Sam Hewitt

National Motorcycle Museum LIVE 2020 postponed

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Sam Hewitt

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31st July 2020

The National Motorcycle Museum has announced that their Museum LIVE event is postponed until October 2021. The event was due to take place on Saturday 31 October 2020, but issues revolving around social distancing requirements due to Covid-19 means Museum LIVE “simply isn’t possible”. James Hewing, Museum Director, thanked everybody who has supported the event since…
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The German Grand Prix 1956: Not as expected

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Sam Hewitt

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31st July 2020

When John Surtees fractured his arm in the 350cc event, thus ruling him out of any further racing, the 500cc GP event was thrown wide open. Even then there was no guarantee who would scoop the top spot. Words: MICHAEL BARRACLOUGH Photography: MORTONS ARCHIVE The German Grand Prix of 1956 took place at Solitude near…
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Ernie Barrett’s offer

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Sam Hewitt

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31st July 2020

Thank you for July’s TCM, another great read with lots of information for enthusiasts of all ages. I do like Martin Squires’ work, combining insightful drawings with useful background information; it’s a combination of skills unique in my 60-plus years of reading about bikes. I loved the piece about Ernie Barrett and his Phoenix-JAP racers,…
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Throwback: John Surtees at the BBC

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Sam Hewitt

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29th July 2020

Back in August 1957, John Surtees took viewers for a ride when the BBC’s television programme, ‘Let’s go motor cycling’, filmed a lap of Oulton Park with the World Champion. That June, John had come second in the Senior TT on his 500/4 MV Agusta, in the longest ever Grand Prix, at 8 laps, 3hrs,…
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BSA A10SR Matchless G12CSR: Two sides of the same coin

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Sam Hewitt

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28th July 2020

There are a few to choose from when picking your ideal early 1960s British big twin. They are all the same, yet subtly different, and it is these subtleties that can tip the balance and dictate whether you say “yea” or “nay” to a possible motorcycle. Words: ROY POYNTING Photography: TERRY JOSLIN An enthusiast looking…
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What might have been

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Sam Hewitt

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28th July 2020

Looking through the magazines at the local shop, I spotted the ‘Supreme Sunbeam’ picture on the cover of the July issue of The Classic MotorCycle, which I immediately purchased. At school in North London in about 1950, our metalwork teacher arrived one day on a new S8. I had little knowledge of motorcycles at the…
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A Social History of Motorcycling: Part One The Pioneers (1901 to 1924)

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2020

In this series of extracts from his forthcoming book, Mike Lewis looks at the evolution of social motorcycling in Britain and the USA. Words: MIKE LEWIS Photography: MORTONS MEDIA GROUP On December 12, 1896, an exciting new mode of transport featured on the front cover of Scientific American. Described as a ‘motor cycle using benzine’…
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Recommended reads

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2020

AJS of Wolverhampton Published in 1994, Steve Mills’ book, with its handsome black and gold cover echoing the finish worn by the most successful AJSs of the early to mid-1920s, is a fascinating, invaluable publication, detailing the full history of the company known as AJS. Formed by the Stevens family, AJS was a hugely successful…
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Vincent treatment transport

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Sam Hewitt

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21st July 2020

I am a regular reader of your magazine and was particularly interested in the article in the June issue on the Vinc ent-HRDs – I completely agree with you on the handling between Series As, Bs and Cs. I have been a lifelong devotee of Vincents since I was 19 (now 72) and besides a…
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National Motorcycle Museum launch emergency Covid-19 appeal

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Sam Hewitt

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17th July 2020

The National Motorcycle Museum has launched an urgent appeal because of concerns about how and when the museum will be able to reopen. The National Motorcycle Museum receives no external funding, meaning the museum relies on visitors to the museum and income from conference business and two sister hotels. Hospitality and leisure has been one of the…
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Sam Hewitt

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