NEWSLETTE R OF THE BRITISH MOTO RCY CLE CHARITABLE TRUST
P A G E
2
B M C T
N E W S
MEET THE CHAIRMAN Paul Barnes has taken over as Chairman of the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust from Ian Walden, who stepped down at the Charity’s recent Annual General Meeting. Paul has been a member of the BMCT for several years, and joined the board of trustees in 2006, bringing expertise in the field of finance and investment management. Paul is a keen motorcyclist whose current mount is a 1200cc Triumph Explorer, although he is looking to acquire a classic British machine to use for summer club events and meets. During his spell at the helm of the BMCT, Paul is keen to expand our network of affiliated museums into different areas of the UK, the first fruit of this being our new association with the Internal Fire Museum, which you can read about elsewhere in this newsletter. Another challenge for Paul in his new role is to oversee the change of the constitution of the BMCT as we move from being a registered charity company to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, a move agreed by the Members at the AGM.
I N T E R N A L F I R E M U S E U M O F P OW ER J O I N S B M C T A F F I L I AT I O N S C H E M E A new museum has joined the BMCT Affiliation Scheme. The Internal Fire Museum of Power is at Tanygroes near Cardigan on the Welsh coast and is run by husband-and-wife team Paul and Hazel Evans, ably assisted by their trustees and volunteers.
Petter and Sulzer can regularly be seen and heard running. There’s a museum shop and café, making it an ideal destination for club ride-outs during the summer months. Admission charges apply (again, see the museum website for details) but BMCT members will of course go free.
The museum covers the history of the internal combustion engine in industry, The BMCT trustees are delighted to make the Internal Fire Museum our first transport and agriculture, and the collection covers early oil engines through affiliate in Wales as we seek to expand our network of museums across the to gas turbines but with the emphasis on diesel power from the 1920s to the UK. 1960s. Exhibits are displayed in as near to original working environment, and new for the 2020 season will be a purpose built area displaying a range of vintage, veteran, classic and modern motorcycles. The BMCT are honoured to have been asked to provide machines for this new exhibition and to have input into their interpretation. In keeping with the theme of the museum, Paul Evans will be placing emphasis on the variety of internal combustion engines in motorcycles, focusing on the different engine configurations that have been adopted by manufacturers over the years. The museum opens Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of October, and every day during August (check their website for times). Exhibits range from the oldest working diesel engines in the UK to fully operational vintage telephone exchanges. It’s a working museum, and engines made by manufacturers like Tangye, Ruston, Allen, Crossley, Lister,
Internal Fire Museum
Internal Fire Museum of Power Castell Pridd, Tanygroes, Ceredigion SA43 2JS Telephone: 01239 811212 Website: www.internalfire.com Cover picture: The late Percy Tait doing the day job, road testing a Triumph Tiger 90, c.1963. Photo: Mortons Archive
I S S U E
4 4
P A G E
3
MANX NATIONAL HERITAGE PLANS NEW TT GALLERY News from our friends at the Manx Museum: Over the next couple of years the Isle of Man’s official heritage agency, Manx National Heritage (MNH) will embark on an exciting redevelopment at its flagship site, the Manx Museum in Douglas. This will enable the organisation to better showcase its growing TT and Manx Grand Prix collection. The earliest items relate to the era before motorcycles, when the TT was still a motor car race, but other highlights include the hip flask presented to Rem Fowler for his win in 1907, the trophy awarded for the first ever race on the Mountain Course in 1911 (won by Percy Evans aboard a Humber), as well as memorabilia from Stanley Woods, Geoff Duke, Beryl Swain, John Williams, Mike Hailwood, Mick Grant, Jock Taylor, Dave Molyneux and a host of other stars. The personal stories of those who support the races, such as marshals, mechanics, medics (and of course spectators!) will also feature. As well as motorcycles and sidecar outfits, visitors can expect to see battle scarred leathers and helmets, vintage advertising, marshalling items, and objects as unique as the paraffin stove and kettle used by the course doctor in the 1920s. MNH even have the flag used by HRH Prince William to start the 2018 TT Zero race.
