MARCH Update

The sun is shining and the birds are singing, but all the bikes are still in bits. Need to get a move on if I am going to get out before the roads get to busy. Only time for a short update this month as we are developing a new website and online shop more news on that during April.

Vintage Memories

I was thinking the other day that I seem to have always been into vintage stuff. Some of it was driven by a passion for days when things were a lot more uncomplicated, but some like hand down bicycles with sit up and beg handle bars and rod brakes was thrust upon me. This was the sixties for goodness sake. Luckily by the time I got my first moped I was more in vogue with my little Garelli Concorde with pillion for the ladies (not that I had passed my test!). I felt like the leader of the gang, but only just; I was surrounded by a mixture of rather dated mobylettes, a couple of Dandy’s and a Raleigh Wisp.

Garelli owners I thought were something special. How important I felt as I sat at home for weeks on end waiting for the factory in Italy to be making yet another piece especially for me. Returning to the shop on another occasion I was told that the new electrics were stuck on a train in Turin. I was so impressed; surely this was tracking, far advanced for its time!

Bored with sitting at the side of the road and unable to afford a New British Bike I was drawn like a Hamelin child to the Land of the Rising Sun and there I remained for several years. So this confessional is now over and I feel a lot better. The benefit of a diverse history of ownership means that I have not become locked in any particular era. I can now enjoy a Triumph Model H as much as an ex-80’s Street Tracker fresh out of the Shed.

If you have an old Moped rotting away at the back of your shed that you want to get going there are still a lot of parts out there. See more at Classic Moped Spares, and their blog Here.

Warbike Project

The history of British Military Motorcycles is continuing to develop. Still a few gaps to fill and so it was off to more Museums and Libraries during February. I would like to extend my personal thanks to James Hewing and the team at the National Motorcycle Museum for letting me get up and personal with the Vickers Clyno Machine Gun Carrier.

We have just published the second part of Brooklands during WW1 which tells the story of military motorcycle testing and Service events. This is currently only available to readers of the Brooklands Trust Magazine, but a full version will be available more widely later in the year.

AJS Model 22

We managed to start our second model 22 in February. There is however a bit of a question mark over the lubrication so we will be giving that a bit more attention over the next few weeks.

Electric Motorcycles

Caterham ebike launched 2014. Where is it now?

As I spend a lot of time with my head buried in Papers and Magazines of the last century I discover that many things we consider ground breaking have often been done before. Only the other day I discovered an electrically driven motorcycle had been unveiled in Norway during 1918. Norway has remained one of the leading countries in the development and promotion of electric vehicles. Even during the 70s I found myself dodging tram lines and the battery powered mini buggies whilst riding through Oslo.

There is now a renewed interest in electric vehicles and it is interesting to consider the similarities with the development of the petrol engine 100 years ago. Batteries remain one of the stumbling blocks, but innovators are quickly finding ways around the problems. More Cars and Motorcycles are being developed, but we see fewer motorcycles in this country as the UK Government is unwilling to match the subsidies seen in other countries. Zero Motorcycles one of the world leaders in ebike production recently shut up shop in the UK and there don’t seem to be many others out there. Is this just another example of the stranglehold being placed on motorcyclists? We will be investigating ebikes further later in the year.   

Fenland Classics TV

More short films from the web, plus News and action from Suzy and the Bike World Team.

FEBRUARY Update

War Bike Project

The history of the military motorcycle is fascinating and it is often difficult to stay focused on the key facts. For example many of the pioneer motorcyclists of WW1, not content with risking life and limb on the roads of France and Belgium, were drawn to the excitement of flying and joined the RFC. Sadly many of those who did not get shot down fell out of the sky in aircraft that were essentially still under continuous development.
During the early part of 1915 the Motorcycle magazine was advertising for men to join the newly formed Motor Machine Gun Service. The concept was highly mobile units able to move quickly to where they were required. However, the concept behind this new service was soon overtaken by events on the Western front as both sides dug in bringing to what had been a mobile war. Many of those who signed up to the MMGS subsequently found themselves attached to units in the trenches.
Below is a short film which shows this mobile force during WW1.



Still on the subject of Combinations, I was privileged to view the ledgers of Westerdick & Sons who manufactured sidecar bodies for Phelon and Moore.  A member of the family had read my article on Brooklands during WW1. 

