The way we were: February 1938

by

George (LG) Holdsworth

Prices ranged from £18-18s for a single speed 98cc Raynal autocycle to £155 for a 980cc ohv V-twin Brough-Superior.

The family man could buy a four-seater 933 side valve Ford powered three-wheeler for £115 and the sporting light car fan could spend the same on a 990cc ohv water-cooled V-twin three-seater Morgan. Fancy racing? The 348cc single-cylinder Manx Norton Model 30 cost £96 and for just another £7 you could have competed in the 500cc class with a Manx Model 30. Surprisingly a DKW 490cc two-stroke twin was modestly priced at £69, the same as a 499cc Rudge Special and thinking of direct costing comparisons the 1140cc side valve V-twin Royal Enfield KX De Luxe complete with four oil pumps and the 498cc twin cylinder two-stroke Scott Squirrel were £80 apiece.

Article continues below…
Advert

Enjoy more Classic MotorCycle reading in the monthly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.

Despite stiff competition from a 96 strong entry, Royal Enfield factory man George (LG) Holdsworth (image above) lost just four marks to clinch the Victory Trial. Also on four marks were G E H Godber-Ford (346cc Royal Enfield) – Henley Cup, Len Heath (497cc Ariel) – Perrey Cup and Vic Brittain (490cc Norton) – Walter Hackett Cup.               


Advert
Subscribe to The Classic MotorCycle Magazine Enjoy more The Classic MotorCycle reading in the monthly magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Article Tags:

About the Author