Letters

Not many people associate Ducati with cameras and optical equipment, but that’s where they started out. I have a lovely 1951 Ducati Sogno, crafted and largely copied from a Leica but half the size. They phased them out in 1953-ish and moved into two wheels. The camera quality is superb, and you can hold the…

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The recent correspondence about Wildmans – Lincolnshire’s oldest motorcycle shop – prompts me to add my own recollections for the record. While in Daytona in 2004 I had a call to say that Wildmans was for sale due to the owner’s retirement. I couldn’t wait to get home to Spilsby to follow this up, so…

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In 1960 I bought a BSA A7 Shooting Star registration number YTC 843. Later that year, my fiancée and I were married in Chester at Holy Trinity Church on July 23, followed by our wedding reception in Quaintways, Northgate Street, Chester. Following the reception, we went to my home in Chester, changed and set off…

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Each month I look forward to your A Bit On The Side articles and my normal regime is to scour the classifieds first, casually scan the other pages then focus on my real interest of A Bit On The Side (read into that whatever amuses you) prior to reading the remainder. Now the reason for…

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The Preston & District Motorcycle Club were holding round 5 of their championship races at 3 Sisters race circuit near Wigan on September 8 and, taking part in the Classic and Post Classic races, was Mike Powell on his BSA Bantam racer. His chicken chaser gave a supreme performance, coming second overall in both race…

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I too have fond memories of going to Cadwell Park. I went with Charlie Freeman in the late 1950s. He raced his Manx and sidecar outfit there and at other meetings, including over on the Isle of Man. This picture was taken somewhere on the Clypse course with Billie Nelson in/on the chair. These were…

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I enjoyed the article about A E Wildman & Sons in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. The history with this shop is amazing. Perhaps I could add a bit that I think is also amazing, and involves the same shop. I own a 1951 BSA A7, pictured here.  The previous owner called at the shop in the ‘90s…

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The near side seat knob on my Norton Commando had to be removed to allow the seat to be fully lifted up and rest against the seat stay cable. But removing the knob meant that I could leave it behind, or leave it loose and so lose it when riding. Therefore I came up with…

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To finish the images of Colin Clark I conclude with the final three, which show the duel of the twins, at least one of which is a Triumph. The look on the face of rider 7, which can be seen on the full-sized prints, is of absolute joy! The second is a picture of a…

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When wandering around the wonderful Greek island of Spetses I entered an art gallery and found these two machines taking pride of place. One is a Norton and the other is a Sterling. I was told that they had been left behind after the Second World War and had been restored by a local enthusiast…

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