Week Twelve: Watch Out For The Second Wave

Thought for the Week

It’s hard to believe that we are now in June, and whilst we are beginning to climb slowly out of Lockdown there is still a long way to go until things get back to normal. In fact, the likelihood is that a new normal of surveillance, obsession with R numbers and partial lockdowns and restrictions on regional level will be in place for a considerable time to come. Just remember whilst you are out in the Sun this summer. Watch out for the second wave…..There is always a second wave!

I have really enjoyed working my way through my archive and there is a lot more. However, it seems that now might be a good place to bring this part of the Virtual Motorcycle Team activity to a close. There is more work to do to prepare for the Virtual Motorcycle Day. I have also realised that I had a few non-motorcycling projects that need to be done whilst I have a bit more time on my hands; plus, I should also be spending more research time on the second War Bike book. Reflecting on D Day commemorations last year and VE Day this year has also made me think that maybe I should be concentrating on the more recent history, taking advantage of first-hand recollections. For example our very own John Porter spent time testing and evaluating military motorcycles in the 70s/80s and interestingly I found a box of photos at the Royal Logistics Corps Museum which included some BSA badged Japanese bikes and a diverse mix of bike that were under evaluation. Who knows one of fuzzy figures riding in the background could have been John.

To some extent I find that blogs of this nature tend to write themselves. As I write this I am reminded of a film of White Helmets hopefuls being evaluated. For a long time I was not sure if this was real or an elaborate spoof, but I believe it is part of a documentary. Some of the riding scenes suggest that these are people who have never been on a bike before! It reminded me that in the first days of WW1 some Met Police Officers, Army Officers and selected Civilians were given a tap on the shoulder and asked to join the Intelligence Corps and asked to report to an address where they were issued with 3½ hp Rudge Multis. Many of these men had never ridden a bike before so the report and pictures make interesting reading. Written in that flowery language of the time, this is an extract of one man’s effort*.  “Mechanics showed him the control, and he started up the hill as Pullin did when he set forth to win the TT. Maids, Children, dachshunds and Pekinese fled for safety, and then returning at breakneck speed he skidded almost to a standstill, and thanks to the excellent Rudge Clutch he managed to execute an 8.”    

Anyway back to the film that I found by chance in my War Bike archive. I have edited it down as the original is too long for this blog. As for the White Helmets, it was a sad day when they were disbanded as a result of MOD cuts.

*Warbike P63 ISBN 9781326406677

Douglas Restoration Ends

Back at Brooklands in August 2013 Ian McCaw and Carl Gebhard had completed the rebuild of the Douglas. 

Here Ian is exercising the bike on its first run.

First off the Douglas seems to have wet stumped 

Well too much oil is better than too little, so lets run with it!

The following year we were pleased to get a visit from Classic Bike Editor Gary Pinchin and photographer Mykel Nicolaou who dedicated 10 pages to the Museum and the Douglas restoration.

Garry takes a few notes whilst Mykel takes pictures

Ian & Graham acting as "Flash Harrys"

The Cotton Restoration Begins

Ian and Michael Digby Discuss the build

After the Douglas, Ian and Carl begun work on the Cotton. There was a lot of debate about how the work should be done. Clearly the bike as it stood would not been able to continue being run, and the initial work to strip the bike proved that it was already dangerous. Underneath the fork aero shrouds the rusty forks were paper thin. Peter Driver also did some great work recreating the original tank which was also rusty and quite leaky. Ralph Brough then finished the tank with a recreation of Doug Earl’s original artwork. The pictures show the beginning of the strip-down and I will gather the other films and images together for a restoration film in due course. I also have quite a lot of film and images of the Freddy Clarke Triumph which deserves the same treatment.

The Original Fork Shrouds hiding some very sorry looking forks

The original Tank. Full of character, but only good for straining vegetables! 

The underside of the take reveals just how little fuel it held.

The Oil Tank too had issues

Luckily Peter Diver came to the rescue fabricating both tanks. 

Michael McEvoy

Before we leave the McEvoy Shed I should mention that during 2013 I was asked directions from two women who turned out to be relations of Michael McEvoy. Another fascinating Brooklands related person. Did you know that McEvoy’s Competition Manager George Patchett led the team that developed the Patchett, Machine Carbine prototype later to become the Stirling Sub-Machinegun.

The Proud descendants of the McEvoy Family

 Sammy Miller Workshop Visit

In November we went on a Team visit to the Sammy Miller Museum, so its time to take another look at some of his interesting bikes in the workshop and witness a hair-raising demo in the courtyard.

Allen Millyard

Here are the last in the series of films made by Allen whilst building his Kawasaki Z1 Super Six.

Military Trials Competition

Keeping with the earlier theme of Military Motorcycling here are some slightly more advanced Military Motorcyclists.

Douglas Gymkhana

This is a bit of film showing how they used to have fun on two wheels. None of that ton-up lark for these guys. I notice the ball is a lot smaller than when I saw some Motoball matches in the 70s. In the 70's the goalkeeper had an engine-less moped to move from side to side!

Parachutes and Motorcycles

One Man One Motorcycle One Parachute and a cliff. What could possibly go wrong. Watch carefully has the hapless Osborne leaves the track on top of the cliff. The parachute has no time to deploy but maybe hitting the telephone cable may have broken the fall. This film says more about the robust nature of the human body than anything else.

Its been great to share some time with you all during this enforced lockdown. And by the way did I tell you about the stranger in my garage. I have no idea how they got there!

Thanks for Reading and Watching.

See You On The Other Side!