the 1938 Belgian Grand Prix, so the one sewn up helps us to date the gloves. Readers may also remember the 1960 350cc Norton, which the BMCT acquired on behalf of the museum in 2017. This machine was delivered by Nortons directly to Bill Beevers at the 1960 TT. Afterwards he sold it to Noel Stephenson and latterly it passed to Ben Noble, who kept meticulous records of the races in which it participated and the maintenance work which was undertaken on it. It is something of a rarity being in ‘as raced’ condition, even retaining the hessian sacking fixed to the rear of the frame to prevent leaking oil reaching the back wheel! From the 1970s we have Mick Grant’s red leather sports jacket, worn as a member of the John Player Norton team at press and publicity functions. From the same source we have the winner’s sash worn by Mick after victory in the 1974 Production TT, aboard the legendary Triumph ‘Slippery Sam’. Mick later recalled that the rules were not as strictly enforced in those days, and that Sam was ‘about as legal as a bent copper’.
Naturally, British machines and memorabilia associated with them will feature prominently. We have a silver cigarette case presented by Norton Motors to Duggie Brown in 1920 (Norton were one of the most prolific in terms of gifts to successful riders), a 250cc Levis which participated in the 1922 TT (secured with BMCT support), and a medal presented to Jock Porter, the first Scottish TT winner, who competed aboard his own New Gerrard machines. From the 1930s we have the number plate from Doug Pirie’s Senior Manx Grand Prix winning Norton, the leathers and helmet worn by Bertie Rowell (also as a Norton rider) at the 1937 Manx Grand Prix, as well as historic machines such as Albert Moule’s 1938 350cc Norton, used at the Manx Grand Prix that year and possibly the 1939 TT. Norton records confirm that this was first spring-frame model ever sold, and was supplied to Copes of Birmingham. Again, this was acquired with BMCT help.
The collections will be presented against a backdrop of thrilling archive footage, as well as interview clips and talking heads, and it is hoped that outside of racing the magnificent full sized Mercury TT trophies will also be on regular display. However there are still a number of gaps that curators would like to try to fill, and interesting items are still being sought. For instance we are still seeking a BSA Gold Star with a good history of participation in the Clubman’s TT, and still in fairly original condition. We are also lacking a provenanced 1920s helmet, particularly one with a manufacturer’s name across the front as was the fashion. If you were a ‘Miss MGP’, or a promotion girl for firms like Dunlop or Michelin, we would like to hear from you. We have no artefacts at all relating to John Surtees. Perhaps you know of one? Even some perhaps mundane items would be useful, if they have confirmed TT history. For instance we do not have an example of the Mobil jerry cans used for fuelling at the start line in the 1950s, and nor do we have a black on white ‘Dunlop’ marshal’s sash from the same era. Mechanics’ overalls or tools would also be of interest, again if they have TT history.
Other memorabilia includes fuel cans used by Jack Blyth at the Manx Grand Prix in the 1930s, and a pair of gloves believed to be those used by Stanley Woods at the 1939 TT, where he helped Velocette to secure the only win for a British manufacturer, as the clouds of war gathered. Woods lost a finger at
If you think you can help, if you know the whereabouts of some important TT or MGP artefacts, or you are just interested to learn more about the development, contact Matthew Richardson on 01624 648053, or email matthew.richardson@gov.im
P E R C Y TA I T 1 9 2 9 - 2 0 1 9 We’re saddened to bring news of the passing of one of British motorcycling’s greatest characters. Percy Tait passed away on 17th November, just a few short weeks after celebrating his 90th birthday. Born in the north east, Percy honed his motorcycle riding skills as a member of the Royal Signals White Helmets display team while doing his National Service, and joined Triumph Motorcycles aged 21, initially on the assembly line but soon transferred to Experimental. He was the main development test rider for new models and clocked up over a million miles testing bikes in all weathers. Alongside this work he found time to become an extremely good road racer riding for many manufacturers, among them Royal Enfield, Triumph, Suzuki and Kawasaki, and also a part-time pig farmer. When his motorcycling days were over, he became a very successful dealer for Suzuki, first with motorcycles, and then cars, until selling out his dealership group in 2002. In retirement, Percy threw himself full-time into his other hobby as a breeder of pedigree sheep at his farm near Worcester. He became well known for his Bleu du Maine, Rouge and Charolais sheep, winning major championships at the big agricultural shows with all three breeds An inveterate practical joker, Percy was the nicest, most modest man you could ever hope to meet. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Di. He will be sadly missed.
