MARCH Update

Photo-shoot

Steve Parrish and the Brooklands BSA Empire Star

February has mostly been spent finalising the website but we did get out earlier in the month to do a publicity shoot with Steve Parrish. It was blowing a gale when Steve arrived, but thanks to an Ace team in the shape of Perry Barwick ad Rob Overy we were able to quickly able wrap up some shots which will be used as publicity for the premier Brooklands Museum Motorcycle Event of 2016.

Steve Parrish at Brooklands

The event titled The Brooklands Motorcycle Show “Then and Now” to be held on 4 July will feature iconic motorcycles of the last 80 years including many original Marques with their modern counterpart. Steve Parrish will be attending as guest of honour. Keep posted for more news.

Adventure Motorcycling Evening

One of Zoe's stunning shots of the open road

On 16 February, I was invited to host an Adventure Motorcycling evening with the VMCC. In typical Chat show style I was joined on the couch by Zoe Cano, who headlined the evening with an interactive discussion about long distance motorcycling and her trip across the USA. 

Zoe's Bike

We were also joined by Brooklands VMCC Chair Richard Huckle and Gavin Shaw who gave us an insight into their recent trips to Scandinavia. The Evening was billed as Riders of the Lost Art of Solo Adventure Motorcycling. Our conclusion was that the art is still alive and kicking. 

Norway land of the midnight sun

Zoe’s excellent chronicle of her trip “Bonneville Go or Go Bust” is available on Amazon.

Warbike Review

Thanks to Pete Kelly of Old Bike Mart for reviewing Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919. 

The review will appear in the March edition of the paper, and the book is available via our new website. Fenlandclassics.com

Fenland Classic Motorcycles Website is Live

The Website is now up and running, but the shop will follow later after it is fully tested. This blog will also remain separate until April whilst pages are transferred.

Log on and enjoy.

Old Timer

JANUARY 2016 Update

As the clock ticks over into 2016, I am reminded that a century ago millions of people where still being affected on a daily basis by World War One. After this time it is difficult to imagine what it must have been like to live through those times. I was able to get some insight recently whilst carrying out some further research on the 1915 motorcycle events at Brooklands.

The Motorcycle Magazine was understandably excited to be reporting once again on racing at Brooklands and detailed reports were spread across several pages together with pictures of the events. However, it was a different story on the pages of the Surrey newspapers; not a trace of the excitement, but instead columns of war related stories which told of the many local men that had been killed in action. It is therefore unsurprising that the initial euphoria in the motorcycle press was followed by a more restrained hope that future events may take place in 1916. Following conscription in 1916 and the shortage of fuel it was perhaps inevitable that racing would not return to Brooklands until after the War was at an end.

Copy of a Programme for the "All Khaki" meeting 1915

Warbike Project & Great War Commemorations

Buy a Copy Here

Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899 -1919 continues to surprise us. It has exceeded our expected sales target for the first quarter briefly entering the top ten of the online publisher’s history category. The book will be reverting to its retail price at the end of January, so if you are interested in getting a copy click on the sales links for the launch price.

We were pleased to get a mention in the Classic Motorcycle Magazine’s write up of the Brooklands Great War Day 100. We are continuing to discuss the possibility of a similar event in 2016, but the Museum are keen to link their events to site related commemorations which from 1916 are connected with Aircraft. As ever you can keep up to date with Brooklands projects and events on the Brooklands Motorcycle Volunteers Facebook page.

Kempton Park Bike-Jumble

Kempton Dec 2015

We will be at Kempton Park on 23 January selling copies of Warbike and a small range of new and pre-used parts for your winter projects including rear lights, headlight glass, rear stand clips, handlebar grips, footrest rubbers and semi-liquid grease for 1930’s gearboxes.

Fenland Classic Gifts

We have some T Shirts and gift items available from on-line partners featuring old Lodge Spark plug adverts. Click on the images for more information.

Lodge T Shirt

Lodge Mug

Fenland ClassicsTV

Forget the rain and relive Wheels and Waves 2015 from the comfort of your favourite chair. Click the image to start.


