Week Six: And the fuel is already going stale.

Last week we got sentenced to another three weeks for good behaviour and I experienced our car failing to start for its weekly shopping trip. Having had a look at it and I mean look, as I don’t understand modern engines, I think the fuel had evaporated in the line. When I had more time I managed to get it going and the exhaust smell was more like an engine left for seven years than days. It was that tell-tale old fuel smell. So maybe its time to exercise those engines more regularly now the weather is warming up.

My only question about this clip is WHY!

AJS

Well as you saw last week it looks done but the tank is still a bit of a state inside, so it will get another treatment. I also seem to have lost the rear brake rod. I must have put it somewhere safe! The front brake cable needs replacing, and it looks as if Venhill in Dorking are still operating. I have been looking for replacements online but can’t find anything suitable. I tend to avoid making brake cables but am ok on the others. It is now ready to take its place in the Virtual VE Day commemorations next Friday.

Moving to my Brooklands related archives, we stay with 2009 this week.

Test Hill Centenary

The first of these films is a short compilation of runs I made from the centenary of the opening of Brooklands Test Hill held on 22 March 2009. The following images were also taken at the event. Who can ever forget seeing Chris Williams take to the hill in that fire breathing Bentley. During the lunch break there were also other events such as the army cadets pulling an aircraft tyre up the hill.

The second film is uncut (just under 10 min) and exclusively motorcycles. Roger, John Duncan and Michael take part in the action. There is a shot of Dick Standing and his son in the pits and the main reason I kept it uncut was to soak up Michael’s excellent commentary. Also watch out for two Grindleys up the hill in tandem and Jerry Lark (The Morgan Owner) on a new imperial shedding his chain at the bottom of Test Hill.

James May Scalextric World Record

You may remember James May’s Series Toy Stories where James would challenge Sim Oakley to a series of seemingly impossible tasks relating to childhood favourites of days gone by. In August 2009 the challenge was to hold a race on a Scalextric track around the Brooklands outer circuit and in doing so set a world record. 

It did rather meet the description of impossible, but after what was portrayed in the programme as a bit of messing about in one of the empty offices in the Heights an army of volunteers began to build the track. And yes I was there with the help of my wife to capture this event from start to finish. I am particularly pleased with this film as it documents the whole event. It was an exhausting time running round the whole course. I was helped by the fact that the producers had provided about three sets of cars plus some section teams had their own test cars. Watch out for the mini cameras mounted on some of the Scalextric cars.

For maximum impact I went home and edited the film uploading it at 3am the following morning.  By 18 August It was No 14 in the Youtube charts and No 91 for the week. On 23 August it had climbed to No 7 in the news charts only beaten by Sky News items and was No 48 for the month of August 2009 with 30,000 views a mere sip of the cup of virtual fame! The following film has now had over 51,600 views. It turns out people round the world just love a Scalextric World Record.

Perry is now asking himself "why does it now take so long for Martin to edit films." The answer is of course that PB provides so much quality content I just don’t know where to begin!

Wings and Wheels

2009 continued to be a busy year for me and I was also at Dunsfold for Wings and Wheels. The track was just too far away to get any good shots. This was my one and only trip to the event, but watch out for our very own Geoff Brandon flying down the track on his Ariel.

Below there is also an outtake clip I got of a towed aerobatic glider braking a tow rope. A nice bit of work by the pilot to regain control and land safely. I thought this one might also go viral but not dramatic enough I guess.

Next week: We move onto 2010 and another epic motorcycle event at Brooklands and get ready to commemorate Virtual VE Day. I am also missing the weekly Quiz so I will have a go at adding one for the next few weeks. STAY SAFE.

Week 5: I Am Missing The Beach

That was the strangest Bank Holiday I have ever experienced. I should have been down at the beach swearing at the cost of parking and thinking about how soon I can get my new paddle board into the water. Instead I am still at home and taking the weekend off from the workshop. I have spent a lot of time in the garden, the winter weeds are no more and I spent most of Saturday afternoon laying in the sun catching up on my motorcycle magazines.

