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Sam Hewitt

  • Sammy Miller’s 1954 BMW Rennsport to be displayed at Stafford Classic Bike Show

    Sammy Miller’s 1954 BMW Rennsport to be displayed at Stafford Classic Bike Show

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The world famous 1954 classic BMW Rennsport, which almost won the world championship with the great Walter Zeller – is set to be displayed on the Hagon Shocks stand at the fast approaching International Classic MotorCycle Show. The bike sits amongst innumerable treasures in Sammy’s collection, and has been paraded at Goodwood, Donington, Mallory, Verano…

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  • A well-used Greeves Ranger

    A well-used Greeves Ranger

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    After reading about the Greeves trail bikes in OBM (February) David Hamsley emailed us to say that maybe readers would like to see a photo of the Greeves Ranger that he brought back from the USA in 1990. It still looks well, David – and thanks very much. Read more Letters, Opinion, News and Views…

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  • Like mum, like daughter – but Kitt did the ‘ton’ over the Cat and Fiddle

    Like mum, like daughter – but Kitt did the ‘ton’ over the Cat and Fiddle

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    May I introduce your readers to Kitt Stappard, a friend and neighbour who gave up smoking after a year when she realised she could buy a Vespa with the money instead? This lasted a short while until she ‘upgraded’ to a Lambretta. The accompanying colour photo of her on a modern bike was in response…

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  • BSA Victor with a right-hand chair

    BSA Victor with a right-hand chair

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Barry Lester from Lyme Park, Disley, Cheshire, sends us these photos of his immaculate 441cc BSA Victor outfit, and tells us that the sidecar is a Spirit of America Eagle, in near-unused condition, dating from 1972-3. “It’s quite light, so I have put some ballast in it, and the 30bhp Victor has no problem in…

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  • Banking, braking, both at once or not at all – it’s always been a matter of choice

    Banking, braking, both at once or not at all – it’s always been a matter of choice

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Continuing the debate about sidecar braking, Mick Payne looks at some oddities from the past and the unbraked BEARS racing sidecar chassis of ‘Slow’ Phil Jones. It’s often said that racing improves the breed. This rather depends, however, on those who compile the regulations when you consider that Freddie Dixon’s 1923 TT-winning sidecar had both…

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  • A snowy day in the Clevelands, 1953

    A snowy day in the Clevelands, 1953

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    It’s that time of year when motorcycling magazines feature snow scenes from yesterday, so here’s one from 1953 that was taken on the Cleveland Hills in Yorkshire. From the left, it shows Peter Martin on a very desirable Goldie, John Hewitt on Rex Young’s works 500T Norton and myself on the only brand new bike…

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  • Pullover, tie and brown polished shoes!

    Pullover, tie and brown polished shoes!

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    I found this photo of Rod Coleman, which I took around 10 years ago, during a sort-out after replacing my computer. The event was the annual classic bike meet at Pukekohe in New Zealand, where I always tried to get to after the tours I was leading finished. Note Rod’s natty riding gear as he…

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  • Happy memories of an Ariel Leader

    Happy memories of an Ariel Leader

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Octogenarian David Grainger, who still rides a 1977 MZ TS150 and a 2009 Triumph Bonneville, tells of his adventures with a fully equipped Ariel Leader that he bought from the fondly remembered Rouse family garage in Kettering during the spring of 1959. I purchased my Ariel Leader (TBD 712) in March 1959 from the Rouse…

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  • Rainy days in Scotland in the 1970s – and another temperamental Honda

    Rainy days in Scotland in the 1970s – and another temperamental Honda

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Colin Rider recalls a wet and wild week-long Highland tour – and the misery suffered by a fellow rider when water swamped the ignition system of his four-cylinder Honda. Reading Lindsey Norris’s account (OBM November) of the challenges he faced with his Honda 400/4 when travelling to Scotland from the south of England prompted me…

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  • Ray Coker – the long, hard road to the top

    Ray Coker – the long, hard road to the top

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Keith Rhodes tells the heart-warming story of Ray Coker, who conquered dyslexia to become a Royal Military Police motorcycle instructor, team trials rider and brilliantly successful businessman – and enjoys his motorcycle collection to this day. Ray Coker has been defying the odds ever since, along with hundreds of other children, he was evacuated from…

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