P A G E
4
B M C T
N E W S
LA GRANGE À BÉCANES: MUSÉE DE LA MOTO DE BANTZENHEIM Here’s another museum visit report from our man in France, Mike Ricketts. On my travels again, I had gone to Mulhouse in the far east of France, very close to the German and Swiss borders. Whilst there primarily to visit the French Railway Museum, I was aware that there was a bike museum at Bantzenheim, but I had also read that its opening hours were seasonal, and I was there in December. Undeterred, I sent a speculative email and got a reply from the Secretariat that the museum was closed but, as she had work to do in the building, she was prepared to open the exhibits and allow me to visit. The main gallery area above, with the workshops on the left. Many the bikes displayed are from the French manufacturer Ravat who were active between 1923 to 1958 (the exact dates vary in different reference sources). The museum could almost be called the Ravat Collection as I am certain that it is the biggest collection of this marque. The museum is housed in a converted barn that has been very cleverly divided into distinct areas, including a small auditorium where they show videos and provide talks to school groups etc. The museum is very community orientated and it was this involvement that led to my hostess being at work, organizing educational material. The museum came about when Monsieur Raymond Lemoine donated to the town over 90 old machines from his collection! He had been gathering machines for some time and had amassed a huge collection of Ravat variants. Open from the first weekend in April until the last weekend in October Tuesday to Saturday 2pm to 5pm Sunday and public holidays 10am to 12:30 and from 2pm to 5pm Closed on Monday For groups of 10 and more, the museum can be visited throughout the year by prior arrangement. Contact them via the form on their website. La Grange à Bécanes 8 Rue du Général de Gaulle 68490 Bantzenheim France www.lagrangeabecanes.com
C OV E N T RY T R A N S P O RT M U S E U M U P DAT E We’re delighted to be able to confirm that Coventry Transport Museum have had a re-think of their admissions policy, and BMCT members may once again visit this outstanding museum free of charge. The museum, which had been free to enter for many years, reintroduced admission charges on July 1st this year. Unfortunately, since they didn’t communicate this change to the BMCT trustees, the first we heard of this was when they started asking BMCT members to pay for entry. We apologise to any members who were inconvenienced by this action, but can assure you that normal service has been resumed, and you are now able once more to visit free of charge this superb museum in the city which was the cradle of the British cycle and motor industry. There are several BMCT-owned motorcycles on display at the museum, including a threewheeler - a very early Humber Forecar. The motorcycles are dispersed around the museum’s halls amongst an amazing collection of locally made cars, buses, lorries and bicycles, including the Thrust Land Speed Record breaking cars. Well worth taking a day to explore.
P A G E
5
B M C T
N E W S
SAMMY MILLER’s MUSEUM EXTENSION
Work on the new museum extension is proceeding rapidly at Sammy Miller’s place in the New Forest. When complete there will be not only a bigger area to display bikes, but also a library area, meeting room, and a dedicated BMCT themed area where machines from our collection will be displayed together. The project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2020.
This lovely shot shows twins Brian and John Hewlett taking delivery of their near-identical 125cc Royal Enfields from Eric Williams Ltd of Worcester, back in the nineteen fifties. The Hewlett twins would go on to own a pair of Norton 650SS machines in the ’sixties, again purchased from Eric Williams with consecutive registration numbers, machines which they still own to this day. The twins and their Worcester Auto Club colleagues were among the volunteers who marked out the course for the 1961 ISDT, based that year in Llandrindod Wells, Wales. Incidentally, Eric Williams, who was from Hereford, was a works rider for AJS and won the 1914 Junior TT just before the outbreak of the Great War. After the war, Williams also took the honours in the 1921 Junior TT, again AJSmounted. In the 1960s Eric Williams Ltd. regularly loaned their Manx Norton to local riders like Don Brookes to compete in club and national road races.
P A G E
6
B M C T
N E W S
b o n h a m s au c t i o n r e p o rt A Brough Superior Overhead 680 project motorcycle was the top lot at October’s Bonhams Stafford Sale, selling for £92,000, against an estimate of £60,000 - £80,000 and leading the successful sale of more than 400 lots, which realised a total of more than £2 million and a sale rate of 92 per cent.