Brooklands and NLG

Just before I could get back in the workshop there was the Brooklands Members Bulletin to finalise. The next edition includes a motorcycle related piece about the first year of Brooklands motorcycling. We have managed to get some stunning shots of Charlie Collier setting a record at Brooklands in 1908 as well as images of McMinnies and Oscar Bickford who took part in the first ever motorcycle race at Brooklands. 

The first official race was of course won by William Cook on the famous NLG. North London Garages followed this bike up with the mammoth 2700cc JAP powered motorcycle that proved to be just too powerful, even for the outer circuit only managing a top speed of 84.247mph over a flying kilometre (in 26.553 seconds). Although this was a new unlimited speed record for Brooklands it was not recognised as a world record.

I did not realise that Parvel Malanik’s recreation of this bike was built specifically to beat Cook’s Brooklands time and prove that the bike could have reached 100 mph. Several of us witnessed this run at the 2017 Montlhèry Vintage revival. The following film gives some idea as to what this beast is like to ride. 

Back in the workshop 13-19 April

The bike is in the final stages of completion. I seem to have been saying that for the last six months, but I think I really mean it now. The tin-work is always a bit fiddly, but it went ok, the only issue being that I had temporarily lost the chain guard. Some of you will have seen it when I got it going at Brooklands last year. Since then I have fixed the massive oil leak. 

So here it is finished and ready for 8 May VE Day tribute. Some of you will spot there are no brake cables or linkages and I need still need to fit a period 1" mag lever. The double leavers are also still working the throttle as I have a guide missing from the twist grip.

Silverstone and the Birkin Memorial

In 2008 I got a look behind the scenes at Silverstone. I broke my foot falling off the winners podium so went back the following year to see the BRDC Clubhouse rather than the very impressive medical facilities! It seems that when they moved the club from Brooklands to Silverstone they took the original Brooklands gates (no image) and take a look at the plaques on the wall below you may recognise the Birkin memorial which is also on the Brooklands Clubhouse. I am assured by Andrew Lewis that ours is the original. The other things I took away from the visit was the number of people it takes to run a club meeting and the amount of kit the racers have these days.

Matchless Restoration 2009

I Just found some pictures of the 1956 Matchless 3GL when it first arrived at Brooklands. I could not get away from work when it was being worked on, so the next time I saw it was in the presentation picture. I gather it was not a straight-forward job. I remember Duncan saying it looked as if they must have just been grabbing random items off the shelf when it was built. I fear this was the case with a lot of manufactures as they merged during the twilight of the British motorcycle industry.

Vickers Vimy

We have all got used to seeing the Vimy in the shed at Brooklands and even running its engines sometimes. This particular replica was built in America  in 1994 and flew several fights culminating on 2nd -3rd July 2005, when the Vimy achieved the ultimate goal successfully re-enacted Alcock & Brown’s trans-Atlantic flight from St Johns, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland, in just under 19 hours piloted by Steve Fossett and Mark Rebholz.

However, in 2009 it arrived at Brooklands after a short flight from Dunsfold where it had been stored following its last flight. I will have to check but I guess that this aircraft may have been due to run out of time on its airworthiness certificates so had to be moved to avoid a later undignified trip on a lorry.

I was there to capture its return on 15 November 2009. I recall it was overdue and the light was fading. In the distance were the two dots of the Vimy and escort Shorts Skyvan. The Vimy did a couple of sighting passes before dropping out of the sky over MBW and onto the airstrip. It was quite dramatic and you will see it (luckily) has a very short landing capability. 

As a postscript to this story I understand that there was an earlier replica. We now have some images and more research is being carried out to feature it in a future edition of the Brooklands Bulletin.

Check out the film of the Vimy's return:

1935 Sunbeam Model 16

As I mentioned in last weeks blog I got my Sunbeam in 2009. This was my first British bike and was acquired after losing out on a hand-change Royal Enfield and a Norton. I got it from an antique dealer up north who had a choice of two. This Sunbeam has had a hard life but is full of character and quite rare being the only year that they featured the bulbous silencer. The silencer's patches now have patches and I need to get a new one made. I am very slowly replacing worn out bits and the next stage will be to take a look at the smoking engine. I have not ridden it for three years, but it still started first time when I had it out last year.

