MARCH 17 Update

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.

Old Timer

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 Update

Events in 2017

Its the time of year to start planning events and as always we will be at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble. The dates for this year are:

11 March

20 May (Includes Southern Classic Motorcycle Show)

22 July

16 September

21 October

2 December (includes Southern Classic Off Road Show)

More details of the event can be found at www.kemptonparkautojumble.co.uk

On 6-7 May we will be off to France for the Vintage Revival at Montlhery in France. Well worth a visit and check out the video below.

July is the Chateau Impney Hill climb  and in September we will once again be participating in the Shere Hill Climb. watch out for more news on these later.

Website

The website has been somewhat dormant over the last few months, but work continues in the background to build a shop and to include some more interactive content. This blog will also find its way onto Fenlandclassics.com from this month forwards.

Next Month we will bring you up to date with events covered in the last couple of months.

Old Timer

SEPTEMBER Update

The Fenland Classic Motorcycle Blog is in the course of being migrated to www.fenlandclassics.com please be patient. We expect to have the site fully up to date by 1 January 2017.

In the meantime check out Twitter: @fenlandclassics to keep up to date.

Surrey Hill Climb September 1915

Surrey (Shere) Hill Climb September 2015

Surrey (Shere) Hill Climb September 2016

Report and Film coming soon.

Old Timer

 

AUGUST Update

So much to say and not enough time to write. The August Blog with reports on the Brooklands Motorcycle Show and Chateau Impney Hill Climb with be published shortly.

JULY Update

This summer is particularly busy with Banbury Run, The Brooklands Motorcycle Show, and Château Impney very close to each other.So this is a quick review of the Banbury Run.

We were honoured to be involved in the preparation of the Brooklands Museum 1927 Sunbeam Light Tourist, which has recently been re-registered for the road. The bike is a good runner but there were some minor issues to be sorted before the bike was considered fit for the road. The clutch was serviced to cure dragging and new front shoes fitted. There was not time to deal with a kick-start issue so rider Tony Baxter was armed with a starter for the run.

Tony Baxter Draining the tank after the test run

With only one test run on the road behind him, Tony arrived at the British Motor Museum early on 26 June and was Joined by a second Brooklands Motorcycle Team Members, Ian Dabney on his 500cc Douglas and Colin Wood on a borrowed Model H Triumph.

Tony Baxter prior to the start

All were safely away including Tony who got away with the aid of the start lime marshals. Our first call was from Colin who had a broken exhaust valve. After retuning Colin to the start we heard that Ian also had a Fuel line issue and was on his way back with the VMCC support team. Meanwhile the Sunbeam was going strongly and made it back to the finish, becoming the first Museum Motorcycle to take part in a road event.

Here are a few images of the day. Our other images will also be appearing in Old Bike Mart.

Veteran Racer Ivan Rhodes waits for the start

Riders and Drivers had Road Works to negotiate just after the start

Pre-1930 was open to interpretation , However, this is a very nice bike

Plenty of period gear in the Jumble

A rider who uses our favourite ethanol free fuel (top Right Aspen4)

These Pre-30's riders are an eclectic bunch

Next Month:

The Brooklands Motorcycle Show & Château Impney 

Old Timer

JUNE Update

Stafford Show

It seems a long time ago that I ventured up to Stafford on 24 April and witnessed the world record breaking sale of the 1932 800cc Brough Superior BS4 which is one of only 10 examples manufactured. 

At first sight it is a curious machine, and one that appears to be more at home in the custom sheds of today rather than a serious design intended to bridge the gap between motorcycles and cars in the early 1930’s. 

The machine is powered by an Austin Seven car engine and therefore appeals not only to the high end Brough collector, but also those historic Austin collectors. One thing is sure the £331,900 sale price will need to be matched by a hefty restoration bill before it comes anywhere near the excellent example housed in the National Motorcycle Museum.

The BS4 with the other Broughs discovered in a Barn near Bodmin

This, the first of the lots billed as the Broughs of Bodmin was first up at the Stafford auction, and we have the bidding in full in the film below. Excuse the camera shake, but the atmosphere was electric. Hear the gasps in the room as a fresh bidder, and eventual buyer, came in at £270,000 meaning that the bidder who came all the way form Australia was squeezed out. 

The other bikes in the collection; which at any other time would have been hugely significant in themselves all sold for prices well over their original estimate. Whilst it seems that every Auction House currently needs a Brough on its front page, the word on the street is this just can’t go on. Bonhams Motorcycle lead Ben Walker agrees. He said “I don’t think another cache of bikes like this will turn up again. The collection had been squirreled away......for between 40 and 50 years” 

I was on business, so missed the other lots as we were transporting the 1929 490cc Ex Pat Driscoll Model 18 Norton Norton, bought earlier in the day back to its Brooklands home. 

1929 Ex Pat Driscoll Norton 490cc Model 18

It was a huge privilege to drive it back through the Brooklands Gates and even more of an honour to be only the second person to ride the bike on this hallowed ground since it left in period.

The Norton back at Brooklands

Brooklands Sunbeam

The Brooklands Museum Sunbeam Tourer, like most other museum bikes is fully running and gets used for demonstrations on a regular basis during School holidays. It does not tend to get used during events, as these are normally tailored towards the competition bikes. This together with the fact that the demonstration area will be out of commission during building works led the Volunteers to consider more outreach events. The Sunbeam is therefore being prepared to take part in more events during 2016. 

Earlier in the year the tyres were renewed, and the front brakes relined. During the past month we have also been servicing the clutch and gear-change linkage. New woodruff keys have been fabricated, the clutch plates cleaned and a couple of damaged corks are being replaced. It should be ready for a test run in a couple of weeks.

Kempton Park Motorcycle Show

21 May was the date for the legendary Southern Classic Motorcycle Show and Jumble held at Kempton Park. Organiser, Eric Patterson was, as ever pulling the strings to ensure all was in place by the time the gates opened. On Friday evening Eric’s shed was well represented with at least three of his own bikes already in place including his new Brough Superior newly delivered by Brough Boss Mark Upham who was on hand on Saturday as the new bike got its inaugural engine run.


Meanwhile back on the Jumble Stall the rain held off until it was time to pack up. We look forward to the next Jumble which is being held on 25 July 2016. In the meantime if you have a Pre-war bike to sell or find that old parts are getting in the way of your latest project then contact us at info@fenlandclassics and we will give you a price.

Future Events

We are currently gearing up to provide support at the Banbury Run and will be riding at Chateau Impney Hill Climb on 9/10 July 2016.

George Cohen

As I finish writing this I hear the sad news that George Cohen has just past away after a short but brave fight against cancer. It is a  particularly poignant moment as I remember the pack for The Pat Driscoll Norton above, to which George had included a copy of his book and a special message to the new owner. A Bonham’s consultant, he was a passionate Norton Man to the end. Paul d'Olreans fellow writer and friend of George, has penned his memories of George on his “The Vintigent” site. 

George at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014

MAY 2016 Update

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.

Old Timer