Originally a firm of cabinet makers, they branched out into manufacturing after one of the sons designed and manufactured a sidecar body. The Father was not keen on the new departure, but the son proved that it was more than just an extension of his love of motorcycles by obtaining contracts to supply many manufacturers with Sidecar bodies.

The long and boring final stages of the book are going well and I must thank Mortons Media who have tracked down some wonderful images which will help bring the words to life.

Click here to see more of the Mortons Archive

AJS Model 22

We have recently rescued a 1938 250cc AJS Model 22. The bike is in reasonable condition having been dry stored for many years. The engine still has compression and everything looks complete. The 250 is a twin port which has had one of the ports closed off. This was apparently not uncommon for trials riders or those who just wanted to save a few bob on Exhausts. The priority was to check out the fuel tank, which whilst damaged was not leaking. The gloppy liquid mess inside was drained, and seems to be old petrol rather than a degraded tank liner. Next on the list will be to clean out the tank then remove the carburettor for cleaning. Watch out for further updates over the coming month.

John Surtees

BBC's excellent series Racing Legends included (at last) the living legend which is John Surtees. John Surtees really is a living legend and an old school gentleman. These days he devotes his time to building up a collection of Cars and Bikes which are paraded and displayed to raise money for the Henry Surtees Foundation founded after the tragic death of his son. If you missed the programme or don't live in the UK click below (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).

[ link removed ]

Cafe Racer of the Year 2014

This is your chance to vote on the top ten Cafe Racers featured on Cafe Racer TV

Fenland Classics TV

This month we have trawled the Internet to find what we think are the best bike related films online.

• Cafe Racer (BMW R90 S by Sebastien Beaupere) A Short from Cafe Racer TV Slightly Spooky computer assisted narration but excellent images.
• WINGS - a film about the retro motorcycle. A moody short by Stephanie Meffait
• The Way of the Desert Sled A short from Cycle world showcasing Triumph Trail Bikes
• Chelsea Bridge Boys- Rockers  An insightful period documentary film by Peter Davis and Staffan Lamm
• Kott Motorcycles 1971 Honda CB750 Custom Cafe Racer. Street footage from the Moto Channel.
• Bike World Series 8 Episode 7 More from Suzi and the gang at Bike World

Old Timer

JANUARY Update

A very cold start to the New Year, but there are still some brave classic bikers braving the salt for some good riding in the crisp winter sunshine. In December we caught up with two more classic motorcycle record breakers that have been braving the salt.

WarBike Project

The book is beginning to look like a finished work, but there are still some editing and images to work on. During the research we discovered more about the part played by Brooklands Race Track during WW1. This included testing motorcycles for the War Office, and a previously un-discovered scratch meeting held in September 1914 by a group of workers from the Royal Aircraft Factory. This has resulted in a spin off publication for Brooklands Museum, part one of which has just been published in the Museum Trust’s Magazine with a further piece planned for later in the year.

A summary of the early history of military motorcycling has already been published in the October edition of the Classic Motorcycle and we hope to be commemorating the three 1915 Brooklands motorcycle events later in the year in conjunction with the Brooklands Museum. At this stage I would also like to thank the Manx Aviation & Military Museum for providing some stunning images of Dispatch Riders which are to be included in the book.

Southern Classic Off Road Show

WW1 BSA Bicycle

Period WW1 Combination

Kempton Park Race Course was the location of EGP Enterprises second show of the year and crowds flocked to the ever-popular event which was bolted on to the December motorcycle jumble. Organiser Eric Patterson took time out from his busy schedule of Record Breaking and events management to explain that the Jumble is one of the few that is organised by bikers for bikers. He recalled the first events in a Village Hall which had to be closed down because of overcrowding. He then moved to Ascot Racecourse before arriving at the current venue. If you have never been, you need to get down there as it is a unique experience. There are some who say that a Jumble is a Jumble, but somehow Eric manages to retain that Village Hall vibe on a large scale. In the relaxed atmosphere it seems that you will always run into old mates for a chat; and twice a year there is the bonus of a bike show for an extra quid on the ticket price.

On a 15 minute look round the December Jumble we found a very original (Knackered!) WW1 vintage combination, a restored BSA WW1 military Bicycle, a twin engined French Barn find and custom Cafe Racer seats.

This neat Norton won Best in Show & Sounded great too!

