As the clocks go forward and the sun appears from behind the
clouds; Bikers start to emerge from their sheds after a long winter hibernation.
We are starting to think about this year’s events and how we
can bring you closer to the action. For example, last year we had some stunning
action clips but there were just not enough hours left in the day to get them
uploaded. The answer we think is to go for shorter highlight clips and expand
later into a review of the year.
The Banbury Run
Brooklands Motorcycle Team Member at last years event
Last year saw the first road event for the 1927 Sunbeam
light Tourist owned by Brooklands Museum. This bike had some issues even before
it reached the start line in the shape of a worn kick-start quadrant. However,
with the aid of a mechanical starter and a few pushes it performed very well.
In-fact so well that it was the only Brooklands Motorcycle Team related entrant
to finish the course.
The Sunbeam has been entered in the 2017 Banbury Run. There
is little prospect of getting the quadrant fixed for June so we will be relying
again on the starter and a push start if needed out on the course.
The preparation continues during May with some adjustment to the 1927
Sunbeam’s forks before a pre-Banbury independent check in the form of an MOT
Test. The test gave Banbury entrant Tony Baxter about an hour road time. Now
the paperwork is completed we will carry out some final adjustments including
an oil change nearer the Banbury Weekend.
Montlhѐry
L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, located about thirty kilometers south of Paris
We will shortly be off to France for the 3rd Biennial
Vintage Revival. Check in later for Images and film.
Warbike Project
I would like to take an opportunity to say
thanks for all those people who have bought the bike and continue to support
the project with information. Sales worldwide have exceeded expectation, but
please continue to contact us with information about Military Motorcycles from
1919 to 1945 which is the next phase of the research. Please contact warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk
It seems as if winter really did mean winter this year and some days in the workshop have been painfully cold, or maybe I am just getting old. I got the chance recently to help out on a 1903 Peugeot being recommissioned for a private client at Brooklands Museum.
I cleaned the oil pump and oil ways which turned out to be a much quicker job than anticipated. These early bikes are very simple in some respects. However, they have had a lot of time to be "modified" and consequently you don't really know, without a lot of research what is right, and what may have been bolted on or bodged at a later date. The pump appeared original and extremely simple. It worked fine on a bench test, so we will try it again on the bike in a couple of weeks time. In the meantime Tony the project lead has also got rid if the Red HT Lead and removed the screwdriver holding the front mudguard in place!
1903 Peugeot at Brooklands Museum
Also just arrived in our workshop is a Model 22 AJS rescued a while ago. This is a very original example and one that will need a sympathetic restoration to retain its unique patina.
AJS 250cc Model 22
Also just in is a 1962 D7 Bantam which again looks a nice original example. However, the previous owner was trying to save on a new engine sprocket which had worn oval. whilst cleaning I also found evidence of a broken chain link embedded in the casting. The engine is cleaning up nicely and a new con-rod and bearings all round will give it a new lease of life. Check in for more on the D7 rebuild next time.
D7 hiding a secret in the gunk
WarBike Offer
For March we are running an exclusive offer via the website. Warbike: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1919 is available for just £8.50 including postage. This is currently the cheapest price for a new copy of the book anywhere. This is a limited offer so get in fast before the stock is gone. To find out more go to www.fenlandclassics.com To buy go direct to the book shop
Previous Events
Work behind the scenes has meant that the last few events have got lost so here is a brief round up of events to date.
Shere Hill Climb
Shere Hill Climb back in 2015
In September 2016 we were back at Shere for the charity event which is an excuse for lots of exotic machinery usually found gathering dust in Surrey barns and garages to get out on the road. I was there once again supporting Brooklands Museum Trust and we were able to rig the on board cameras to give a feel of what its like to run up the hill. Incidentally you can run up the hill any day of the week; but then you are likely to face Cyclists and traffic coming towards you. Take a look at the clip of one of the runs.
Brooklands Great War Commemoration
In September 2016 I was asked once again to gather some period WW1 bikes for the Brooklands Great War 100 commemorations. Again the weather was kind to us but fewer turned out due to other events. We used the opportunity to recreate some images of testing that took place prior to WW1. These images will be used to publicise the final commemoration of WW1 motorcycles at Brooklands in 2018. If you have a 1910-1920 motorcycle it is not too early to get in touch if you want to take part
Original Image of Military testing in 1912
Our Recreation in 2016
WarBike Don't for get to visit the website for more information about the project and get your copy of WarBike: British Military Motorcycling 1899-1999.
Kickback Motorcycle Show In December we went as part of the Brooklands Motorcycle Team to Kickback Olympia. Here there was an opportunity to meet the designers, builders and owners of some stunning custom machines. We made some lasting friendships and I hear that some will be making a visit with their machines to the Brooklands Motorcycle Show in July 2017.
Bristol Show Feb 2017 This was my first visit to the show and I was impressed with the standard of bikes and stands. The best had to be the The Wells Classic Motorcycle Club complete with bar.
Two Pints of Lager and a packet of crisps
This 293cc 1914 New Imperial Light Tourist was typical of the diverse range of bikes on the Club stands.