See you next week.

Week Four: What does Success look like?

Thought for the Week 6-12 April 2020

Keeping up to date with the family via video conferences I notice that the kids are keeping up to date with school work via video at home so I thought I should update my life-long learning. I have done a couple of free modules on the Open University Website which are really quite good for getting immersed in something completely different. I also spent a bit of time getting to grips with tyre codes. The Avon website has a good explanation of the symbols found on the side of your Roadrunners.

Your online learning for this week is: What’s the difference between Success and Failure?

_____________________

On Sunday we learned of the death of motor racing legend Sir Stirling Moss. A hero and true survivor having endured three accidents that might have finished off a lesser mortal. The first was Spar 1960, The second the horrific crash in 1962 at Goodwood that put an end to his racing career and the third, and less well known was a fall more recently, down the lift shaft of his London flat.

My two most prominent memories of Sir Stirling were firstly many years ago, receiving a Christmas present of a “Marx toys” Stirling Moss Crash helmet which was my pride and joy. (I still have it somewhere!) And second is being privileged to witness one of his last races at a Goodwood Revival. He still insisted on wearing one of his original pattern crash helmets.

Sir Stirling was the founding President of the BTM (Brooklands Members). He never really recovered from a chest infection picked up in 2016 and he subsequently retired from public life and as President of the Brooklands Members in January 2018.

I was glad to see that even in these difficult times Brooklands Museum and Members were still able to properly mark his passing with the Clubhouse flag flown at half mast.

Brooklands Clubhouse 12 April 2020 with flag at half mast

Back in the Workshop

Meanwhile in the workshop I have now found a wiring diagram for the AJS and spent a few hours getting the electrics working. I have now got the horn working which is good enough for a daylight MOT, but have put the lights on hold as I just can’t get my head around it. I consulted my Ladybird book “Magnets, Bulbs and Batteries” but no luck.  I have now put the job on hold and after a quick chat with Tony I think I have made the mistake of assuming it was correct when I dismantled it. So working on my reference pics is no good!

P.S. Yes, I have to get an MOT for this 1930’s bike  as it is currently unregistered.

The material has arrived for the spindle spacer so I will also get on and make that, but no pillar drill or lathe plumbed in so that too will wait for now. In the meantime I have made a temporary rubber spacer.

Next the wheels were fitted. The rear tyre was still a bit uneven on the rim so that was adjusted. I have also realised that the front brake shoes should have gone off to Villiers Services before the lockdown. They are ok, but the rivets used to fix last replacement shoes were too big and almost binding. This to has been noted in my work log and will be done after May.

The other reason that the lights are not important is because the front light has been replaced it with a WW2 blackout mask which I coincidentally picked up in an auction lot.

I have researched blackout masks and there is a pattern for motorcycles which appears to be different from mine. However, they did change the regulations during the course of the war and I have seen my pattern fitted to a motorcycle in a period image so that’s good enough for me. I then spent a bit of time trimming the mask with the faithful Dremel before fitting it in a knackered light surround. My 1938 AJS is almost ready to live it’s imagined wartime role as an ARP warden’s bike run on a bit of fuel picked up from Brookland’s very own Spiv, Bob Webb.

Next there was first the delicate matter of getting it off the workshop stand. The stand wheels became an issue as the bike was still well off the ground at its lowest setting. Luckily the AJ is fairly light so I was able to tip it off onto the front wheel whilst lifting the back and kicking away the stand.

The last jobs involved fitting the tin work and front brake, other cables, rear brake linkage and tidying up the loose wires before fitting the seat and tank. The picture shows the blackout mask on its first fitting.

The 1938 AJS begins to take shape.

Hampshire Ride-out

I Just can’t wait to get it out on the road. In the meantime here is a film of the other AJS out on the Hampshire lanes in 2019. For those of a delicate disposition the sequence does include an open pub. I would normally regard this as a boring subject, however in the present circumstances I suggest you take the laptop out to the garage, rest it on the handlebars of your bike, climb aboard and enjoy!

