February 2018 UPDATE

The Winter months have given me a chance to do a bit of reading and catching up on biking DVDs, but I should really be out in the workshop getting my hands dirty. Anyway this month we have a review of the recently restored 1957 film I Fidanzati Della Morte.

Kempton Bike Jumble

20^th January was an early start as I crawled out of bed and into the van for a 7am start at Kempton. The back to back December/January Jumbles are always the most difficult for the sellers as we set up in dark freezing temperatures. Some also brave an overnight stay, but we are lucky to only have a 40-minute drive to the venue. With rain forecast for most of the day this was set to be an uncomfortable time. However, the rain was lighter than expected and the people who had made it out were keen to snap up a bargain, so we had a great day catching up with news of winter projects.

One Man and His Cub: James Crosby's Epic Journey

The Cub revisits its birthplace: Site of the Meridan Works

The London Motorcycle Museum, located in Greenford is the home of many unique bikes and well worth a visit if you have not already done so. As is the case with so many privately-run museums the LMM continues to run into funding challenges. This has also been compounded by a constant risk of losing their home.

In 2017 museum’s Chairman James Crosby decided on an ambitious plan to gain publicity and raise funds for the Museum. James explained that the plan was to emulate leading Triumph designer Edward Turner’s Gaffers gallop trip made in 1953 on a Triumph Terrier. However, James intended to also visit the most easterly and southern parts of Britain in addition to the Lands End John O’Groats trip undertaken by Turner. James was also going to attempt the journey unsupported on a Tiger Cub which is the bike that evolved from Turner’s Terrier. So with only an AA Membership for company he was off.

The Tiger Cub was rebuilt and prepared for the run, and on 7 October he set off from the Museum. You can read how he got on next month. 

In the meantime please support the work of the museum by visiting James Crosby’s Just Giving Page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/one-man-and-his-cub He really does deserve more for his mammoth efforts…..and the museum needs your help.

I Fidanzati Della Morte (Engaged to Death)

I Fidanzati Della Morte (Engaged to Death) is a tale of love rivalry and passion set in the 1950s it’s a drama which also documents Motorcycle Racing during the 1950’s. Shot in colour and released in 1957 it provides a unique insight into what many regard as the golden age of motorcycle racing.

Using actual footage of the last ever Milano-Taranto and the Monza Grand Prix. Contemporary racers Geoff Duke, Stanley Woods, Reg Armstrong, Dickie Dale, Ken Kavanagh, Bill Lomas, Enrico Lorenzette, Pierre Monneret and Walter Zella all appear in the film which also features bikes with their period iconic “Dustbin” fairings which were due to be banned in Italian racing the year after the film was released.

After distribution across Europe in 1957 it was consigned to oblivion until Alessandro Marotto and Silva Fedrigo rescued and restored this masterpiece in 2017 as part of a crowd funding project supported by Fenland Classic Motorcycles.

Having eventually got to see the film I was amazed by the race sequences. These days we have become used to very quick flashes of the action in films. However, this was made at a time when the viewer could become immersed in the moment; given the time to understand what was happening. The opening sequence filmed at a moto-cross circuit would never be this long if the film was made today. This is no ‘Trick shots with bikes on trailers’ film. The camera angles during the road race scenes place you right in the action and for Italian bike aficionados there are also shots taken in the Moto Guzzi factory and wind tunnel at Mandello del Lario. As for the bikes, the film features the Gilera four cylinder posing as a fantasy marque and the ZV motorcycles are quite clearly Moto Guzzis.

The DVD pack also includes a 50 page booklet (Italian with English translation) which contains informative articles such as Luigi Rivola’s piece The Battle of Innovation, covering the development of 1950’s race bikes.

Click Here to visit our shop and see clips and Journalist, Author and Biker Melissa Holbrook Pierson talking about the film. 

Bikes out again at Brooklands     

Brooklands Test Hill in Use

Our friends at Brooklands Museum have just announced another event featuring bikes. The British Marques Day will Celebrate the best of British manufacturing on 4 March 2018.  Alongside Austin and Morris there will be a whole host of British-built cars, motorcycles, vans and commercial vehicles from pre-War Alvis, Sunbeam and BSA right through to the latest Jaguar model. Motorcycles will be taking part in the action on Test Hill in the afternoon and other vehicles will be taking to the Mercedes Benz World track.

