawings, and the detailed drawings slowly became a concept build. That, it transpired was the easy bit.  They soon realised that if they were serious about going into production they would have to get involved with the DVLA. However, their intention was always to bring the vintage classic up to date with the latest state of the art suspension and brakes, so the rigorous standards applied by current legislation in these areas was unlikely to cause any concerns.

The Steve’s were clear about the goal, which was for a practical bike for the twenty-first century. Something stylish to run down to the pub, whilst not compromising on the heritage styling which was inspired by a 1930 Model 18 Norton. Steve Lowe recalls Steve Hayes’s obsession with the design detail, such as the straight line of the exhaust and the subsequent challenges of manufacturing the pipe’s exit from the engine. “We would send out the pattern, only to get it back in the post a few days later with a can’t do it note” Steve Lowe went on to explain how nobody seemed to be able to achieve what manufacturers had done as a matter of course back in the day, so they decided to fabricate it themselves. Steve Lowe’s modest “can do” attitude is built on a solid foundation of good old fashioned craftmanship and knowledge built up over 20 years of experience creating custom motorcycles.

The completed bike earns its place on the iconic Brooklands Race Track

Castle Coombe

The AJ leads the pack as Camera Bike, during a filming session

In April I got the Model 22 AJS out on track at Castle Coombe, Its only 250cc, but it was an opportunity to see what happened when it was given its legs. Well the result was predictable, and I was overtaken a few times! However, I had planned ahead and fixed a rear facing Go-Pro which made for some interesting footage on what was a specially organised track session for eight vintage and classic bikes. 

Vintage Revival Montlhery

The Auto-jumble is full of Veteran Gems

In May I was proud to represent Brooklands Museum as on of the Motorcycle Team at the Montlhery Vintage Revival. We were planing the trip against the background of a Brexit in March, but that didn't happen and the Journey was much more straght-forward than expected. 

We arrived for scrutineering on  Friday 11 May setting up the Brooklands Paddock before retiring. Following biblical rainstorm overnight we were greeted by a collapsed Gazebo. Luckily non of the 10 bikes we had bought were damaged and the organisers quickly stepped in with a replacement  and the offer of further shelter if required.


As one of the riders who had attended  the last event on 2017 I was worried that this was going to be another wet event. However, the sun quickly broke through and although we lost the Saturday morning sessions, there was time for an impromptu photo-shoot and interview session with The Vintagent (Paul D'Orleans) before getting everyone out on the track after a bit of creative accounting.


All in all a fantastic weekend and the opportunity to ride a diverse range of bikes ranging from a 1921 ABC to the 1930's Cotton Jap. See Tim Huber's piece on the event on the Vintagent Website

Paul D'Orleans with the Brooklands Zenith, whilst we wait for the surface water to clear on track

Brookland's Perry (Pezpix) Barwick takes a chicane on the Freddy Clarke Tribute Triumph

Martin Gegg keeps it low and slow on the Brooklands ABC

An impromptu photo shoot after the Cotton JAP decided to stop half way into the session for the second time

Bikes prepare for another session at the iconic track

Banbury Run 2019

Bikes in the Gaydon Car park after the Run

In just over a months time we were at Banbury. But not on the 1928 Model 8 Sunbeam, which was still without wheels as I had planned. Instead I supported my co-rider Tony Baxter on a 1927 Sunbeam, whilst I filed a report from the event for Old Bike Mart, a summary of which appears on the OBM Website (12 July2019) This years event was cloudy with a few scattered showers, but the roads had been affected by very heavy rainfall over the previous days. As for the 28 Sunbeam, the wheels are almost done and it should be on the starting line for 2020. 

Competitors out on the Road just outside Banbury

Tony Baxter has just dodged a shower with a light lunch at the Brasenose Arms, Cropredy

Next Time:

Brookland's Motorcycle Show, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Shere Hill Climb and More.

Old Timer