It was back to the Grandstand for a bit of an impromptu Engine run by some of the Bikes. We had transported the Brooklands Museum Exhibits and rather ironicly spent what seemed like hours the night before draining the tank of The Tommy Meeten Francis Barnett, there was no way we were going to go through that again, so it stayed on the stand. A beast of a grass track combination finally roared into life together with a selection of other track and field machines.

Back in the hall the Brooklands Tommy Meeten Francis Barnett had a visit from Sam Lovegrove, builder of the 2013 Alan Cathcart/Henry Cole record Breaking Brough Superior featured on The Travel Channel’s Greatest Motorcycle Journeys . 

Sam Lovegrove Chats about the Francis Barnett

Sam took time out to chat with the volunteers about the rebuild of the Francis Barnett which itself holds an endurance record. In 1927 this plucky little 172 cc 2-stroke was able to fend off the big boys by staying out on the track with its three petrol tanks averaging  50 MPH over a six hour period. 

Tommy Meeten on the 172cc Fanny B

The Rebuilt 1927 EW Douglas

Meanwhile, other visitors to the stand were learning about how a Cement Mixer engine, an old frame and collection of bits were born again as the 1927 EW Douglas featured in April 2014’s Classic Bike Guide. Incidentally the Brooklands Volunteers are currently working on a re-creation of an outer circuit racer which should be ready later in 2015.

It was soon time for prize giving and Peter Allan won the prize for the best Record-Breaker with his bike “Epsom Salt” built by Baron’s Speed Shop. 

Prize-winner Peter Allan with "Epsom Salt"

The prize was a small consolation for a challenging year. Peter explained that he was all set to do some more runs at Bonneville in August but was thwarted by appalling weather after which the lake bed returned to being a Lake! The event was called off and he returned empty handed.

The next Kempton Jumble is on 24 January 2015 and the next show at Kempton is the Southern Classic (Road) bike Show on 23 May 2015.  See the EGP Enterprises website for more about the Motorcycle Jumbles and Eric Patterson’s Record breaking machines.

Tax Discs

The excitement regarding tax discs has died down a bit, but don’t forget that you still need to SORN or “Tax” your classic even if there is no fee to pay. It seems a bit daft but the DVLA still need to record “Tax” or SORN against the vehicle for it to remain legal.  It seems to us that it is better to “Tax” than SORN as this provides the greatest flexibility for bikes that are nil rate tax.

For those who miss the experience of a soaked ink run disc on the bike Greg Powell can provide you with a reproduction disc for your empty holder from 1921 to 1986. You can even get the date stamp of your choice. See more at poplargreg.com. 

Old Timer

DECEMBER Update

Richard "Dick" Standing

Dick's Silver TT Replica from 1967 complete with entry pack

Late October brought sad news of the death of Brooklands Motorcycle Volunteer Richard Standing. “Dick” was a wonderful character who always had a tale to tell about his career as an engineer at Hawker Sidley and British Airways, flying model Aircraft, sailing and bike racing. He was very modest about his own achievements on the track and it was not until his funeral on 17 November that many of us knew of the two Bronze and one Silver TT replicas that he had won on the island. The Silver was won in the Diamond Jubilee year of 1967, in a race that featured the period greats of Agostini and Hailwood. Over 87mph not bad for a part-timer! Many members of the VMCC Brooklands Section, where he served as a Committee Member, accompanied him on his last ride out, and 150 family and friends squeezed into the chapel to hear tributes from his close family and friends. You can read a full tribute to Dick on the Old Bike Mart website.

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Warbike Project

The book is (still) nearing completion and it seems that the last bit is never ending. The pictures are looking great and it should not be long until we can get the first full draft off the press. Meanwhile this is an ongoing project; so if you have any WW1 military motorcycle information to contribute please write to warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk or check out the warbike project facebook page.  We are still looking for a 1914-20 Phelon and Moore bike to photograph at the Brooklands circuit to commemorate the many bikes tested at the Weybridge track before and during WW1. If you have or know of a P&M bike please contact us at warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk  

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The Southern Off Road and Racing Show

Brooklands Stand at Last years Kempton Show

The Southern Off Road and Racing Show will be held at Kempton park Race course on 6 December 2014. The ever popular Bike jumble will be supplemented by the show all for the price of just £6 with reductions for pensioners. The Brooklands Volunteers will be promoting the Museum with two bikes from the collection. 

