News

  • The way we were: December 1913

    The way we were: December 1913

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    New engine unveiled The unit with square bore and stroke dimensions of 68 x 68mm developed a claimed 14hp, yet tipped the scales at just 48lb. The cylinder barrels were slightly offset and the engine used two connecting rods to one piston in an attempt to get reciprocating masses exactly opposed to each other to…

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  • The way we were: December 1963

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    Dreadful conditions at rally By Saturday night around 3000 riders and passengers on more than 1500 machines had arrived for the year’s event which was first run in 1956. Motor Cycle staffman Peter Frazer joined the crowds at 6.30pm to listen to organiser Ernst Leverkus deliver a short speech before flagging the riders away for…

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  • Earlswood Christmas crackers

    Earlswood Christmas crackers

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    Christmas gift ideas Earlswood is the only provider, licensed by the DVLA, to produce replica tax discs and uses traditional materials and printing techniques – each bespoke tax disc is accurately handwritten to show the precise details of a customer’s motorcycle including the registration number, make and the correct rate of duty that would have…

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  • The Classic MotorCycle on sale now

    The Classic MotorCycle on sale now

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    January 2013 TCM on sale now This month's contents includes: • News   • Stafford show    • Subscribe and save    • ABCs at Brooklands    • H&H auction    • Letters    • Men who mattered (Granville Bradshaw)    • Graham Hurry interview   When Graham Hurry took up grasstrack racing, the sport was riding high, especially in the southeast of…

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  • Champion Gwen reunited with trophy 60 years on

    Champion Gwen reunited with trophy 60 years on

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    Gwen White reunited with trophy Ruth Holliday presented her with the silver rose bowl for the best lady rider in the West of England club’s tough opening round of the trade supported trials championship season in 1952. Riding her 197cc Francis-Barnett, Gwen was one of the best lady riders of her generation and her name…

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  • Classics go for a wobble at Canada Heights

    Classics go for a wobble at Canada Heights

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    George Smith takes a break from practising on his prewar 500 Enfield with its rare all-alloy engine The event, which took place on November 18 this year, is intended to provide easy self-marked sections for complete beginners and this also makes them suitable for classic and vintage trials machinery. Among the older bikes participating was…

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  • Don Overall

    Don Overall

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    Don (Centre) racing his KTT at Brands Hatch London born and bred, he came through Zeppelin raids in the First World War. Witnessing racing at Brooklands in the 1920s determined his life’s path. Don worked for Raleigh, in London, and honed his riding skills on the relatively empty London arterial roads, although not unnoticed by…

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  • Veterans battle the elements

    Veterans battle the elements

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    Rain battered this year’s run The annual run is usually supported by individuals and clubs who provide a sideshow of classic machinery, but turnout was low this year due to weather. As the long cavalcade of 500 entrants wound its way out of London and down to the break at Crawley, it was hit by…

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  • Surtees at JD Classics

    Surtees at JD Classics

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    VIP guest John Surtees at JD Classics Surtees talked about working for Vincent where he earned £2-10s a week and his first race on a Triumph Tiger 70. Later, he bought his Vincent Grey Flash in pieces from Mike Hailwood’s father Stan. Success followed resulting in world championships in 1956 and 1958-60. It was Britain’s…

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  • Rare racers for sale

    Rare racers for sale

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    Bonhams BMWs Headlining the team of machines is a very rare and much admired Kompressor, or supercharged, 1939 RS255, the model that legendary racer John Surtees said “rightly deserves a place as being one of the all-time greats of motorcycle Grand Prix racing”. The RS255 (‘RS’ stands for rennsport, or race sport) is a genuine,…

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