Week Eight: Virtual is the New Normal

Thought for the Week

It seems that during this extraordinary time, you can stick virtual in front of any word to make it a thing. Last week I told you about a Virtual Garage tour and this week I have pictures of Virtual VE Day. However, I have a few words of warning about Virtual Track Days, as they can bite you back!

Sammy Miller's Museum

2011 was slim pickings as far as Brooklands was concerned, but in Feb I paid my first visit to Sammy Millers. Here is a selection of bikes from the collection. Sammy has recently expanded the building housing his collection and must therefore be keen to get back to help pay the bills. However, I think that Sammy Miller’s does seem to represent very good value for money, and if you are a member of the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust (BMCT) its free. You could do Sammy Miller and Beaulieu all in one hit for free or if you are counting BMCT Membership £20, yes just £20 per year. Well worth a membership after this madness is over.  Visit the BMCT Website 

Below are some images of some bikes of note. This FN has an interesting leading fork suspension setup.

A 1923 Martinsyde Newman. This bike from the Woking based marque is looking looking a little more concourse than ours at Brooklands. Martinsyde were manufactures of early aircraft at Brooklands.

A 1947 Nimbus. I first saw one of these in a car park in Oslo. It was red and Grey and I thought it must be some sort of Custom Bike. Based in Denmark the Fisker Neilsen Company made bikes between 1919 to 1960. You still see them occasionally, but I guess there are a few more about in Scandinavia. Interesting that Sammy has chosen black as I think the two tone red may have been the more common colour.

  

A very nice very original Quadrant from 1898. Others may be able to comment more on this bike, but I guess the De Dion Bouton engine was an off the shelf model which has been shoehorned in what appears to be a modified ladies bicycle frame with an added cross bar. Gaces Guide confusingly tells me this is a 1.5hp engine motorised in 1900 by Arthur Taylor.  I think this must be some sort of special or prototype hence Sammy's interest. I can't read the display sheet, but if you look at the drive its a chain with the pedal driving some sort of shaft possibly inside the tube. I must get down to Sammy's and investigate further.

We are so used to looking at the Brooklands Grindley its easy to forget about the road versions. This is a very nice looking Model ST1 from 1925. Why do they not command the same interest as Brough Superiors? I think I know the answer which lies in Brough's apitite for self promotion and there are still just about enough about to stimulate insane bidding, whereas the Grindlay's are really quite a rare beast.

No collection of images from Sammy's would be complete without the Porcupine. A future Blog will feature Sammy riding this round his courtyard during a Motorcycle Team visit.

Another Motorcycle made by an aircraft manufacturer. This Verdel from 1912 features a five cylinder 750cc engine in what is essentially a bicycle frame with a single speed and a chain drive. I don't know anything about it, but this bike says speed. (And Scary) after mergers, the company founded the brand Gnome Rhône.

Below is a short 1 minute film of Sammy Miller Running the Verdel

 

Brooklands Auto Italia

The only Brooklands event I have for 2011 was Auto Italia which according to the film date stamp was held in April.

Virtual 75^th anniversary of VE Day

On Friday 8 May and I should have been packing up the AJS to go to RHS Wisley as part of the Brooklands contingent taking part in the VE Day 75 Cavalcade. The Bike was ready, but of course Lockdown prevented the event from taking place. So I was restricted to the front garden and a fly past of a Spitfire from Goodwood which was due to honour several WW2 veterans, one of which lives very close. However, I missed the Spitfire and shared family commemorations via Watsapp.

The most important thing is that we did remember all those who experienced the War and those who sadly did not make it. I watched someone being interviewed about their Wartime experiences contrasted with the current Lockdown. His answer was “it was not as bad as this!”

  

 

Now some absolute gems from the Pathe News Archive

Assembling a bike in 20 Minutes

A lovely little promotional film demonstrating the assembly of a Francis Barnett. Maybe we should try it at Brooklands some day. NO SOUND

Speedsters at Brooklands

First up is a very short clip of a 500cc Scratch race from 1930 won by Burt Denley. Interesting as you get a short comment from Burt at the end. 

It is followed by the opening of Woodley Airodrome in Reading. for those interested in Aircraft there is a good shot of an Auto-gyro.

Joe Wright 150 MPH Record in Cork 1930  NO SOUND

Dangerous enough at Brookland's but on an open road which was sort of closed, does not bear thinking of. In this film we get some good rare shots of Joe Wright without his crash helmet on and an insight into the very special protective clothing. There's the back brace and Kid gloves, the knitted  jumper and a pair of shoes. What could possibly go wrong. Nice shots too of the streamlining to the OEC JAP bike and the modified helmet

Old Crocks At Brooklands

A wonderful film from 1931 showing some pioneer bikes being shown off. There is also some very good action shots on the banking. The camera angle is quite high and fairly smooth.

Brooklands 1936

A short 25 second news reel film of a Brooklands Race. 

Brooklands Open Meeting 1938

The bikes appear after 30 seconds. This is a late film and I think this is the first time I have seen bike racing on the Campbell Circuit. Sadly it mad up of loots of very short clips but its forth freeze framing to get a better idea of whats going on. Looks like its our man Fernihough was the winner as he is seen posing at the end.

Brighton Speed Trials 1932

Brooklands in its heyday was of course the place for records and so it is perhaps not a surprise that this film of the Brighton Speed Trials is called Brooklands by the Sea.  A Cotton gets off to a good start narrowly missing some guy nonchalantly strolling down the track. This is followed by Campbell vs Cobb. Again its good to hear the voice Campbell wearing a Bluebird jumper and obligatory fag.

Next time we move on to my archive of 2012/13 and lots of Thursday action with the Museum Vehicles