Sammy Miller Prepares for a ride at his museum in 2013

The first is a 1927 Tommy Meeten Francis Barnett. This is the Record Breaking minnow that went up against the big boys in 1927 winning the 6 hour endurance race at an average speed of 50 mph. The high average speed was maintained with the addition of two auxiliary tanks mounted to the rear on each side. The pocket rocket was fully restored a few years ago by the volunteers and still runs regularly.



At present the bike is at present being prepared for a trip to the Montlhéry vintage meeting in May 2015. 

Ian Prepares for a run during the 2014 photo shoot

The second bike on the stand will be a 600cc EW Douglas which was built from a collection of bits that were donated to the museum. Volunteers Ian and Carl spent many hours converting the diverse collection into this this stunning bike. The Douglas that was featured in The April 2014 edition of The Classic Bike Guide Magazine is also regularly run on the test track at Brooklands.   

The dangerously low ground clearance is a challenge

The motorcycle makes its second appearance at the Kempton Venue having previously featured at the Southern Classic Bike Show. A full review of the December show will appear in the January Blog.

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Brooklands Military Vehicle Day

Whilst on the subject of Brooklands there was the usual big turn out for the Brooklands Museum Military Vehicles Day on 16 November. Bikes were represented by a WW2 RAF BSA and a GI Indian. 

These solos were heavily outnumbered by several Zundapp and BMW combinations. They relished the challenges of the Mercedes World 4x4 test track in the morning and most were out again for a rumble up Test Hill. 

Barnes Wallis was turning in his grave, but Churchill and Monty were also on hand to save the editorial balance of this piece.

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Road Improvement Programme

The PM visits a single carriageway section of the A1. Without any Traffic!

Transport Secretary Patrick Mcloughlin announced today (1/12) what he called “the biggest, boldest and most far reaching roads programme for decades” We don’t want to get into politics in this space other than to say that governments come and governments go. Every few years they propose a tunnel under Stonehenge and other major projects before retreating again. For bikers the priority must be repairing what is already there, particularly on the twisty B roads and country lanes we love so much. To be fair there has been improvement in some areas since a recent injection of cash, but the poor weather over the winter is bound to compound many roads already in dire need of a make-over.  

For those interested the key improvements announced are A1 to become a dual carriageway from end to end, A303 & A358 to be improved including a Stonehenge Tunnel! Meaning dual carriageway from London to within 15 mile of Lands End. (I hope the car-park is being increased) Improvements in the midlands include the M62 becoming a “smart” motorway and further work on the M42 so that in years to come we can get to the NEC Motorcycle Live more easily.  

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Fenland Classics TV

Another collection of our favorite motorcycle films from the web including Series 8 Episode 2 of Bike World. Select Playlist to skip a film.

by
Old Timer

NOVEMBER Update

Autumn in Cambridge

Well November is here, and the weather remains good enough for us fair weather bikers to get a few miles under the belt. However, winter is not far away so here are a few jobs that need to be taken care of. Those who are not novices look away now!


A few tips for the novice in no particular order:

• Drain the tank including lines and carb to ensure the dreaded ethanol does not attack vulnerable parts.

• check the drained tank regularly for condensation to avoid rust. 

• Disconnect batteries, where fitted and store in a safe place

• Check tanks for damage to linings or other repairs. These can be dealt with during the winter.

• Check and oil all cables.

• Clean sprockets & Chains and treat with a tacky lubricant to seal the chain from moisture. Remember you may pay a premium for anything linked to “motorcycles”  Machine or Chainsaw lubricants may do the same job for a fraction of the price.

• Inspect all the accessible chains and valves to ensure they are in good condition and protect from condensation.

• Check suspension and overhaul where required. Check Girder forks carefully for wear. Winter is a good time to get them overhauled/repaired.

• Grease and oil all joints and check that the grease/oil is getting to the bearing surface. Old grease will get hard and mixed with dirt and dust, will block the paths. New nipples are easy to pick up at auto jumble if required.

• Check all oil pipes to ensure they are clean. Total loss systems should be dismantled and checked for blockages.

• Check tyres; not just for wear, but ensure they are not too old. Older tyres will get hard and will not hold the road. A new tyre is a small price to pay.

• Consider flushing the oil (although this is better left until just before you take the bike out for spring. Separate Oil tanks can easily be flushed through now. Remember never to mix Castor oil with mineral oil and always clean the whole system before making a switch. Castrol R may smell great, but it is designed for race engines which are regularly overhauled. Castor oil will in any event thicken dramatically if left in an engine.

