N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B R I T I S H

M O T O R C Y C L E C H A R I T A B L E T R U S T

BMCT News

Winter Issue 29

In This Issue:

News From Museums

Classic Motorbike Show

Motorcycle Live

Kop Hill Climb

Stafford Show

Members’ Page

Events Guide

T hey’ve been very busy

down at the Sammy

Miller Museum over the

winter. Visitors are now

greeted by this impressive

new entrance, designed to

enhance your experience and

give valuable extra space to

accommodate Sammy’s ever

growing collection. New to the

museum this year are a DOT

three-wheeler and a 1925

Brough Superior. For the

winter months the museum

opens at weekends only.

O pening hours of the Haynes

International Motor Museum

have changed. From 2nd March to

31st October the museum will be

open from 9.30 am until 5.30 pm,

and in the winter they’ll be closing

an hour earlier. A new leaflet from

them (left) gives you a good idea of

the new layout following the

massive revamp of the museum

that’s taken place over the last

couple of years. The Motorcycle

Mezzanine is the area in white to

the right on the diagram,

numbered 1. Machines of

particular interest there are the

BMCT’s Brough Superior and New

Hudson sidecar outfits.

N e w s F r o m T h e M u s e u m s

P a g e 2 B M C T N e w s

T he National Motorcycle Museum celebrated its

30th Anniversary with an open weekend on

1st-2nd of November. The milestone event saw

thousands of visitors join the museum in marking

its heritage and successes since first opening its

doors in October 1984. Attendees were treated to

a range of free attractions and family-friendly

activities; featuring free Museum entry, indoor trade

displays, autojumble, wheelie machine and even

the chance to “try a bike” in a controlled off road

area. Museum Director James Hewing said “We are

very proud to be celebrating our 30th anniversary.

Museum Live was a fantastic way for us to say

thank you to the public for their support over the

years and we are pleased to have been able to

celebrate our achievements with everyone. We’re

looking forward to the next 30 years!”

Front cover photo. A Mk1 Brough Superior owned by a BMCT member.

N E C C l a s s i c M o t o r b i k e S h o w

P a g e 3 I s s u e 2 9

H ere are some pictures to give

those who couldn’t get there

the flavour of November’s Classic

Motorbike Show at the National

Exhibition Centre near Birmingham.

The motorcycle hall is just a small

part of the huge Classic Motor Show,

which this year was bigger than ever,

covering ten halls. Clockwise from

top right: 1) John Kidson with an old

friend, John (Mooneyes) Cooper,

admiring the Cotton Telstar on the

BMCT stand. 2) Our Triumph Bandit

attracted a lot of attention, as usual.

3 ) T h e M i d l a n d s S e c t i o n

represented the Vintage Motor Cycle

Club this year, and put on a very

good display of machines of various

eras from all over the world. This

1954 Norton International has been

beautifully restored by one of their

members after buying it off eBay as

a basket case three years ago. 4)

Our Baughan two-wheel-drive

sidecar outfit with 500cc of

Blackburne power. 5) A BSA Bantam

-based “Shoestring Racer”, built

many years ago by George Todd and

still in use today. 6) The odd bike

cropped up among the classic cars

for sale hall. This well presented

Ariel Square Four was one example.

7) Another star of the VMCC stand

was this Panther. 8) There were one

or two Scotts dotted about the hall,

and this was the nicest of them. 9)

Our Lea-Francis v-twin was having a

holiday from its usual home, at

Coventry Transport Museum. 10)

BMCT member Richard Duffin is

always turning up rare motorcycles

with interesting histories. This 1928

350cc Blackburne-engined Rex

Acme counts among its previous

owners Lt. Col. John “Mad Jack”

Churchill and actor Ewan McGregor.

11) In 1937 Walter Handley won a

Brooklands Gold Star on a specially

prepared 500cc BSA. Unsurprisingly,

the following year BSA introduced

the Gold Star in its model line-up,

and this is one of the first examples.

12) Our new display unit was used

for the first time, and drew much

favourable comment from show

visitors.