Advance tickets available HERE at the discounted rate of £11.50 until 2 March 2018.

Old Timer

January 2018 UDATE

As I crawl out of hibernation once again it is time to review all the jobs that did not yet get finished over Christmas. As we all know the workshop just seems too cold in the winter, but we do need to crack on with the restoration of the AJS. However, first we need to decide how we want it to look. I favour an oily rag look so I think its looking as if it will be based on the WW2 period with perhaps a blackout light filter and white paint on the mudguard leading and rear edges. This particular bike lends itself to that look as it is very original and I don’t really want to replace any of the existing pieces unless I have to. One example is the original two-part mudguard. It is very dented and rusty, but I really don’t want to get a new mudguard. I think the steal will clean up fine and then I can finish it in satin black. Still enough thinking about it, I better get on and do it! 

There was a lot going on in 2017 so the updates were a bit hit and miss. Here is a catch up on a couple of events that missed the blog. 

The Goodwood Revival

Close Racing into the Chicane (c) FCM

Last September I was able to spend some time at the Goodwood Revival and although there was some rain we still got a good look at this amazing spectacle. In particular I was keen to check out the Classic Bike Racing. This event is run over two days with two riders competing on each bike. Day one starter is second rider on day two. There was a mix of regular classic racers and invited guests, but all had superbly prepared bikes. This was no parade, and all were there to win. Steve Parrish, commenting on one of my pictures said that it showed the paint from the chicane wall on his Helmet, just in case there was any doubting his commitment. 

Steve Parrish (c) FCM

New dad, TT Racer and now TV Celebrity Guy Martin went out first on Day one, but had a DNF on day two after his co-rider had an off. 

Guy Martin (c) FCM

The eventual Sheene Memorial Trophy winners were, 1st: Jeremy McWilliams and Duncan Fitchett, Manx Norton 2nd: Gary Johnson and Mick Grant, MV Agusta 3rd: Bill Swallow and Michael Russell, Manx Norton. 

Jeremy McWilliams & Duncan Fitchet Celibate victory (c) FCM

GP Retro du Puy Notre-Dame 

One Event I was not able to attend was the GP Retro du Puy Notre-Dame. Some of you may have seen the write up in the Classic Motorcycle Magazine. This is defiantly on our list for 2018. I have never heard of the event, but 2017 was the 21st time the streets of the little French town roads had been closed to make way for pack of 1920s and 30s machine to tear round this challenging track featuring chicanes and random Parvѐ.

Parc Ferme at du Puy Notre-Dame (c) E Wade

The event is expected to be held again in July 2018 so I will be looking out for an entry form. Check out the action from the 2017 event below.

I Fidanzati Della Morte

In 1957 Italian Film Director Romolo Marcellini released I Fidanzati Della Morte (Engaged to Death). The film went on general release in Italy and had a limited release in Europe and the UK. This film was particularly interesting as it included footage filmed at real race meetings and also included top riders of the day such as Geoff Duke Bill Lomas and Stanley Woods. Motorcycle Journalist Paolo Sormani said its like Valentino Rossi, Marquez, Lorenz, Dovizioso, Pedrosa, Zarco, Innone and Crutchlow just turning up as extras on a film today. 

The film disappeared until Motorcycle Film Makers at Rodaggio Film found a copy and decided to restore it for general consumption. The project which was beyond the financial means of the company was eventually financed via a crowd funding exercise. Fenland Classic Motorcycles got involved as we felt that the film represented an important snapshot into 1950’s racing culture. The film was also documented the last ever Milano-Taranto race as well as Motor- Cross racing which was just getting underway in Italy at this time. As soon as the likes of Giacomo Agostini and Paul d'Orleans got behind the project there seemed little doubt it would succeed and so in 2017 the film was completed and had its first screening in 60 years. I think it is important that we commend the people at Rodaggio film and all those out there who are saving our motorcycling heritage for future generations. There will be a review of the film itself in a couple of months, but The DVD which includes a 48 page booklet is available from our Bookshop.

The Fenland Classic Motorcycles Book shop is now fully up and running and the February Update will feature reviews of some of the products available.

Old Timer