Old Bike Mart

BSA Victor with a right-hand chair

by

Sam Hewitt

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31st March 2018

Barry Lester from Lyme Park, Disley, Cheshire, sends us these photos of his immaculate 441cc BSA Victor outfit, and tells us that the sidecar is a Spirit of America Eagle, in near-unused condition, dating from 1972-3. “It’s quite light, so I have put some ballast in it, and the 30bhp Victor has no problem in…
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Banking, braking, both at once or not at all – it’s always been a matter of choice

by

Sam Hewitt

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31st March 2018

Continuing the debate about sidecar braking, Mick Payne looks at some oddities from the past and the unbraked BEARS racing sidecar chassis of ‘Slow’ Phil Jones. It’s often said that racing improves the breed. This rather depends, however, on those who compile the regulations when you consider that Freddie Dixon’s 1923 TT-winning sidecar had both…
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A snowy day in the Clevelands, 1953

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th March 2018

It’s that time of year when motorcycling magazines feature snow scenes from yesterday, so here’s one from 1953 that was taken on the Cleveland Hills in Yorkshire. From the left, it shows Peter Martin on a very desirable Goldie, John Hewitt on Rex Young’s works 500T Norton and myself on the only brand new bike…
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Pullover, tie and brown polished shoes!

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th March 2018

I found this photo of Rod Coleman, which I took around 10 years ago, during a sort-out after replacing my computer. The event was the annual classic bike meet at Pukekohe in New Zealand, where I always tried to get to after the tours I was leading finished. Note Rod’s natty riding gear as he…
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Happy memories of an Ariel Leader

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th March 2018

Octogenarian David Grainger, who still rides a 1977 MZ TS150 and a 2009 Triumph Bonneville, tells of his adventures with a fully equipped Ariel Leader that he bought from the fondly remembered Rouse family garage in Kettering during the spring of 1959. I purchased my Ariel Leader (TBD 712) in March 1959 from the Rouse…
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Rainy days in Scotland in the 1970s – and another temperamental Honda

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th March 2018

Colin Rider recalls a wet and wild week-long Highland tour – and the misery suffered by a fellow rider when water swamped the ignition system of his four-cylinder Honda. Reading Lindsey Norris’s account (OBM November) of the challenges he faced with his Honda 400/4 when travelling to Scotland from the south of England prompted me…
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Ray Coker – the long, hard road to the top

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th March 2018

Keith Rhodes tells the heart-warming story of Ray Coker, who conquered dyslexia to become a Royal Military Police motorcycle instructor, team trials rider and brilliantly successful businessman – and enjoys his motorcycle collection to this day. Ray Coker has been defying the odds ever since, along with hundreds of other children, he was evacuated from…
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Royal Enfield GP5 – still the apple of many people’s eyes

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th March 2018

After the recent letters and articles about the Royal Enfield GP5 raced by John Swannack in the 1960s, I felt it appropriate to contact OBM. I still have programmes from Cadwell Park showing John in the results in 1966 and 1967. When I first saw a GP5 I thought how superb it was, and when…
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Those flat-tankers outside the Hunter’s Lodge Inn

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th March 2018

The photo in last month’s OBM of a group of flat-tank enthusiasts outside a Hunter’s Lodge Inn was taken at Priddy, Wells, Somerset BA5 3AR, and the chap on the far right is the late Bob Derrick who, along with his wife Marcia, started Classic Transfers. Marcia still carries on this thriving business, which was…
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It’s My Bike: Vulcanology supreme – Bob Higgs’ V-twin Velocette

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th March 2018

Velocette Owners’ Club honorary president Ivan Rhodes, who has enjoyed several 100-mile-plus outings on Bob Higgs’ home-built Velocette Vulcan V-twin outfit, tells of the man and his immaculate creation, which many think must have been a factory prototype. The Velocette Vulcan V-twin mentioned in recent issues is the brainchild of Bob Higgs, a friend of…
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