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5 6

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11

12

ridden on beaded edge tyres but have

heard all of those tales (from old wives or

otherwise) of their propensity to fly off the

rims if they are not pumped up to

stratospheric pressures I viewed them

with some concern I got out the bathroom

scales to weigh the bike + me

combination and ended up with pressures

of 30 psi front and 35 psi rear. Higher

than Radco's recommendations but much

much lower than the 45-65 psi brigade. I

also unwound the screwed rings on the

valves until they touched the valve caps

so that I could see if the tyres were

creeping on the rims and checked these

each time I ran the bike – they didn't

move. To my way of thinking the greater

concern is what happens when a tyre

does deflate when all accounts suggest

that it certainly will then come off the rim.

Surely fitting security bolts would be a

good idea?

When collected, the level in the oil tank

(which is a compartment in the right hand

side of the 'petrol' tank) was very low and

on starting the bike it was obvious why –

most of the oil was in the crankcase!

Thick oil smoke poured from the exhausts

and dripped from the front exhaust port,

although surprisingly the spark plugs did

not oil up. As it showed no signs of

clearing I stopped the engine and

removed the crankcase drain plug when

approximately 2 pints came out. Re-

starting after priming the engine with the

foot-operated auxiliary oil pump and the

THANKS TO OUR TRUSTEE NICK FOR

THIS ACCOUNT OF RIDING THE VMCC’s

BLANCHARD BROUGH AT KOP HILL

20/21 SEPTEMBER 2014

What a privilege! To be entrusted with

the VMCC 'Blanchard Brough' to

showcase at the popular two-day Kop

Hill hill climb car/bike charity event just

o u t s i d e P r i n c e s R i s b o r o u g h ,

Buckinghamshire in September. For

those who don't know the origin of the

bike, it was gifted to the Vintage Motor

Cycle Club in the will of long-standing

member David Blanchard. Well, not

quite in the condition I picked it up

from affable VMCC President Tim Penn

– it was acquired as a basket case of

assorted parts. It was then subject to a

complete, but sympathetic, rebuild by

ace Brough Superior craftsman Dave

Clark who gave a detailed account of

the rebuild in the Club Journal. It's a

1922 SS80 model – one of the earliest

SS80s known to exist – fitted with that

wonderful vee-twin JAP 980cc KTC

sidevalve engine attributed to JAP/

Ariel/Triumph/BSA designer Val Page,

a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hand-change

gearbox and unusual leaf-sprung

Montgomery front forks. Completing

the ensemble are a drum front brake

that would look better on a pedal cycle

(5” Webb) and a dummy belt rim rear

brake operated by an awkwardly-

placed heel pedal. 80 mph engine, 20

mph brakes was my initial impression

– so I had better be careful riding it .

On getting the bike home, thanks to

transport provided by Chiltern Section

member Chris Hurworth, we spent

some time checking it over, lubricating

va r ious jo in ts and genera l l y

acquainting ourselves with it. Being

fortunate enough to own a later Brough

Superior fitted with the same engine, a

little attention was given to it as it

appeared that the tappet clearances

had not been checked for some time.

Then we got to the beaded edge tyres.

For those like me who have never

exhaust was clear. I learned the

lesson from consideration of the

'total loss' oiling system which I

understand works as follows.

Two Best and Lloyd adjustable

metering devices are fitted that drip

oil into the engine and are fitted with

sight glasses so the rider can

(somewhat optimistically) try to

observe the motion of oil dripping

through them and 'count the drops'.

One is mounted on the tank top and

is connected via a spring-loaded

plunger pump to a foot pedal that

gives a boost into the engine when

the rider thinks it needs some

tribological help or to get some oil

into the engine after draining the

crankcase. The other is the normal

running feed from a tank-side oiler

where engine vacuum from the rear

of the front cylinder pulls oil through

a one-way valve. Unfortunately oil

also seeps through when the engine

is not running. So the lesson is to

close the needle valve of the tank-

side oiler each time the engine is

stopped – remembering to turn it on

again on starting!

