Sam Hewitt
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Nine hours on full chat
The 1956 Thruxton nine-hour endurance race was eventually wonby a 350cc Gold Star, which covered 651 miles. Photographs: MORTONS ARCHIVE There were 60 motorcycles due on the line for the 1956 Thruxton 500 mile road race, to be held over the kidney-shaped 2.7574 mile course. Organised by the Southampton and District Motor Cycle Club, practice…
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EDITOR WELCOME: August 2019
For the last four weekends, I’ve managed to get out on a vintage pre-1931 motorcycle, which is pretty pleasing. And I’ve only got soaked about 10 times… The weekend just gone, as I write, was the Banbury Run, where I was thrilled to be riding the 1928 AJS K10, owned by my cousin Peter, who…
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Ugly’s last ride?
Makers of early cars soon realised the need for, and the advantages of, gears.Within a couple of years of their launch, the same applied to tricycles.But motorcycle engineers were left, admittedly briefly, playing catch up. Words and photographs/drawings: Richard Rosenthal To call any motorcycle ugly is sure to offend someone, but the collective thinking of…
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Restoration guide: POST-VINTAGE ZENITH TWINS
The specialist Tony Donnithorne is the Vintage MCC marque specialist for Zenith. Recognised as a leading authority on the manufacturer, Tony even has some of the official factory records. We are grateful for a generous measure of his time in helping out with this guide. Vintage Motor Cycle Club: www.vmcc.netTel: 01283 540557 Model history Spurred…
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You were asking
Your queries resolved with Richard Rosenthal Royal Ruby postcard Knowing I have a lightweight Royal Ruby, friend and fellow vintage motorcycle enthusiast John White, from the south coast, recently gave me this period promotional postcard. Dating from 1914, the image depicts the maker’s then recently introduced 2½hp direct drive two-stroke model. The subject machine is…
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You were asking
Your queries resolved with Richard Rosenthal Girls’ day out at Brighton Here’s another photograph for you to identify, please. Stuart Nicholson, email. A super image, Stuart, of a circa 1915-21 499cc P&M, built by Phelon and Moore Ltd of Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. At intervals, the advertising copy writers for modern motorcycle makers can’t resist drawing attention…
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Hanging by a thread
Mixing and matching componentsmakes for hours of fun. Words and photographs: Tim Britton There is a point in a rebuild (or in this case a ‘recreation’) of a motorcycle when the major work is complete and the ‘fun’ of adding the little bits and pieces can begin. I use the term ‘fun’ loosely, as I…
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Men who mattered
The electrical trade wasn’t really to his liking, so young Kershaw sought employment in the motorcycle industry. Herbert Sydney Kershaw was born on August 7, 1892, in Sydney, Australia, the only son of a shipping clerk and his young wife. When his father died in 1895, young Bert and his bereaved mother moved to England,…
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Ride of remembrance
With 2019 being the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the 75th anniversary of D-Day, I’m undertaking a commemorative ride. I hope to leave the Two Wheel Centre, 50 Westfield Road, Harpenden AL5 4HW on June 1, 2019 and will be riding my 1942 Royal Enfield WD C/O, dressed in…
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A brief chat with… Royce Creasey
The outspoken journalist, enthusiast, engineer and feet-forward advocate still has strong opinions on what he believes is the way to do things. Words: TIM BRITTON Photographs: Royce Creasey Those of us who came to British motorcycles because they were just cheap, old nails before the ‘classic scene’ really got underway, found a champion to our…
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