New owner for Wildmans

One of the oldest established motorcycle businesses in the UK, still using its original premises, is now under new ownership.

Established in 1926, Wildmans Motorcycles in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, now has a new owner – 18-year-old Chris Lake, who is just finishing his motorcycle apprenticeship with the firm.

Chris took over the business on May 1, from Peter McDowell, who had owned Wildmans since 2005. Under Chris’s ownership, the business will reach its 100th anniversary in seven years’ time, having been started in 1926 by Ted Wildman, an off-road racer (usually on AMC machinery) and a scrutineer at Cadwell during the 1940s and ’50s.

Article continues below...
Advert

Enjoy more Old Bike Mart reading in the monthly newspaper.
Click here to subscribe & save.
Past and present owners: John Wildman (1969-2005), Peter McDowell (2005-2019), Chris Lake (2019 onwards). All three are still riding on two wheels

Wildmans became an AJS/Matchless dealer but also dealt with Ariel, BSA and most other British bikes of the period. It also became one of the first UK Suzuki outlets by virtue of its connections with AMC, who first imported the bike range.

Read more in the August 2019 issue of OBM – on sale now!

Article continues below...
Advert

Advert
Subscribe to Old Bike Mart Enjoy more Old Bike Mart reading in the monthly paper. Click here to subscribe.