“Vintage projects performed particularly strongly this weekend, highlighting the continued interest for rewarding projects from the best manufacturers. It is also interesting to note continued interest and rise in prices for modern-day classics, such as the Suzuki GSXRs."
Other lots which performed particularly well and also exceeded their estimates Visit: www.bonhams.com/autumnstafford to view the full results. included a rare Heuer fine 'Carrera' wristwatch. Presented to nine-times motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Mike Hailwood by Jack Heuer, the Bonhams will return to Stafford for the Spring Stafford Sale, 25-26 April 2020. company's former chairman, in 1973, it achieved £56,312, four times its estimate. The 18k gold watch bore the personal engraving 'To Mike Hailwood for a successful 1973 Jack Heuer' – a reference to Hailwood's bravery in helping to rescue an unconscious Clay Regazzoni from his burning Ferrari at the South African Grand Prix, while Hailwood was competing in that year's four-wheeled series. The Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale also comprised The Bill Crosby Collection, a very special selection of more than 80 classic motorcycles, which achieved a 100 per cent sale rate and a total of £332,000. The top lot of the collection, which had been displayed at the London Motorcycle Museum, was the 1977 Triumph 750cc T140V 'Strongbow' Flat Tracker, which realised £33,350, more than three times the top estimate. This bike was one of only seven T140V Bonnevilles built by Triumph for flat-track racing in the UK towards the end of 1977. Ben Walker, International Department Director, Bonhams Collectors' Motorcycles, said: "We are pleased to have had another successful sale at Stafford and to have achieved our aim – to sell the best machines on the market at the best prices. Our realistic estimates attracted bidders from across the globe, and bidding throughout was incredibly lively.
London motorcycle museum closure Over the last couple of years we’ve reported in these pages on the uphill battle being fought by the Crosby family to keep the London Motorcycle Museum going in spite of low visitor numbers and a distinct lack of support from their (local authority) landlord. The museum celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, but the writing was already on the wall as, faced with ever increasing rent demands, founder Bill Crosby was reduced to selling off bikes from his private collection to keep the place afloat. The end finally came on 7th October when the Crosbys closed the museum doors for the final time, and the job of dispersing the large collection of motorcycles and associated ephemera began. The majority of the machines - mostly Triumph - that formed the Crosby Collection were consigned to Bonhams Stafford Sale (see above), while Bill himself has kept the ones he couldn’t bear to be parted from. Several of the machines on display were loaned to the museum by their owners, and these are being returned, while some are finding homes in other museums. It’s very sad to see such a superb collection being broken up, but it’s a sad fact that unless a museum has another string to its bow it’s very hard to make it sustainable. Here are some of the bikes that passed across the block at Stafford.
I S S U E
P A G E
4 4
7
M e m b e r s ’ pa g e Hi Andy, Thanks for the notification about the LMM closing, although I must say that I’m saddened, - but not surprised. It was Geoff Reid (my old work colleague from the days when he ran the Guide Dogs Adventure Group when we both lived in a tiny village called Dalton, not far from Richmond in North Yorkshire) who introduced me to the London Motorcycle Museum, shortly after he had moved down to Ealing and got himself involved. He introduced me to Bill (Crosby) and his collection, and I visited once or twice. Even then, my impression was that he had grown a little tired of the job, sadly.
Reg Allen Ltd) who rode it a couple of hundred yards up and down the road, came back and said, ‘It’s you, nothing wrong with it!’”. So he pushed it in his garage, covered it with an old blanket, and it lay undisturbed for six years.
