The Classic MotorCycle

Started in 1903, The Classic MotorCycle has more to offer the true vintage motorcycle enthusiast than any other publication, backed by Europe's largest motorcycle image archive.

Editor’s welcome

Ken Sprayson 1927-2021 • Jovial, cheery and ever-helpful, Ken Sprayson, aka ‘The Frame Man’ (also the title of his 2015 book) passed away October 15, 2021, at the age of 94.

NEWS IN BRIEF

CBG’s Winter Classic

Kop Hill Climb in brief

Bonhams in 2022

Book Review

THE WAY WE WERE IN DECEMBER

BACK TO NORMAN-ITY?

Sunbeam MCC membership

Tiernan’s 2022 calendar

Readers’ Letters • YOUR VOICE & YOUR OPINIONS

Colourful Sunbeam advert

Guzzi spectrum

Forces the issue

Helmut Fath at home

THIS MONTH’S STAR LETTER WINS

Prowling at Panthers

Woolwich and Plumstead MC

Top trials pictures

Left foot forward for a start

Sunbeam’s Shoreham Shakedown • The Sunbeam MCC’s Pioneer Run has a new finish at Shoreham, as well as a new autumn date, the 2021 event being held on October 3.

RESULTS

Tall in the saddle • An attempt at modernising its range put BSA’s big twin at the long legged end of the rider demographic.

It’s a gas

The show does go on! • Though there was a mid-summer Stafford show, this attempt – held over October 9/10 – felt much more like ‘the old days.’

Auction action • There were top prices and sparkling performances in the Bonhams’ Stafford auction.

Improving on excellence • After the Henderson brothers sold their eponymous company to Excelsior, one of the two Scottish-born siblings, Bill Henderson, came again, with the superb Ace.

Shale shifters • It’s left turn only at Lydd for the riders of the Veteran Speedway Riders Open Championship, held in September.

Miles of smiles • This 1955 500cc Ariel Red Hunter sidecar outfit might look like an archetypal bitsa, but it has a great story to tell.

FINER DETAILS Ariel Red Hunter

The happy medium • Just about everything we do in life is a compromise of sorts, with motorcycling no exception.

Bread and dripping De Luxe! • Royal Enfield’s Model G was offered in better-equipped G2 form for one year only – 1937.

Small scale fun • With the VeloSolex gone and a reunion with a Puch failing to come to fruition, it’s a Mobylettte that’s entered the garage.

Streatham wanderers • That Mike O’Rourke rode an Ariel Arrow to seventh in the 1960 IoM Lightweight TT and the Selly Oak 250cc twins competed in the Scottish Six Days Trial and more recent trials has been oft-recounted. But few will remember the three lightly modified Arrows entered in the 1960 ISDT held in Austria.

A brief chat with... …Tim Slaughter at Midlife Classics • Opening your new shop on the day the country goes into pandemic-induced lockdown isn’t ideal, but Midlife Classics had just such a start.

Contact Midlife Classics

NORMAN NIPPY Mk.1-Mk.4

Coming on cam • The world of old motorcycles is nothing if not exasperating.

THE MOTORCYCLES OF STORMIN NORMAN

Christmas greetings and normality

Dragging clutch

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Matchless and BSA

Unusual devices

Diary

Jack of all trades • The saying ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ is known universally. It applies in many fields, but not to the Amal Concentric carburettor, a true but good ‘Jack of all trades’ for almost all applications.

Soggy Syston • There was something of a mud bath at the Easter 1930 Syston Grand Prix.

Looking for adventure • Off-road inspired Trophy

Classic MotorCycle