Old Timer

NOVEMBER Update

WARBIKE Launch

Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919
Launch Price £8.50 + p&p

                                            

The book was launched on 1 October and has been well received. The aim was always to fill the gaps in current publications and not to cut across other excellent books. The book looks at the development of the military motorcycle which was in fact driven initially more by manufacturers and riders than by the War Office itself. It is interesting that 100 years ago motorcycle manufacture initially continued as normal before more facilities and resources were required for the war effort. The book ends in 1919 as Douglas and Triumphs were piled up at Kempton Park Race Course waiting to be “re-manufactured” by their original makers. 

It was perhaps fitting I run into Chris Orchard co-Author of British Forces Motorcycles 1925-45 at the October Kempton Pk Bike Jumble. Chris explained that he was currently working on a revised copy of the book which is currently out of print. For those who own (or think they own) a military motorcycle BFM is an essential reference book dealing with individual machines and technical specification. It sounds as if the new book will widen its timescale, although as we both agreed pre 1925 is a challenge because of a lack of records and post WW2 presents a similar problem due to many records still being classified.

The Warbike Project continues as a virtual archive of military motorcycling information and we will begin to piece together the development of military motorcycles from 1920 to 1945. We are therefore keen to know about the people who rode, made and repaired military motorcycles. And; because none of us is getting any younger we are also keen to gather experiences of those who have been involved with military motorcycles since WW2. So far we have information about some experimental development following WW1 and snippets post WW2. 

If you have any information from Brothers Fathers Uncles etc please get in touch at Warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk One other piece of unfinished business concerns commemoration of Phelon and Moore testing at Brooklands. We need a P&M machine to photograph on the Brooklands track as a reminder of the part played by these machines in the service of the Royal Flying Corps. Please get in touch via the email above if you have access to a P&M we could borrow for a half day shoot.

Brooklands Great War 100 Event

Page from 1914 Red Cross Day Guide 

Research projects have a habit of throwing up new information about other areas of history, such as testing at Brooklands and the three motorcycle events held in 1915. There was not room in the book to cover the Brooklands WW1 story, so we are currently working on a separate publication covering Brooklands motorcycling 1914-18. 

This period is currently covered in print, and is quite rightly dominated by the development and manufacture of Aircraft. However, the Red Cross Field day, testing, military meetings and Royal Aircraft Factory meeting and continued record breaking provide more than enough for a reference book that will be available sometime during 2016.

Despatch Rider Peter Birket signs up

Whilst the existence of the military events was know about and is even featured in film on one of the Brooklands Museum DVDs it was a revelation to piece together the names of the people involved and identify them in photos of the event by their race number. It really bought the events to life; and this was taken a step further when I was asked by Brooklands Museum to commemorate the events at the Great War 100 event on 27 September. 

Douglas negotiates the serpentine course

I am indebted to the twenty or so owners who brought their period bikes and took part in a re-run of the Serpentine event and race starts. We even had a bicycle take part! As for the future; if it is up to me there will be another event.

Cameraman Perry Barwick checks non-period cameras
 on Rick Parkington's bike

A new imperial bicycle takes to the course

A period onlooker waits for motorcycles to return from the track 

Aspen Ethanol Free Petrol Test

 In early September we were let loose at the Shere Hill Climb as part of the Brooklands Trust Team. The story began sometime in July as I decided to use the event to test Aspen Ethanol Free Petrol. This was never going to be a scientific test, but we just wanted to see how it would work in a 1930's engine.

As we all know Ethanol attacks many of the parts that we rely on such as fuel tank liners, carbs and even some petcock corks.

I have recently seen firsthand damage caused through exposure to Petrol including this tank liner which has been attacked by Ethanol. 

Carb after a clean up

We have also recently been working on an AJS which had a stodgy mess in the bottom of its tank. This muck extended down into the carburettor, which lead to a lot of work before it was fit to be used again. Whilst the AJS problem was one of evaporation rather than ethanol my research has shown that Aspen also has an extended life, keeping fresh for 5 years meaning that it could also make a good storage fuel.

So back to the Hill climb preparation. The 250cc Sunbeam was drained (no liner) and the carburetor cleaned. The first fill of the tank with Aspen was cut short after one of the petcocks leaked. This is when, with the aid of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubswebsite I discovered that cork also could be attacked by ethanol.

The second attempt with the fuel, sold primarily for Horticultural machinery, was much better and the bike started immediately. It ran for about 15 minutes including a few runs on the Brooklands Banking. 

