It was such a wonderful surprise to see the article about Ernie Barrett’s Phoenix JAP racers in the July issue. I knew Ernie from about 1952 until he died in the early 1970s. From 1954
Read moreMemories of Phoenix
Category: Letters
Perton pictures
A very interesting and enjoyable theme on old airfield circuits (July 2020). I also remember Perton, as mentioned by Bob Torrens in last month’s letters pages, but as a budding amateur photographer rather than as
Read moreT-bird the tops
With regards to the feature in the August issue, ‘Triumph’s best ever?’, about the Thunderbird, I had a sprung hub Thunderbird from 1951; definitely the best ever. Soon after I bought it I got called
Read moreMuch travelled Velo (and fellow)
After reading the article about the two Vincent riders in the August issue, I thought I’d drop you a line, as I also went on that rally on my Venom Clubman, which I still ride
Read moreSuper superbike?
The Series A Vincent-HRD Rapide (as featured in the July 2020 top 10) . . . the first and probably the most enigmatic Vincent twin. Introduced in the late 1930s and with a production run
Read moreImproving the breed
In 1952, I bought a 1932 Velocette GTP 250cc two-stroke for £9. We got it running and I rode it around in the adjoining field, getting used to the clutch and hand change for a
Read moreChance meeting with a champion
In early June, I learned with sadness of the passing of Carlo Ubbiali at his home near Bergamo North Italy. As a young man, I saw Ubbiali ride in the Ulster Grand Prix. He won
Read moreAttraction of the artist Gordon Horner
As an occasional reader of The Classic MotorCycle (for which I apologise) and Douglas enthusiast, I am usually attracted by the cover picture, this time the classic Thunderbird on the August 2020 issue doing the
Read moreExciting Thunderbird
With reference to the sprung-hub Thunderbird on the cover of the August 2020 issue. I remember back in the late 1950s, when I started racing, I met future Senior TT runner-up Joe Dunphy in the
Read moreGreat article on marvelous Mick
Just got my June 2020 issue and read the lovely article on Mick Andrews. I first came across Mick in 1962 when a neighbour and schoolteacher Mr Walton took me and a few other street
Read more