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Letter: Vincent seating arrangements

by

Sam Hewitt

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14th April 2017

With reference to Joe Bingham’s letter (‘Comet comments’) in the March issue, although the Vincent seat support may seem a little strange and it may look as though the seat moves up and down as much as the wheel, this is not the case. The lower end of the seat support contains a friction device…
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Ulster Grand Prix appreciation

by

Sam Hewitt

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7th April 2017

Thanks for a fantastic article on the Ulster Grand Prix’s formative years by Richard Rosenthal (TCM April). I grew up on the A26 just north of Aldergrove (Belfast International Airport) on what was known as the Long Clady circuit. Being much too young to have witnessed racing there, my late father, himself a motorcycle enthusiast,…
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Editor’s Welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

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7th April 2017

For no other reason than my own amusement, I’ve been collating a few photographs of some of the motorcycles I’ve been privileged to ride over the years. There are quite a few, and most were memorable for the right reasons, though some of course weren’t quite so pleasant. But what really set me on this…
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Sinnis success

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th March 2017

Roy Poynting’s article in the March edition (Fact? Pah, who needs fact…) spoke to me. I have owned many bikes in my long life – Ariel Square Four outfits when the kids were small, a number of original Enfield Bullets, LE Velocettes, MZ and Jawa, then a succession of Japanese fours, starting with the delectable…
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Times have changed

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th March 2017

After reading the editor’s welcome in the February edition, I had a little smile to myself how things have changed over the years. I have reached a conclusion that it is to do with age and we older riders have lost the spirit of youth and adventure this gave. In 1962, I was a 21-year-old…
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Panther V-twin

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd March 2017

Please find attached a picture of Geoff Stray’s V-twin Panther, a work in progress pictured at the Bristol show on the Panther OC’s stand – notice the square-section swinging arm. I think you must agree he has made a good job of the bike so far and I look forward to seeing and hearing the…
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Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

3rd March 2017

This month has involved a bit of extra work, as we put together the Gold Star supplement, provided free with this issue. Lots of people helped out, so thanks to everyone involved, particularly all at the National Motorcycle Museum for putting the BSAs at our disposal. We hope you enjoy the fruits of those labours.…
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Letters: A question of taste

by

Sam Hewitt

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7th February 2017

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. I personally consider the Bimota MV (January 2017) to be equal to the Munch Mammut in terms of ugliness. On the other end of the scale, I consider the classic lines of the Triumph Thunderbird to be beautiful. What a good thing it is that we…
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Editor’s welcome

by

Sam Hewitt

–

7th February 2017

The other evening, I was having a discussion with a friend and we were talking about what the difference is between being someone ‘with a few bikes’ and someone who is a collector. At what point does one leave one group and move into the other? Of course, it doesn’t actually matter at all, but…
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A Norton job well done

by

Sam Hewitt

–

9th January 2017

A few years ago I mentioned to my wife I’d quite like to restore an old motorcycle. My ownership history is mainly Japanese machines. But she suggested I look for a Norton 500T, as this was the bike her father owned when he was courting her mother. After a few months of searching, one appeared…
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