First Test Run at Brooklands

The bike felt normal and the acceleration was good. Other than a slightly different exhaust smell all was the same as normal.

During the week before the event I took the bike out for a full test run and apart from wet sumping all went very well.

A quick check before the start

Come the day of the Hill Climb I was having a few continuing oil issues, but as far as fuel was concerned the Aspen performed well under load up the climb and on the return which involved running on public roads. I was also conscious that the bike was starting better than normal.

A rest between runs

So, a non-scientific test which will continue as I see what happens to the components over time. One of the main benefits for me personally was the lack of smell. When working on bikes I find that pump fuel hangs around on my hands and cloths etc. Whilst the background aroma of petrol and oil makes for a proper shed ambiance, the strong smell of pump fuel gives me a headache. Aspen has hardly any smell and no noticeable lasting aroma meaning that I was not experiencing the usual petrol smell as I drove the bike away in the van.

It seems that this is one of the reasons that the product was first developed; so I met up with Eddie Bocquillon of Aspen to find out more. Eddie explained that the fuel was developed in 1988 by Roland Elmang, a Swedish chemist to help deal with the affects of normal petrol on forest workers working with chainsaws for long period. Bending down, they were breathing in the exhaust fumes leading to headaches and potential long-term health issues. I was shown two of Eddie’s party pieces. First he presented me with a jar of Aspen with a piece of expanded polystyrene floating on top, which he tells me has been in the jar for three months. I was given a jar of pump fuel and invited to float another piece of polystyrene. I placed the polystyrene in the pump fuel which immediately consumed it within about 15 seconds leaving no trace. I was given the test kit to take away and now after seven months in the Aspen the polystyrene is beginning to absorb the fuel but it is still holding its shape even down to the moulding marks. The second demonstration had to be done in pictures as we were standing opposite the Goodwood Pits, but Eddie likes to set fire to a plate of pump fuel followed by a plate of Aspen. This demonstrates the clean burn of Aspen compared with pump fuel and can be seen below.   

Eddie went on to describe where Aspen, more properly known as Alkylate petrol fits into the crude oil to fuel refining process. It all seems quite complex, but essentially Alkylate petrol could be described in layman’s terms as gases from crude oil distillation resulting in clean burning and exceptional antiknock properties. As a result Akylate petrol contains less of the harmful ingredients of pump fuel, no ethanol and has a storage life of five years! This link provides more technical information and the table below provides a comparison with pump fuel.

So, is Alkylate Petrol the answer to all our ethanol woes? Not quite. The fuel is only currently available from horticulture outlets and is more expensive than pump fuel. However, it does make a viable alternative to flush out the pump fuel on the last runs of the season if your bike is being stored for the winter. As ethanol free pump fuel becomes harder to locate accurately and ethanol levels are increased it could become the only real alternative. I was very impressed and we will certainly continue to use it in the Sunbeam as part of an ongoing trial. 

ALKYLATE PETROL (Aspen 2 stroke and Aspen 4 stroke)	UNLEADED PUMP FUEL
Chemically stable/long storage life	Deteriorates rapidly/short storage life
Designed for machinery with small engines	Designed for car engines
95 RON, 92 MON	95 RON, 85 MON
Labelled as harmful	Labelled as toxic
Less than 10 hydrocarbons	Over 100 harmful hydrocarbons
25% less hydrocarbon emissions than pump fuel	25% more hydrocarbon emissions than Aspen
Less than 0.01% aromatic hydrocarbons	Up to 35% aromatic hydrocarbons
Less than 0.01% Benzene content	Up to 1% Benzene content (volume)
No Toluene content	Contains Toluene
Only 2 ppm sulphur	10 ppm sulphur
25% more hydrogen/burns cleaner/less soot production = cleaner engines	n/a
Ethanol content Nil	Ethanol content 5-10%

New Web Site

We have put the new website on hold until next year and continue to source interesting original and re-manufactured items. Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919 will however be available via a temporary page at www.fenlandclassics.com shortly. 

