News

  • Buzzing at the Beamish

    Buzzing at the Beamish

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    Imagine you’ve just turned 16 years of age, you’ve just got your provisional motorcycle licence, you’re the proud owner of a buzzy little 1979 50cc Fantic two-stroke and you’re raring to go. Or you’re a lady rider who just loves bombing about on your 200cc Triumph Tiger Cub. There again, you might be more than…

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  • Classic bikes are back at the National Tramway Museum

    Classic bikes are back at the National Tramway Museum

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    It would be hard to imagine a better location for a classic motorcycle event than the National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire – and on Sunday, July 2 next year, museum staff and members of the East Midlands section of the Vincent Owners’ Club will be jointly organising a Classic Motorcycle Day that will run from…

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  • Winning ways in Manxland for the £250 Faasaag Flyer

    Winning ways in Manxland for the £250 Faasaag Flyer

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    If you think it must cost an arm and a leg to go road racing competitively, then think again – for in the hands of Ross Cain, a Suzuki-based £250 special has had a brilliantly successful season in the Classic 50 Racing Club’s Isle of Man series. His successes have been achieved at Jurby Kart…

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  • 1924 Croft-Cameron Super Eight tops Bonhams’ £1.6m Autumn Stafford Sale

    1924 Croft-Cameron Super Eight tops Bonhams’ £1.6m Autumn Stafford Sale

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    Sale prices at the world-renowned Bonhams auctions at the two big annual Stafford motorcycle shows always bring a sharp intake of breath – and the £1.6 million Autumn Stafford Sale on October 16 was no exception. This time it was an extremely rare 1924 996cc Croft-Cameron Super Eight V-twin, a product of a short-lived, Coventry-based…

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  • Great welcome for American legends at big Stafford show

    Great welcome for American legends at big Stafford show

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    Dave Aldana and Gene Romero, who starred in the ground-breaking 1971 motorcycle sport film On Any Sunday, staked their claims as two of the most popular Stafford bike show star guests ever when thousands packed in to the huge Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show on October 15/16 to meet them. Compere Steve Plater certainly…

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  • Underneath the Chatham arches

    Underneath the Chatham arches

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    In response to Jim Avery’s letter regarding the photo on the front cover of OBM (September), I can confirm that it was not taken on the forecourt of the Chatham Motor Company in Chatham. Jim refers to the archway partly obscured by the pump as being the rear entrance to Frank Bannister’s motorcycle shop. Jim…

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  • A Gold Star to savour

    A Gold Star to savour

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    John McCrink tells of the acquisition and rebuilding of his beautiful 1956 500 ZB34 BSA Gold Star scrambler that is now road-legal for green lane riding and events such as the Beamish Trophy Trial. I bought my ‘Goldie’ about three years ago from a fellow club member who’d enjoyed racing with the Scottish Classic Scrambles…

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  • Ariel Owners’ Club celebrates 65 happy years

    Ariel Owners’ Club celebrates 65 happy years

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    Richard Thomasson describes the evolution of the Ariel Owners’ Motor Cycle Club, which was formed at London’s Ace Cafe in 1951 and is still going strong. At a time when Ariel was busily producing its distinctive range of four-stroke motorcycles at its long-established home in Selly Oak, Birmingham, the Ariel Owners’ Motor Cycle Club was…

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  • The Swallows that really made a summer!

    The Swallows that really made a summer!

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    Mick Payne considers the links between Swallow sidecars and Jaguar cars as Team Katy makes a brief foray into central Wales. Team Katy recently spent a few days riding the sidecar outfit around central Wales, staying at Radnor Revivals which is run by a bike-mad family (see page 16). Tim also has an engineering business…

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  • Pete’s Prattle

    Pete’s Prattle

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    In a world where investing through banking institutions is rapidly becoming a waste of time – and eventually might even cost you – it’s not surprising that growing numbers of people are sinking their money into assets such as veteran, vintage and classic motorcycles. As recent auction results have demonstrated, the prices of certain makes…

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