Features

There were four classes in the 1928 Dutch Tourist Trophy – 175cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc. In each class there was a British winner. Photographs: MORTONS ARCHIVE Held on June 23, 1928, a Saturday – the Dutch TT/GP always did and still does take place on a Saturday – there were wins for Graham Walker…

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1968 represented the first of the famous three top model years for the unit T120 Bonneville. But Alec Taylor bought his for a winter bike! Words: Steve Wilson Photographs: Gary Chapman The twin carb T120 Bonneville is generally (and widely) recognised as the top sporting dog from Meriden Triumph (though experienced riders often prefer a…

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Hawker – a famous name in the aeronautical arena, but an almost forgotten maker of motorcycles… Words: Roy Poynting Photography: Terry Joslin When a Hawker Hunter jet fighter was recently involved in a tragic crash, the everyday media universally described it as a ‘vintage Hawker’. Well, being made in the early-1950s that’s probably true in…

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Bought by Philip Ingold in 1968, this 1958 Velocette Venom has been restored by Philip’s son Simon as a fitting memorial to his late father. Words and photography: JAMES ADAM BOLTON On what most likely would have been a chilly winter’s day, February 17, 1968, a young man named Philip Ingold walked along Acton High Street,…

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Photography: MORTONS MEDIA ARCHIVE Detailed in the June 24, 1914, edition of The Motor Cycle, here we see Ralph Bankes-Jones (signed as ‘RBJ’ in the original article) as he makes dinner alongside his trusty P&M, during the summer which preceded the start of the Great War, which began on July 28, 1914. Bankes-Jones was clearly…

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Words: Roy Poynting Photographs: Terry Joslin This two-stroke, two-speed Levis is a fine example of an early vintage ride-to-work machine. Some visiting American friends once saw one of these delightful little machines and exclaimed “gee, that’s neat, a motorcycle with the same name as our jeans!” Well, for the record there’s absolutely no connection between…

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Words: Steve Wilson Photographs: Gary Chapman This 1956 Thunderbird is a rolling demonstration of why these soft-tuned, iron-engined 650s were the ultimate Triumph twin for many experienced riders. Triumph’s 6T Thunderbird was held by many ‘in the know’ to be the all-round best of the firm’s twins. Sales manager Ivor Davies, the late guru restorer…

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Words: JAMES ROBINSON Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN MV’s 4C, introduced for 1966, was not what prospective purchasers and schoolboys the world over dreamed of. Imagine if MV had made this instead… Amulti-cylinder MV Agusta roadster had been the dream of enthusiasts ever since the four-cylinder racer made its bow in 1950, with the R19 Turismo shown…

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In June 1950 a pair of enthusiasts from England set off on two of Plumstead’s finest, bound for Israel. W A Ingram and his cousin Ken set off from Newcastle headed for Israel, on two practically new rigid-frame 500cc Matchless G80 singles; the motorcycles were largely standard, apart from the additions of windscreens, air filters…

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Words: PHIL TURNER Photographs: GARY CHAPMAN Spot a rusty front wheel poking out of an old garage or shed and while some may ignore it, most of wouldn’t. As Gerry Lavender found out, a closer look is sometimes really worth it… Imagine this scenario for a moment: you’re going about your daily business when through…

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