With these preliminaries out of the

way, a trial ride was in order. Yes, my

assumption regarding braking

performance was correct. You need

to be very circumspect and not place

any reliance on other road users

giving good notice of their intentions.

P a g e 4 B M C T N e w s

N i c k J e f f e r y a t t h e K o p

The VMCC’s SS80 with Dave Clark’s 1922 Brough Model W

all bought-in. Is it a heretical question to

ask who was the true 'superior' engineer?

Individual runs 'up the hill' started before

10 am and I was one of the first bikes up,

following older cars and bikes. The hill is a

normal public road, closed to other users

for the event, and participants are

encouraged to put on a 'good show' leaving

the line but discouraged from letting their

enthusiasm run away with them near the

top. Runs are not timed. Getting off the line

smartly, two quick gearchanges and the

bike pulled like a train up the hill in top,

although I was a little cautious as the

surface was wet and there was visible oil

dropped by the early runners. Stopping for

the T-junction at the top of the hill held no

terrors as I had long-before shut off the

lever throttle - but which way to turn to get

back to the paddock? Turning right was a

longer scenic route avoiding a steep,

twisting drop which I didn't fancy in the wet.

So I turned right and made my way gently

back to the paddock. By now spectators

were building up and the Blanchard SS80

and Dave's Model W together attracted a

lot of attention – even more so when I

regaled them with the fact that the bike

was not mine but had been generously

loaned to me by the VMCC!

Given the large number of entrants (over

300 cars and 100 bikes) only one more

run was possible during the day but, as it

was dry by now, on my second run I

turned left at the top of the hill and

dropped down back to Princes

Risborough, prudently descending most

of the way in bottom gear. Even though

running on the hill was limited, being in

the paddock did at least give ample

opportunity to talk to the enthusiastic

spectators and the many VMCC members

who attend the event. Apart from various

later Brough Superior SS80s and Tony

Eaton's rorty SS100 participating, there

was also the rare sight of no less than 4

Brough Superior cars making an

appearance over the weekend.

A check over of the bike on Saturday

night revealed no problems and Sunday

was a pleasanter day with the sun even

making an appearance and drawing in

much larger crowds. Again two runs up

the hill were all that could be fitted in but

on the last run the bike was going so well

it caught up the preceding bike and I was

gently slowed by the marshals on the hill!

Dave and I had many interesting

conversations with spectators, explaining

the history of the bikes and what all the

strange knobs and levers did. Then a

short ride home and final check over

preparatory to returning the bike to Allen

House.

My grateful thanks to the VMCC for the

loan of the bike and particularly Ian

Botham, Chris Illman, Tim Penn, Chris

Hurworth and any 'persons unknown' for

making it happen. I hope I did both the

bike and the Club justice in taking it to

such a popular event. I certainly learned

a lot about the joys and responsibilities of

being entrusted with such a wonderful

historic motorcycle.

Nick’s article first appeared in the

November 2014 issue of the VMCC

Members’ Journal

P a g e 5 I s s u e 2 9

But what a superb engine – easy-starting,

pulling lustily from low revs, totally fuss-

free and linked to a progressive clutch

and nice gearchange. The Montgomery

forks give a reasonable ride, the riding

position and saddle are comfortable and I

found the lever throttle easy to use. I'm

going to enjoy riding this bike! I had set

the oiler to the setting recommended by

Tim Penn and this gave the recommend-

ed slight puff of oil smoke in the exhaust

when blipping the throttle. Back home, a

wash-down of bike and once-over of nuts

and bolts and then ready for the

weekend.

Saturday dawned …. horrible! I rode to

the Kop Hill paddock, only a few miles

from home, in the rain and signed on

leaving my finest giant bird seed plastic

bag over the leather saddle to prevent it

becoming sodden. The organisers

arrange the bikes in the paddock in date

order so that Dave Clark, who had

entered his beautiful 1922 W E Brough

Model W, was adjacent to me and was

conveniently at hand if I needed any

advice on the bike. For those who don't

know the work of George Brough's father,

William Brough, Dave's bike repays

careful study. It is an ultra-low fore-and-

aft flat-twin sports bike, with the engine

made in W E Brough's own factory, in

contrast to George Brough's Brough

Superiors where production engines were

The car park and paddock area at Kop Hill, with the course to the right.

