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The bike requiring an ID on page 20 (OBM Readers’ Letters, September), featuring the parents of Hugh MacKenzie, is a 1926 Triumph Model Q. The Model Q was the up-market Model P, with additional nickel plating and polished carb, crankcase and gearbox, plus an aluminium piston instead of the cast-iron piston of the standard Model…

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I read with interest Arthur Pentney’s letter (OBM September). There is no doubt that there are changing attitudes towards old bikes on our roads. One in particular concerning riders of two stroke machines. I am finding that the smoke trail left by my Greeves is causing annoyance to other drivers. Last year I was subjected…

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I have noticed in motorbike advertisements, elderly men are seeking to sell them because of difficulties brought on by age. My sympathies are with them and I parted with my BSA Shooting Star when pulling up on the centre stand and kick starting became a problem. The good news is that we can extend our…

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I thought that this print might give the health and safety brigade a few challenging moments. The venue is a garden fete being held in the grounds of a hospital situated between Blackheath and Woolwich, some time in the late Forties or early Fifties. The intrepid contestants are Paddy (I bumped into him some 15…

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Referring to your June editorial, one has only to look at the picture on the front of the July issue, and another on page 37 taken in Banbury itself, to see the reasons for the declining numbers taking part in events – pressure, density and intimidation by modern traffic. Only a few years ago, the…

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Through your columns, I’d like to say a big thank you to David Hailwood. He took time out to chat to me at the recent Withernsea Bikefest, then to my amazement invited me to sit on Mike’s fabulous 500/4. Thank you, David. You have made an old chap with a head full of fantastic memories…

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The Ariel Leader celebrated its 60th anniversary in July, but unfortunately I didn’t hear much about what was being done to celebrate the fact. The Arrow/Leader Club had a year-by-year line-up at Stafford, and a Leader was on show in a prominent position on the Ariel stand, although one member expressed the opinion that it…

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I’ve finally managed to catch up with the June issue of OBM and your request for thoughts about unused machines. For me it’s like this: I’ve had a 1964 Triumph Thunderbird with a slightly modified Watsonian Palma sidecar, first registered as an outfit on June 25 of that year, for more than 30 years now…

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While on holiday on the North Norfolk coast, my wife and I visited a small cafe/tea shop in East Runton and were sitting enjoying the break when a rider turned up on a Sterling motorcycle. My first thought was: “I don’t recognise that make of bike”, but then again I don’t claim to know all…

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