• Check gearbox lubricant levels.

Record Breakers at Brooklands 2015

Brooklands: Long history of Record Breaking

Speak to anyone who has attempted a speed record and they will tell you it is a unique experience. To get to the starting line you need to have the very best engineers and nerves of steel.

Over the next few months we will be discovering what makes these people tick and will be bringing you their stories later in 2015. We will also be working with Brooklands Museum in Surrey to host a record breakers event where visitors will be able to get up and personal with the riders and their machines. It will feature historic  and contemporary record breaking machines from tarmac and salt. If you have a record breaking machine you think should be there, get in touch with us at saltfever@fenlandclassics.co.uk

Stafford Show 2014

The weather for the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics was good for the most part with a bit of rain on Sunday. As ever lots to see and the entry fee remains good value for money. If like me you like to spend time rummaging through the hundreds of auto jumble stalls there is very little time to see the show bikes and the many demonstrations/talks etc. I did find that the racing paddock area seemed to be quieter than most other areas. I am not sure if it just coincided with my visits or if it was a bit off the main drag. All in all another good show and plenty to see inside when the rain appeared.

Steve Thomas got the best in show award with this 1966 Kawasaki 125. It took him three and a half years to reach showroom condition from a tatty but original start.

Steve Thomas's Best in Show

There was keen interest in the lots on offer in the Bonhams sale.

Lots to see in the main hall.

And action outside in the trials area.

Fenland Classics TV

Here is our pick of the Web for November:

1. A short film by Kevin Kaltenhofer A study of the V-Rod Cafe Racer by German based Custom Builder DR  Mechanik.

2. More men in sheds. This film by Mathew Harrington is a glimpse into the world of Oz Blogger and Custom Builder Mat Machine.

3. A Documentary Network short by David Wilson. The Lost art of Motorcycle engineering is about American Adam Cramer, a man with some wise words about the state of the nation which applies equally to the UK.

4. Bike World Series 8 Episode 1: More from the world of motorcycling brought to you by Suzy Taylor.





Old Timer.

OCTOBER Update

October is here and still we have been blessed with some remarkable biking weather. We were planning on covering some of those indoor jobs, but we will be leaving that for later.

Warbike Project

 

The finishing line is in sight, but we are still working on making the book an interesting read as well as a reference source. This is a challenge, but only time will tell. The book will cover military motorcycling during the period 1899 to 1919. We recognise that this is an important period for motorcycling as a whole and therefore we have also covered some of the social historical aspects of this period, trying not to go off on too much of a tangent. For example in 1914, volunteers were asked to turn up with their own motorcycles. This was part of a predetermined plan, but means that many makes of bike were at the front, before the relatively small number of manufacturers supplied the war office. British civilian manufactures continued to try and win military contracts and some such as Sunbeam and Ariel supplied bike to Allies, but not to British forces. There lies a further problem; as records are hard to come by we are not yet in a position to say x manufacturer never supplied military bikes, so we will be looking for continuing support to ensure that the records are as accurate as possible over the coming years.

The October 2014 (published September) edition of The Classic Motorcycle carries our summary of the period up to 1915. We have also rediscovered an unknown event that took place at Brooklands in the autumn of 1915. Pictured on page 64 of TCM, The Royal Aircraft Factory meeting was open to factory workers. This together with the two services meetings were the only meetings held during World War One and we are working together with Brooklands Museum to find a fitting way to commemorate these events next year. If you are the owner of a period machine and would like to get involved please write to warbike@fenlandclassics.co.uk

Brooklands Motorcycle Volunteers

A Group From Brazil pop in to see the volunteers

 

As ever a plug for the Volunteer’s excellent Facebook page. Kept up to date on a regular basis by volunteer Tony Baxter this site documents what is the continuing story of the iconic Surrey race circuit. The volunteers work every Thursday and at present are focussed on preparing some of the more challenging projects for events in 2015.