Brooklands Relived 2009

Its hard to top last weeks film of the 2008 Centenary, in my view one of the all-time classic Brooklands events. Here is my film of the 2009 Brooklands Relived & Beyond Event. This was my first outing on a Vintage bike with my 1935 Sunbeam having been acquired just three weeks before. The quality is not that good as shot on our first little digital camera in video mode. How technology has moved on in 10 years.

Surrey Norton Owners Club Event 2009

The next film is the 2009 Surrey Norton Owners Club event on 16 May 2009. It is worth noting that whilst filming was taking place the UK had reported 78 cases of H1N1 Swine Flu which had spread to 36 countries. The following day we hit 100 cases. By 23 July when the National Pandemic Flu service was launched 29 people had died in the UK and we had an estimated 55,000 new cases in the week ending 16 July. By August the cases had fallen off a cliff so there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Check out the Play-Pen (Car park) used for the event. Dick Standing is there with his Son. Ted, Michael and Roger are riding. Bob Webb is in attendance with the mini Sidecar and there is a quick shot of Don Green starting his bike. Also Gordon, Duncan, Chris and Fred? No doubt Michael will know the other Surrey Norton guys.

Stay Safe and catch up next week.

Week Three: The Pressure is on

As I sit down to write this the sun is shining and I am surrounded by a chorus of Jet Washers. The Jetsons as I have come to call them have been increasingly busy over the last few days. As for us the fence is painted the lawn is cut, so its back into the workshop to finish the 1930s AJS project in time for the VE Day commemorations. Well that was the plan, but now 8 May will be just another day rather than an extraordinary Bank Holiday Friday.

Bill Crosby RIP

I heard last week that Bill Crosby had sadly passed away. Another legend of the motorcycling world gone, but not forgotten. Back in the 70s I never owned a Triumph but I still knew all the shops and dealers across South London including Reg Allen, which Bill took over in 1958, when I was still in nappies. However, perhaps his biggest legacy will be the London Motorcycle Museum which bought pleasure, nostalgia and education to its visitors. Sadly also no more, I found it difficult to watch Bill and his family preside over the destruction of their collection earlier this year.

I was glad that Ian Dabney was able to provide valuations for a number of their rare Carburettors and was amused to subsequently see Bill in an episode of Henry Cole’s Junk and Disorderly rebuffing Sam Lovegrove’s offer for a Rattrap Carb. “Nooo I’ve been offered a £1,000 for that!”

Also Perry recorded some poignant images of Bill at the museum just before the Museum closed its doors. I think they capture the moment so well.

Diary 30 March – 5 April

I am used to having an editor to keep me in check, so I will try and be succinct, but forgive me if I ramble a bit!

It took about three days to clear the decks after working on a job lot of Carburettors bought at a sale for Kempton. These days Virtual Kempton is Ebay and they are doing quite well after a good clean. The AJS Model 22 has been undergoing a preservation as it is very original.

The bike had been laid up for years and the tank, fuel lines and carb were a real mess. The carb is cleaned, I have sourced some similar fuel line, but am still working on the tank. The bike was striped and cleaned, but nothing more was done to the engine which turned over well and produced a healthy spark. The gearbox was inspected rebuilt and mating surfaces sealed with Locktite 5940.

Several weeks after the recommended curing time the box was back in the bike and filled with the semi fluid grease I sell at Kempton. I had discovered that the primary chain had been lengthened and was held together with some sort of home-made link. I am pleased to say the new primary chain is one of the few replacement parts I have needed to purchase. The mudguards were very rusty, but original and sound. They had been touched up over the years with a mixture of what I suspect was jenolite and red oxide paint. In fact the whole bike had deposits of white over areas of rust.  I reluctantly re painted the mudguards keeping the original hand painted look and worked what I suspected to be Jenolite marks to become a wartime identification marking re-imagining this little survivor as perhaps an ARP Warden’s bike. “What the bloody hell do you think you are doing Manwaring…. Put that light out” The Forks were cleaned up and turned out to be a bit of a challenge to fit to the bike. Some jobs are just easier with two people. The other new purchase was a set of Tyres and Inner Tubes.