Nick gets away in fine style

I n s i d e S t o r y H e a d l i n e

L ate November saw the motorcycle industry

stage its showpiece event of the year -

Motorcycle Live at the NEC. We were pleased to be

asked once again by Coventry Transport Museum to

assist them in staging the Classic Zone area within

the show, and this year the main theme was

Motorcycles from the War Years 1914-1918 and

1939-1945. Private owners and other museums

generously loaned us their machines, including the

Black Country Living Museum, who stepped in with

their belt driven 1918 Sunbeam, one of a batch

supplied to the French Army during WW1.

Phil Haslam to contest the F750 series, and converted to road

trim in 2014.

We’ve seen a few of Graham Nock’s bikes take the honours at

various shows over the years, and for this one he brought

along his lovely 1961 Norman B4 Sports (centre) featuring a

324cc Villiers power plant. The bike was originally prepared at

the factory for production racing and features alloy rims, high

compression heads, and twin front brakes.

Slimline and wideline featherbeds for sale (above right) in the

Autojumble at £900 apiece. A few yards away they were selling

new ones for not much more….

T he Autumn Stafford Classic Bike Show is mostly

dominated by bikes from the Japanese and European

marques, but there’s still some tasty British iron to be found if

you look hard enough. Villiers Services (top left) had a stand

that was somewhat bare, but the quality of their machines left

nothing to be desired. The Ford Thames 15cwt van in

particular was extraordinarily well restored.

Out in the Autojumble this fully restored 1953 BSA A7 twin

(top right) was one that caught the eye. Yours for £5,000, sir.

The bike we’d like to have taken home was this superb 1970

Weslake Metisse, (above left) originally built as a race bike for

S e e n a t S t a f f o r d C l a s s i c S h o w

M o t o r c y c l e L i v e

P a g e 6 B M C T N e w s

Here’s Ray Leggett with his 1958 BSA Bantam D5 on the Bantam

Owners’ Club stand at the Classic Motorbike Show. Ray is a

complete Bantam nut and even has his own private museum at

home dedicated to these tough little workhorses.

formed Monet-Goyon and set

up premises in Macon. In

1929 they absorbed another

French Marque, Koehler-

Escoffier and continued to

produce bikes under both

badges until the factory

closed in 1959.

A l t h o u g h a F r e n c h

manufacturer, there is

considerable British interest

in their output. They used a

range of Villiers engines in

their bikes and obtained a

licence to manufacture a

range of Villiers at their

Macon factory. In addition,

they used gearboxes by

From Mike Ricketts.

Any BMCT Members travelling

north or south through Western

France on the A10, either on

business or pleasure, would be

well rewarded to factor in a visit to

the Monet-Goyon Collection at

Melle. Leaving the Motorway

(Peage) at Junction 32, close to

Niort, you turn Eastwards some 20

miles to this pretty little town.

Monet-Goyon was a French

Motorcycle manufacturer. The

Engineer Joseph Monet had built

hand pedalled three wheelers for

use by amputees returning from

the Great War. In 1917, Monet

and Financier Adrien Goyon,

Burman, Albion and Sturmey

Archer.Dating from 1926, the

Monet-Goyon above is the

Type MC. Powered by a

Swiss M.A.G (Motosacoche

Acacias Geneve) 350cc single

cylinder engine, it is chain

driven final drive via a hand

change, three speed Burman

gearbox. The bike also

featured drum brakes front

and rear.

The Monet-Goyon Model S6V

above dates from 1950. It is

powered by a 125cc Villiers

incorporating a three speed

gearbox, built under licence at

the MG factory and is fitted

with rear suspension.

The Monet-Goyon collection

M e m b e r s ’ P a g e

P a g e 7 I s s u e 2 9

GREETINGS FROM JOHN ROSAMOND, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF

THE MERIDEN TRIUMPH WORKERS’ CO-OPERATIVE

Can I wish all BMCT members a happy and healthy 2015. The

picture is of my "Reminiscences of the Triumph Meriden

Factory" talk at the National Motorcycle Museum. What a

fabulous venue Hall 1 provides for the Midland Section of the

Vintage Motor Cycle Club. Any BMCT members who belong to a

club that has not yet received my popular talk can email me

at chris.rosamond1@googlemail.com.

can be found at:

Espace Sainte Catherine

Place de la Poste

79500 MELLE

Registerered Office:

Holly Cottage

Main Street

Bishampton

Pershore

United Kingdom

WR10 2NH

Phone:01386 462524

Mobile: 07754 880116

E-mail: info@bmct.org

T H E B R I T I S H

M O T O R C Y C L E

C H A R I T A B L E

T R U S T

Preserving the past...for the future

Trustees: I N Walden OBE (Chairman) P J Wellings, S Bagley,

T P V Barnes, J F R Handley, M Jackson, J N Jeffery, J Kidson,

Registered in England No. 01445196

Registered Charity No. 509420

Published by Matchless Management Services, Holly Cottage, Main Street, Bishampton, Pershore WR10 2NH

www.bmct.org

Dates For Your Diary 2015

February 7th-8th - Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show

Despite the title, the show is held 23 miles away at the Bath

and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. There’s a

classic bike auction by Charterhouse on the Sunday.

February 20th - 22nd - Race Retro Historic Motorsport Show

This is mainly a show for car enthusiasts, but motorcycles

aren’t ignored, as there’s a section devoted to competition

bikes. It’s on for three days at the National Agricultural

Centre, Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth.

February 21st - 22nd - Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show

Alan Wright’s popular winter show for dirt bike and road racing

enthusiasts at Telford International Centre has been taken

over by Mortons and rebranded. Expect to see the usual good

mix of off-road competition machinery, special guests, and an

Autojumble in the car park. Parking’s a nightmare so get there

early!

March 7th - VMCC Somerset Section Autojumble

At the same venue as the Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show, but

a month later, so hopefully warm enough to go on the bike!

April 18th-19th - 50th VMCC Coventry to Brighton Run

After a couple of years off the calendar, this popular event is

back and in the capable organisational hands of the VMCC

Midlands Section. As before, the BMCT will be at the Coventry

Transport Museum start ridiculously early laying on coffee and

bacon butties for the hardy contestants. The rider of the oldest

machine traditionally carries a letter of greeting from the

Mayor of Coventry to his opposite number in Brighton.

New Members

Welcome to the following new members and supporters of our cause:

David Kewley, Offenham Colin Leonard, Andover

Ian Spicer, Christchurch Alan Birch, Worthing

Jonathan Dailey, Northwich Adrian Jurd, Waterlooville

Ellis Pitt, Upton-upon-Severn Bruce Carey, Worcester

Steve Todd, Newport John Kelley, Waterlooville

Stephen Lee, South Molton Daniel Warwick, Poole

Lorna Howard, Poole Trevor Newell, Christchurch

Geoffrey Freeborn, High Wycombe David Jordan, Ampthill

Robert Wiles, Orpington Jeni Wicks, Crewkerne

Les Barham, Crewkerne Roy Lambert, Worcester

Anthony Stanes, Sanderstead William Tustin, Faringdon

Gearoid Conneely, Wisley Carol Bentley, Eastleigh

Philip Scaife, Didcot Mike Curtis, Cheddar

Martin Seymour, Caversham Richard Hopgood, Abingdon

Anita Bradshaw, Southampton Simon Bradshaw, Southampton

Tony Lockwood, Teaticket, USA Paul Pollard, Westgate-on-Sea

Alan White, New Milton Janet White, New Milton

Martin Maslin, Swindon Debra Maslin, Swindon

Roy Hazelden, Uckfield Richard Forgan, Aylesbury

Peter Davies, Castle Cary Peter Reeve, Dibden Purlieu

Alan Jennings, Billericay John Foskett, Christchurch

Ralph Godwin, Dorking Janice Worner, Haslemere

Alan Kingsnorth, Totton Anthony Pearce. Hove