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  • Sparton: the chapel-built British racer that scared the factory giants

    Sparton: the chapel-built British racer that scared the factory giants

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    For a brief period in the 1970s, one of the most powerful race bikes in the world was being built in a converted chapel in North Wales. Sparton was a collaboration between Barton Engineering and Spondon Engineering. Barton brought the two-stroke engine expertise, Spondon brought the frame-building brilliance, and together they created a machine that…

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  • Len Vale-Onslow: the maverick who gave motorcycles the welded frame

    Len Vale-Onslow: the maverick who gave motorcycles the welded frame

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    From childhood crashes to the first welded production motorcycle frame, Len Vale-Onslow’s story is one of invention, risk-taking and what might have been. The name of Len Vale-Onslow needs little introduction. Born Leslie Vale-Onslow in 1900, he was introduced to motorcycles in 1908 when he rode a machine built by his brothers. A police constable…

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  • How Saracen rose and fell in Britain’s mini trials motorcycle boom

    How Saracen rose and fell in Britain’s mini trials motorcycle boom

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    Along with friend and scrambler Frank Underwood, trials enthusiast and school teacher Ron Goodfellow designed, built, rode and sold the Saracen mini trials motorcycles in kit form, inspired by a desire to create an affordable alternative to the then-expensive Bultaco models. Working in a small Cirencester workshop, Mr Goodfellow brazed up a chassis using preformed…

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  • World’s fastest monowheel at Sammy Miller Museum

    World’s fastest monowheel at Sammy Miller Museum

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    The latest addition to the ever-growing Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is ‘Trojan’, the world’s fastest monowheel. The UK Monowheel Team, made up of six dedicated enthusiasts (for ‘dedicated enthusiasts’ read ‘bonkers madmen’!) from Lincoln, Nottingham and Northamptonshire, designed, developed and built the extraordinary machine over a period of ten years. It’s the team’s fourth monowheel…

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  • Morgan Three Wheeler Club Event Cancelled

    Morgan Three Wheeler Club Event Cancelled

    by

    Alex Bestwick

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    The Morgan Three Wheeler Club has been forced to cancel the Saturday Morgan Sweeps the Board Event and Sunday Club Sprint at Curborough Sprint Course, on 6 and 7 June due to circumstances outside its control. Shenstone & District Car Club which operates Curborough informed the Morgan Three Wheeler Club on 27 May that it…

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  • Bonhams returns to Stafford after record-breaking spring sale

    Bonhams returns to Stafford after record-breaking spring sale

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    Following the record-breaking success of the Spring Stafford Sale, Bonhams is now inviting entries for the Autumn Stafford Sale, held alongside the UK’s premier Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show. For owners considering selling, the sale offers a high-profile route to market, combining Bonhams’ specialist motorcycle expertise with access to an international collector audience. With motorcycle sales…

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  • Triumph’s custom Scrambler competition returns for 2026

    Triumph’s custom Scrambler competition returns for 2026

    by

    Alex Bestwick

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    Teams in seven countries will compete to design and build a custom Scrambler as Triumph Originals returns for 2026.

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  • Merlin launches Waltham Air Jacket and Aero Mesh Riding Shirt for warm weather riding

    Merlin launches Waltham Air Jacket and Aero Mesh Riding Shirt for warm weather riding

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    Merlin has announced two new additions to its Spring/Summer 2026 Collection: the Waltham Air Jacket and the Aero Mesh Riding Shirt. Designed for warm weather riding, both garments use lightweight, highly breathable mesh constructions to keep airflow high when temperatures rise, while retaining rider protection. Both achieve CE EN17092 Level AA certification. The two new…

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  • Looking to Japan – YOUR PERFECT FIRST CLASSIC?

    Looking to Japan – YOUR PERFECT FIRST CLASSIC?

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    It’s easy to justify Japanese if coming from a modern bike, Matt Hull explains… THE BEST ANSWERS IN LIFE ARE most often a compromise. But if you fancy looking at buying your first classic bike, looking to the far east is a pretty good solution to avoid pitfalls. Buying a classic motorcycle is buying into…

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  • Unsung scramblers

    Unsung scramblers

    by

    Mark Lancaster

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    Two of the lesser-known – and less successful – machines used for off-road speed work, in action at a mid-1950s event. Words: SIMON ROBINSON Published in the April 26, 1956 edition of The Motor Cycle magazine, this picture shows Royal Enfield-mounted F. M. Bussell being followed by Tony White on his Velocette. The action is…

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