Next Time: The final Furlong.

Motorcycle Events of Yesteryear

Now we move onto films of previous Brooklands events. One of Brookland’s largest and most successful events was the Motorcycle Centenary Event. In 2008 I was not yet a member of the team but went to event clutching my Panasonic Digital 8 video camera and produced this video record of the day.  
The Box in the bottom right will open the film in Full Screen mode.

Now a Classic Barry Sheen Memorial Trophy Race from 2016. Watch as Charlie Williams and Mike Farrell do battle on their 1933 Rudge against Nortons and Gold Stars in the rain. Its well worth watching to the end.

The Box in the bottom right will open the film in Full Screen mode.

In Other News:

My order of Tyres for the 1928 Sunbeam Project arrived last week, which is a bit awkward as the bike is stuck at Brooklands. More on that project later.

Vintage Tyres tell me that they are still operating on a mail order basis. They are also offering a 5% discount on orders so check them at at: https://www.vintagetyres.com/

If you are unable to get the 5% off code please feel free to order through me at Sales@fenlandclassics.co.uk and I should still be able to get you the 5% off their web price (before VAT).

Week Two: Its Life Jim, but not as we know it.

Introduction (Thought for the week)

Well its week two of the Lockdown, a term that in a former life I would not be using. However, it does succinctly describe our position. There are few times in life that you share the same situation as so many others. This is after all a global phenomenon, and speaking to my mate in Norway yesterday we were pondering (we have always done a lot of pondering!) on what life would have been like if this had occurred a few years previously. 

We were having a conversation whilst he was driving through a tunnel under Oslo Town Hall, that iconic home of the Nobel Prize Giving Ceremony, whereas not many years ago we were keeping in touch via letter, then tape was followed by email. Not long after we kept in touch via Yahoo messenger and then Skype. Today we have so many options to keep in touch, which lessens the stress of confinement. I keep imagining the next call or email I get will be headed **EXERCISE EXERCISE** which is the term used when testing scenarios in my previous life! But this is for real and I have every confidence in all those in public service to keep us safe and get the country up and running as soon as possible.

In the meantime; its life, but not as we know it!

26 March to 3 April

Since Mark’s great idea for keeping in touch each Thursday I have been back over my Brooklands images for the last 10 years and after seeing Gareth’s blog realised that Blogger would be a good channel to publish some of those older films of events gone by. I hope they will provide a bit of nostalgia to those who were there and provide a new experience for those who are newer to the group. This week there will just be a few pictures, but by next week I should have some films of events starting with the Centenary event (2007) before I was a member of the team followed by Centenary of Test Hill opening, Brooklands revival as well as those days in the play pen.

During the last week I have spent most of my time writing articles for the next Brooklands Bulletin and so not much time spent in the Workshop. After finishing this (Tuesday) I will be back there doing a tidy up to prepare more space for the AJS Project.

Other Channels are Available

Wearing my Members Committee hat I have been in touch with John Bottomley and Mark Jarman of Brooklands MembersTV who have reminded me that there is also a wonderful archive via the BrooklandsTV website.  This has events as well as many Members talks which are also on Vimeo and YouTube. Do you have any films to share? If so contact Mark Jarman on this link. Alternatively if you have any photos Email them on the Thursday circulation.

Pictures of the week from 2008

The Cotton JAP before Restoration

Cotton JAP engine detail

The Wicksteed Triumph before restoration

The Triumph Ricardo, The first bike I worked on

As a teaser I will leave you with a little film I made in 2010. I made it by attaching a camera to my push-bike and riding round the lower banking between Brooklands Drive and the river then on the old airfield access road. I then processed it and added the soundtrack of my 1935 Sunbeam. The intention was to do as much as I could of the track, but I am still recovering from the effort of keeping the bike up on this low banking!

Watch and enjoy:

I also found this film from 1998 of a VMCC event. No doubt some of you will be able to provide more information about this event.

Other Items of Interest
On 25 March 2020 The government carried out an automatic extension for  MOTs of Cars Vans and Motorcycles to bring them in line with Lorries. See more on Gov.UK website
Catch up next week.