Blog

Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

4th May 2018

It’s sometimes a bit difficult to explain to people why we enjoy riding old motorcycles – and why we consider some to be much nicer or ‘better’ to ride that others when, surely, anything modern should trump our oldies every time? It’s because the riding experience is so different, which, I think, is why over…
Continue reading »
Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

6th April 2018

Many years ago, I was instructed to never mention the weather in columns such as this, as it smacked of having nothing else to say. Well, I’ve long followed that advice but I’m going to make an exception this issue, because, basically, weather has dominated so much of what we’ve done – or not done…
Continue reading »
Beatrice Shilling

by

Sam Hewitt

–

20th March 2018

Three remarkable women were awarded Gold Stars for lapping the Brooklands circuit at over 100mph – two were mentioned in ‘The Rugged Road’ book review (TCM, February 2018). Just by chance, I came across a photograph of the third of this exclusive trio, Beatrice Shilling, riding her 197cc Tandon in a postwar Southern Centre trial.…
Continue reading »
Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

2nd March 2018

As I write, we are heading towards the end of February and there are the first shoots of spring appearing, with the prospect of some imminent motorcycling seeming to become a closer reality. Of course, it’s possible to ride all winter, and plenty do, it’s just I prefer it so much more when the roads…
Continue reading »
Wrong Star

by

Sam Hewitt

–

5th February 2018

My passion lies with prewar BSA M24 Gold Stars and related singles so I was therefore delighted to find the article on Sammy Miller’s 1939 BSA M23 ‘Empire Star’ restoration in the February 2018 issue – particularly as I am currently restoring an example of the same model. The featured bike has clearly been restored…
Continue reading »
Editor’s Welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

3rd February 2018

Coincidences in motorcycling seem to occur with a reasonable degree of regularity. Some are just odd – for example, we bump into our friend Dave, who we met on an Irish rally years ago, in unexpected places, the strangest being the fish market in Venice. Others places include the quay at Blakeney, Norfolk last…
Continue reading »
Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

5th January 2018

What’s in a name? I was thinking that when reading about the Norton P11 in this issue (p20), which sports a Matchless badged petrol tank, but as it was a parts bin special when made in its day – Matchless frame, Norton engine and forks – then really either name could be employed. Bryan, owner…
Continue reading »
Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

1st December 2017

We had an interesting day out at the National Motorcycle Museum’s open day (see page 12), where we took a stand and basically spent the whole day chatting motorcycles with a wonderfully diverse group of people. On our stand we had two motorcycles – a 1963 TR6 Trophy Triumph and the NMM’s Model 90 Sunbeam,…
Continue reading »
Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

3rd November 2017

In his column this month, Jerry Thurston talks about a motorcycle from each decade that he’d like to own, which set me thinking. Combined with various other things occurring, including of course Stafford, added to that Rachael Clegg’s piece on the R60/ series BMWs, and the fact that I turn 40 in 2018, I’ve decided…
Continue reading »
Matchless size issues

by

Sam Hewitt

–

22nd October 2017

With reference to the article on the splendid Matchless in the October edition of TCM, it may well have been entitled ‘Sizing up’ as indeed it was; were owner Andy Pennell and tester Phil Turner aware they were riding a 350? Andy has a G5 Matador engine squeezed into his G2 frame; the engine number…
Continue reading »

Blog

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags