and let's not forget the classic bikes
and let's not forget the classic bikes
I love the expressions on the rider's faces, especially on the No5 Norton with the telescopic forks. And you notice the real 'pudding basin' helmet on this rider. Now look at the rider on the even older Norton with the girder forks. he is wearing a 'modern full face' helmet. Doesn't the old style helmet look so much better on an old bike. Would probably be as useless as 'tits on a bull' in the event of an 'off', but good on him for keeping it period. Safety thread please note!!!
These were just like the machines that we used to ride from Lincoln College to Christchurch in 1959/60. Pudding basin helmets???? Get off the grass.......T shirts, shorts and jandals, at 80MPH!!!!!!!!! I can remember it being bloody cold, even on a NorWest day. We must have been made of tough stuff.[ Read all about it on Yards and Yarns post 4.]
I learned to ride in the late 60's on a 350 Honda in Sydney - like you, no helmet, T shirt, shorts & jandals. Quite often with a pillion too [the owner].Originally Posted by AMCO72
Crazy days but we survived.
I think those Honda 350's were the start of the slide into oblivion of the beautiful, vibrating, oil dripping, wonderful sounding BRITISH, or should that be BRUTISH, bikes.......sigh!!
Ho ho ho! Agree about the open face helmets. My first vehicle was an LE Velocette and I remember riding the 120 miles to London on it, to the 1965 ORMA (BRM Supporters Club) dinner wearing my suit and a secondhand scruffy motorbike jacket and an open face skidlid, painted like Graham Hill's helmet, but maroon & white rather than blue & white!!!
Getting the autographs of Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Raymond Mays, Dickie Attwood, Rivers-Fletcher, Tony Brooks, Tony Rudd, Cyril Atkin & Wilkie Wilkinson (and Albert Powell who I didn't recognise at the time) on an ORMA Rules card may have to go to an Ebay auction before too long, as I suspect that when I keel over, the kids wouldn't understand the relevance - or value.
screwdriver, doing 120 miles on an LE Velocette must have taken all day and most of the night!!!!! I dont think that is what they were designed for.....more of a commuter bike. One of the lads at Lincoln when I was there, had one of these things, but us Norton/ Triumph bike people didn't consider it to be much chop. It was so quiet you couldn't hear it coming, and as for starting with a handle, well, I ask you. BUT thats the funny thing, while we were kicking away furiously, nearly busting our leg as well as gut, our mate Cedric, gave a couple of pulls on the handle and was off, leaving us in the dust!!!!!!!!Cheeky devil.
Looking at these photos.....makes me wish I went! Some fine machinery and loving the bikes..... open face helmet though .... looks cool but I would shudder to think of chin plus tarmac at 90 mile an hour! Love it.
From memory, it was only about two months after my test that I headed off to Bournemouth, with my 13 year old brother on pillion - that was 186 miles and took six and half hours (at 95mpg), flat out, 50mph/80kmh.
The trip to London was down the M1 motorway and I slipstreamed trucks (following far too close) and got my speed up to about 60mph!!!
Yup. The local bikers outside the chip shop were staggered at how easy it was to start using the starting handle!
Nigel, You are a wizard with that camera. I walked around and took about 230 photos but i will shelve them and just look at your master pieces. Thanks for sharing.
How are those speedway cars. All the cars and bikes were majic. And great to see so many mature people enjoying themselves.
Cheers Rod - it sure was a great day
I think it was a wee bit ironic that there was a comment or two near the beginning of the thread saying it would not be interesting!
As far as the pre 60 saloon cars (that we had none of) a few discussions over the weekend and since have firmed it up. Just now waiting for a bit of ratification from VCC and then I will post the "guidelines" on the "Going Even Older" thread. Give me a week or two, but in the meantime remember this is for "spirited motoring" in the cars. For those who were at HD this time, take on board the spirit in which this was done, and you will have the picture.
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