The Custom Scene and the Brooklands Ton-up Day Back Story

Henry Cole & Gary Pinchin Chat to Simon Arrowsmith about his Yamaha SR500



Whilst strictly outside of our period, you can’t help being swept up by the growing trend for “anything goes” street custom bikes. At the hub is the Bike Shed, showcasing what’s hot on the scene. Viewers of itv4’s The Motorcycle Show will know that Henry Cole, whilst passionate about motorcycles in all forms has caught the bug and is now producing “The Gladstone” a street chop. Motorcycle Journalist Gary Pinchin is also at the forefront of promoting the expanding this enthusiasm for individual expression on two wheels. I was privileged to catch up with Cole and Pinchin when their two worlds collided at the Brooklands Ton-up Day. 



An essential break to share some riding experiences

This event in its second year is still finding its feet, but is growing into a celebration of Cafe racers and street customs of all eras. This year there was a Village Green vibe with bikers getting together swapping stories and generally having a chilled time whilst period bands played in the background. Those who wanted also got the chance to parade their bikes up the Brooklands Test hill and there was also a prize for the best bike in each category see September Update   Henry Cole was filming for his show whilst Gary was giving him tips on being a journo for the day. On a break from filming I caught up with Henry and Gary for a chat. Henry plays the fool, but behind the thin veil is a very knowledgeable man who is absolutely passionate about all things motorcycling. Just another bloke on the street, Henry always makes time to share rides and experiences with fellow bikers. After yet another break to discuss the roads in Australia with a group of leather clad cafe racers he explained how important it was to him to mix in with the crowd for a chat. “Love the show, when can we have some new Greatest Motorcycle Rides” shouts another group of fans. “Thanks mate, got unfinished business with the Matisse” Henry talked more with us about the frustration of the Rickman Matisse on the South Africa trip and how he is planning another trip on the classic Rickman desert racer. Henry and Gary both agreed that the street custom scene is continuing to grow with the Bike Shed Event leading the way. Henry also reminds a modest editor Gary that he has done more than most to bring the scene to the attention of the masses.  Time for more work and Gary points Henry in the direction of the Paddock where they spend time with Simon Arrowsmith and his Yamaha SR500 Tracker which was to become the title spread for the article which appeared in September’s CBG. They say a picture says a thousand words and Gary’s silent partner on this trip out was photographer Mykel Nicolaou. A biker himself, Mykel’s work regularly adorns the pages of Classic Bike Guide and on this particular day he was in among the crowds getting shots to accompany Henry’s article.

Henry Cole explains to Gary why he is late!

There is no doubt that the street custom scene has now arrived and whilst it is fair to say that the custom scene has been around and evolving for many years I believe that it is now more accessible than ever before. At its heart it is still about blokes in sheds building great bikes and the donor bikes are now 70’s Jap bikes that can be picked up cheaply (for now!).

Evidence of the fact that this is more than a backstreet fad can be seen by the likes of Triumph getting on board with the Belstaff Special and other limited editions. The Beckhams are also climbing on the two wheeled band wagon with a range of clothing and Now even Clarks shoes have joined the Party. And now Ducati are making me late posting the blog as they launch what appear to be Flat Tracker look-alikes. There is a concern that big business will swoop in and steal the limelight.  However, the custom scene will continue to evolve and the reality is that big business cannot keep up with the man in the shed and the cottage industry that is Street Customs.

Next Time we will look at men in sheds and the Record Breaking obsession.

 

Fenland Classics TV

Our Picks for October.. Enjoy

Stop Press Tax Discs

From today (1 Oct) UK motor vehicles will no longer need to display a tax disc. You will however need to continue to pay the tax unless the vehicle is exempt because of age or category. I am waiting for a reminder this month for an exempt bike, so I am keen to know how this will work on line. I guess it will just be a tick box for use on the road and another for SORN.

 

Old Timer

SEPTEMBER Update

Warbike Project

The last month has been dominated by the WW1 motorcycle project. The 1914 motorcycling blog has been live since July and tells the story of the events leading up to and during the war. We have uncovered fasinating stories of those who were thrust into battle on motorcycles, having previously been battling against one another on the track. The Blog is available at www.fenlandclassics.com

Vernon Busby and A.J Sproston are at the top of the list for a follow up and the plan is to place their biographies in the Brooklands Museum library.

The Classic Motorcyle Magazine

We are pleased to report that a summary of our Military Motorcycle research appears on page 62 of the current edition of the magazine.

Brooklands 100

On Sunday 3 August a large crowd gathered at Brooklands Museum to comemorate the start of World War One. Many period cars and four motorcycles were displayed at the event and the crowd were also treated to a fly past by the WW1 display team.