The Brooklands Museum remains closed untim August 2020. We are proud to be supporting the #lovebrooklands campaign and are one of the channels streaming the Virtual Motorcycle Day over the 4-5 July 2020. You can watch here Now LIVE or directly via the Brooklands Members TV Youtube Channel at the links below. The Virtual Motorcycle Day (s) features a look back at past events,Test Hill action, The Brooklands Motorcycle Team behind the Scenes, on the road at events in the UK and France. Also featured is Steve Parrish in conversation with Motorcycle Legends.
Those of us who grew up in the 1960’s were spared the
anxiety of wartime, but we did face the Cold War and the ever present threat of
vaporisation. However, we were OK as we had the knowledge to build a shelter under the Dining-room table.....But hang on a moment that seemed to give even less protection than my Dad had in his WW2 Anderson
Shelter!
The world has moved on to a new Century and just when I thought its safe to
go outside we have been faced with an invisible viral enemy and a Lockdown.
Take
a look at this somewhat prophetic post-apocalyptic sketch from Mitchell and Web
notice anything familiar?
Whats Next
With the weather getting better, thoughts of getting back to
Brooklands are ever present. However, the Museum remains closed and there are
not likely to be any events for some time yet. So, its time to start thinking
about what a virtual Motorcycle Show might look like. I was grateful for the
quick turn-round of comments from members of the team and there is still time to
let me know your ideas and I am particularly keen to learn of any people that
could contribute a video guide to their bike or even just a message of support.
My latest advice is that it would be possible to live stream the event for
real-time interaction with viewers via social media and this could also be
viewed after the event. I will try and have a Publicity Trailer that people can
share for next week or week of 11 June.
2013 At Brooklands
By the state of my hard-drive, 2013 seemed to be a busy year.
I seemed to be catching anything that moved.
I have picked out the Christmas Dinner Roundup film and a
teaser film of Ton Up Day. I think I will save the full 13 minute version with
footage of every bike fired up on the “Sound Stage” for the Virtual Event.
Montlhery
I also have some images and a bit of film from what I believe
is the 2013 trip to Montlhery which features John Bottomley on the Wicksteed
Triumph.
The theme for the rest of this weeks blog is bike building.
Zenith Bradshaw 2013
The following film was put together with clips of The Zenith
Bradshaw recorded on a beautiful November morning at the Museum.
Allen Millyard
Just about the last event I attended before the Lockdown was a talk given to the Brooklands VMCC Section by Allen Millyard. He talked us through the build of his Japanese Multi-cylinder projects and ended with his Vellocette V twin. Over the next few weeks I will post his films of his latest multi-cylinder Kawasaki Z1 Super Six project. I just love his laid back can do attitude. It almost got me thinking it was easy!
Part 1 The Crankshaft
Part 2 Sprocket Cover and Crankcase modifications
Board Track Racer Build
Now this is what I would love to be doing during lockdown. Its good to see that there is a wealth of young talented people out there to keep motorcycling history alive. However, I am not sure if there will be any fuel to run them!
Manufacturing a pioneer Rover imperial motorcycle (Silent)
This is a wonderful film. I could watch it over and over. It shows the building of the bike from sand casting the cylinder right through to assembly and test ride.
Running a 1912 Excelsior Engine
Next week: More from 2013 at Brooklands and Allen Millyard.