-------------------

WARBIKE: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919 Is available at the special launch price of £8.50

Old Timer

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

JULY Update

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Crowds flocked to Sussex on 26/28 June for the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. This high octane garden party is hosted by Lord March and is a celebration of the history of motor sport. The event has grown from a few hay bales along the Goodwood House drive to an internationally renowned parade and hill climb event. The Festival is now the place to be for top motoring brands that spend many weeks building vast temples to their products. Visitors get to see the vehicles up close and the drivers and riders love it because they can get in among the punters without all the usual hassle. I heard one owner, new to the event saying; ‘Is it OK to leave the kit here’, as they manoeuvred starters and placed their helmets by their bikes. The reply was ‘Oh don’t worry about the kit, Goodwood’s not like that’ and they left a few hundred thousand pounds of machinery and kit for us to admire. There is a special atmosphere at Goodwood and long may it continue. 

We’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Jet Bike rounds the Flint Wall on the way upthe Hill

 

Bikes by the bucket Full.. 1984 Honda NSR500

Sammy Miller's 1927 Brough Pendine Racer

George Coen's Manx Norton

Velocette 1938 KTT

1650cc 2015 Bienville Legacy

Fun with The Dakar machines

...and Kimi's just confused by the whole thing

Warbike Project: The History of British Military Motorcycling 1899 to 1919

Work continues prior to publication and as the research draws to a close on this part of the story I should mention a few people who have helped along the way. The Brooklands Library team have been an invaluable and ongoing source of  both material and support. The Museum Library has a vast catalogue of records concerning Riders/Drivers, Cars and Motorcycles that raced at the track as well as a vast library of books relating to every aspect of Brooklands History. I was privileged to also have access to the photograph archive which contains some stunning images.

The National Motorcycle Museum allowed me access to their Clyno Motor Machine Gun Carrier which has resulted in some great detailed images of this machine.

The Royal Logistics Corps Museum gave me access to the Annual Reports of The Mechanical Transport Committee, which tells the War Office side of the story as far as military motorcycling is concerned. These records gave a fascinating insight into the procurement process. For example, I was interested to learn that Douglas almost failed to make the grade on several occasions but still managed to become the second most successful supplier of WW1 motorcycles.

Mortons Media and The Manx Aviation & Military Museum have also provided some great Dispatch Rider images and I am also indebted to the many people who have shared information and images through the Great War Forum.

It has been an interesting journey and I hope the book will dispel a few myths and pay tribute to the many riders that played a vital role during WW1.

The Ethanol Debate.

 

Another damaged tank liner to deal with.

Last month we started to look more closely at the issue of ethanol in petrol and in particular the issues people have running older vehicles on pump fuel. We hear lots of stories, but are these urban myths? Also is it all down to ethanol, or are there other substances lurking in our favourite cocktail?

Well, the story so far is that the effects are real. We have personally experienced bikes with treacle in the carbs, damaged fuel lines and only today I saw yet another melting tank liner. We have also trawled the fuel company websites for information and they seem to be devoid of any mention of ethanol information. Furthermore, the experts would seem to confirm it is ethanol is most likely to be the culprit. However, tt is important that we do not demonise the fuel companies. They have to comply with the regulations and legislation that is rightly there to protect us and the Planet. But, the historic vehicle community does need ready access to up to date information to make informed decisions. There is still more research to be done and the final piece with links to ethanol friendly products and locations of ethanol free fuel will be on our eagerly awaited new website.

We have also discovered some long-life ethanol free fuel which we will be reviewing and running at the Shere Hill Climb in September. Keep checking out the Twitter feed @fenlandclassics for updates.

Future Plans

The Ton-up Boys at Brooklands

The website is progressing and we are busy sourcing some of those difficult to obtain bits for your restorations. For example we will have sight glasses for vintage oil pumps and other high quality reproduction items as well as a range of good quality used parts. Our approach will be to aim for high quality difficult to obtain merchandise. You can see the first of our gift range, based on adverts of the 1900’s via Red Bubble.

We have also been busy behind the scenes advising on an American TV pilot filmed during May and are currently working with Brooklands Museum on the Great War 100 commemorations in September. This event will feature a recreation of the 1915 service events held at the iconic Surrey circuit. This blog has also been delayed as we have been filming Ton-up Day at Brooklands for the Museum and our new website.

Fenland ClassicsTV

This month we have our regular visit to Bike World as well as some other Cafe Racer and Street Custom inspired films:

Old Timer