March has been spent working on the Online shop. Photos
to be taken and items to be described. This is likely to take a while before it
is ready. At least the weather is not good, so it is easier to stay in the warm
and keep tapping away.
Steve Parrish Shoot
Steve Parrish and Brookland's Empire Star
I managed to get out for a publicity shoot with Steve
Parrish. We got him on the Brooklands Empire Star in the middle of a gale and
thanks to the talent of Perry Barwick supported by Rob Overy we got some great
shots which will be used to promote the Brooklands Motorcycle Event on 3 July
2016. Thanks to Steve for taking time out to drop in and he is looking forward
to riding one (or more!) of the bike in July.
Classic Bike Shoot
Photographer Simon Clay lines up the title shot
As the Calendar clicks over into May we take an opportunity to
look behind the scenes of the Classic Bike Photo shoot featured in the last
issue. It was back in a very mild autumn of 2015 that Sarah Bradley and
Photographer Simon Clay turned up to feature the Motorcycle Volunteers of
Brooklands Museum.
Volunteer Perry Barwick lines up the bikes on the Banking
Whilst Sarah expertly tracked down each of the volunteers to
their own particular working space to gather their stories, Simon gathered
others with motorcycles to create the group shot. After several other location
shots, Museum bikes were taken up to the banking for the iconic title shot. Here
the BSA Empire star, Rudge “Brooklands” special and Ex Denis Jenkinson Norton International
sat in front of the Members Bridge. The
title for the piece was “Banking on the Future”, little did they know this
title proved to be prophetic, because as Bauer Media’s presses began to roll,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to his feet and announced that no less that
£1m of Banking fines received by the Government would be gifted to Brooklands
Museum to help complete the new Aircraft Factory Exhibit already under
construction.
Volunteer and Facebook page editor Tony Baxter with his Triumph
This project, whilst aimed primarily and providing a safer environment
for many of the exhibits, will also provide a bonus for the motorcycle team, as
the existing WW2 Hanger will be moved, opening up the iconic start/finish
straight for the first time since 1939. I for one look forward to being one of
the first in nearly 80 years to ride over this hallowed ground.
Brooklands Sunbeam
We began to prepare the Brooklands Sunbeam for this year’s
events, by looking at a dragging clutch and improving the front brakes. After
the brakes are relined and the clutch plates have been cleaned up the bike will
get an MOT test. This will enable the bike to get an independent check before
it takes to the Road and Track during the Summer. Check future updates for more
news.
Warbike Review
We were also proud to be mentioned in dispatches by Pete
Kelly who wrote a nice Warbike review. In-fact he even rang me up to personally
congratulate me on providing such a concise view of the early history of
Military Motorcycling. We are now being asked about other periods, and yes
there will be a volume two, but gathering the data does take a lot of
time. For now Warbike: British Military
Motorcycling 1899-1919 is still available at www.fenlandclassics.com If you get in quick you may get one of the last
few copies available at the discounted launch price.
We now look forward to the Kempton Park Southern Bike Show
and Jumble. We will be in our normal spot Stand No: 181 and making an
appearance on the Brooklands Show Stand.
January is traditionally a lazy month, spent mostly in hibernation.
After a very mild December, a return to cold and windy conditions was a bit of
shock to the system.
Warbike
The warbike project continues; dipping a toe into the post
WW1 period. Tracked motorcycles would you believe! This will be a long research
period which will run in the background. However, if you have any information
about military motorcycling during the interwar period please drop us a line at
warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk
We have already had contact from people with information on testing and sales
of ex-military WW1 bikes.
The time in the warm was used to finish the Brooklands Great
War 100 event film which is now available via FenlandClassicsTV below:
We did crawl out for Eric Patterson’s excellent Jumble. We
had repro vintage and veteran parts as well as later used parts on offer. There
were some real bargains to be had in the Triumph department. We also have
semi-liquid gearbox grease for Burman boxes. I have previously trawled Kempton for
this grease without success; but when you have it nobody wants it! Anyway if
you do need some gearbox grease drop us a tweet (@fenlandclassics) and come to
the next Jumble in March.
Bonneville Go or Go Bust
Bonneville Go or GoBust is an excellent winter read from Motorcycle Traveller Zoe Cano. I caught
up with her a few weeks ago to discuss the book and plan an Adventure Touring
Evening with the Vintage Motorcycle Club, I will be joined later in February by
Zoe and other riders to talk about preparation....or not! and just why do
people ride off into the wild alone.
Zoe Cano
Bonneville Go or Go
Bust: On the Roads Tess Traveled is available on Amazon or catch up with Zoe
at the Carole Nash MCN Show at the London Excel Centre 12-14 February 2016.
Brooklands Cotton JAP Restoration
During January we had a bit of fun with a Twitter Documentary
following the rebuild of the Doug Earle Cotton Jap. This beast is being
restored to Earle’s original vision of a Brooklands outer circuit racer. The
full story will appear after the project is finished. The Brooklands Motorcycle
Team also hope to take it out on tour to various events in 2017. Here are a few
pictures of the project so far.
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
