Features

1914 James TT Model In the period before the First World War and in the 1920s and 30s too, James made a number of varying machines, including some quality two-stroke lightweights and a range of four-strokes, a single cylinder side valve and overhead valve versions of mainly 350 and 500cc. But James’s biggest, longest running…

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Pip Harris, passengered here by Eric Bliss, at Mallory Park in 1965 Pip Harris’s new Featherbed Manx arrived late in 1952, and when fitted as usual with a Watsonian sidecar, it proved faster than his old one. In fact, with the exception of Eric Oliver’s specially prepared Norton, the only outfit even quicker was Ted…

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Pip Harris, with John Thorton in the chair of his flat-twin BMW at Cadwell Park I suppose it’s possible MotoGP fans will remember current superstars like Valentino Rossi decades into the future – but I bet they won’t recall the names of champions in the less publicised branches of motorcycling. It was different for those…

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Glazebrook, on his 350cc Manx, finished fourth in the Senior 500cc race Held on Saturday 2 May, the meeting over the five-mile long circuit was organised by the Builth Wells and Carmarthen Motor Clubs. Star turn was Cecil Sandford, the reigning 125cc world champion, for MV Agusta. Cecil didn’t have any Italian exotica with him,…

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DH Edlin (EMC) on his way to second in the 250cc race Over 200 competitors were named in the programme, scheduled to give over six hours of racing. First event of the day was for 150cc machines, over six laps. There were 30 supposed to be attending, though only 16 came to the grid. John…

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Brough four cylinder engine By their very name, Brough Superior motor cycles led the public to expect something special, but George Brough was a shrewd salesman, always keen to add to the mystique enjoyed by his creations. The yearly motor cycle show, held at Olympia and later at Earls Court, provided the perfect environment in…

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1915 Henderson Model E During the early part of 1911, two automotive events of enduring significance occurred on opposite sides of the Atlantic. In London, illustrator Charles Sykes designed a mascot for Rolls-Royce; the firm that claimed to manufacture the ‘Best Car in the World’ wanted its Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to embody speed in…

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Tommy Robb hitches a lift In 1964 he simply retired in the 125cc race. He was out of luck in the 250cc race too; though he set off at a flying pace on a year old works Yamaha, he was forced into repeated stops when the plugs fouled up and he had to call it…

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Regne with suspender belts! Though he wasn’t competing, the fastest man on two wheels, BMW star Ernst Henne (who has the title at 134.68mph) was on hand to see what his competitors could do, with the list headed by Joe Wright (supercharged OEC–Temple–JAP) and Owen Baldwin (unblown ohc AJS V-twin), with local interest provided by…

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