It has proved a source of great nostalgia and re-learning to me; and now finally - it goes as it should. I don’t have enough room on this page (you’ll be relieved to learn) to document a complete gearbox re-build, rectify a ‘misground’ inlet cam and ‘substituted’ Amal carb., the list goes on! But although I now also have a ‘Classic’ E.F.I. Enfield, as well as my lovely Guzzi Oddly enough, although I lived in Weston - super - Mare, having been brought Nevada, (my BMW K75 just got too heavy and high to manage two-up), that up as a teenager in the motor-cycle industry (in Blackpool, my home town), old Bullet is my ‘go to’ choice, especially on our Charity Rides, of which we shortly after visiting old Bill’s collection, and feeling nostalgic about old have four or five a year down here in Somerset. ‘bikes, I found myself purchasing a very low mileage, ‘Personal Import’ 2002 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet, from a retired gentleman in Uxbridge, who owned a Very best regards and keep up the Good Work. Vincent Comet in his younger days. Vic Ryland The gentleman told me that he had “only used it a couple of times, to ride down Member No. A411 to Madrid and back to visit an old mate, I never did much more than 45 m.p.h.! Absolutely marvellous”, he said, “loved it to bits!”. He also said, “the gearbox Thanks, Vic. We were sorry to hear Geoff Reid has passed away. He was is a bit tricky. I did take it to the nearest Enfield dealer (Bill Crosby’s instrumental in getting the LMM affiliated with the BMCT. - Ed.
Dear Sir Please find enclosed a cheque which is a proportion of the memorial collection following my father Stephen Tanner’s sudden passing. He was a lifelong biker ranging from superbikes to classic British bikes. His love of motorcycles started an early age with the discovery of our greatgrandfather’s Triumph and sidecar. I have enclosed a photo showing my father beaming whilst my uncle on the back appears unamused. My father spent years restoring and riding Nortons and Triumphs. My family and I thought that our father would be proud to have donations raised at his funeral service sent to you. Rachel Fort Thank you Rachel and to your family for the very kind donation. - Ed.
New members Mark Holttum Tracy Holttum Ian Evans Charlotte Bircumshaw Philip Fisher Michelle Hillyard Adam Venus Rodger French Valerie Cole Mark Hall Carol Bertie Peter Scott Bernard Jones Craig Stevens Martin Edwards Gary Mitchell Maggie Mitchell Robert Secombes Adrian Robins Paul Jepp Liz Perkins Chris Woodward Barry Woodley Dennis Overy Stephen Walsh Daniel Sargent
Steven Paterson Kayleigh Handyside Geoff Cross Adrian Sargent Jeff Peyton-Bruhl Robert Boden Denise Boden Damian Rowley Emma-Leone Palmer Alan Smedley Christine Smedley Nigel Lawson Janet Cooke Michael Utley David Nardini Ian Stott Philip Boxall Keith Holmes Stephen Wilson David Carr Vaughan Jennings Peter Morgan Elizabeth Morgan Edward Noyce Wendy Noyce Laurent Lucas
Stuart Munro Daniel Norman Debra Gore Gerard Senior Lance Ford Tasha Marsh Keith Marchant John Goodhead Margaret Goodhead Roger Barton Stuart Thompson Seesan Wright Richard Rowlands Mike Blake Colin Piper Roger Mills Jemma Marsh Kevin Nixon Laura Nixon Robert Alexander David Herrington Nick Scott Thomas Bradbury Derek Moxon Maurice Ling Julie Hayes
Jake Pearce Andrew Evans Steve Butler Keith Owen Alison Owen Bethan Owen Michael Owen Lauren Owen Ashley Owen Joanne Owen Matthew Eke Russell Brown Stewart Richards Sarah Richards William Richards Anthony Roberts Bernard Kuropka Michael Lucas Richard Lucas Michael Cashmore Barbara Cashmore Neil Redley Ian Redley Robert Greatorex Susan Greatorex Frank Walsh
P A G E
B M C T
8
N E W S
T HE BR I T I S H MOTOR CYCL E C HA RI TABL E TRUS T Registered in England No. 01445196 Registered Charity No. 509420 Registered Office: Holly Cottage Main Street Bishampton Pershore WR10 2NH United Kingdom Life President Trevor F. Wellings Trustees: Paul Barnes (Chairman) Ian Walden OBE Peter Wellings John Handley Mike Jackson Nick Jeffery John Kidson Mike Penn Secretary & Editor Andy Bufton Mob: 07754 880116 Email: editor@bmct.org
The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust (BMCT) was originally formed in 1979 to raise funds to establish the National Motorcycle Museum at Bickenhill, near Solihull. Since 1995, however, the BMCT has been an entirely separate organisation, a grant-making Charity dedicated to the promotion of British motor cycle engineering heritage through a network of affiliated transport museums throughout the country.
Our affiliated museums are: Black Country Living Museum, Dudley British Motor Museum, Gaydon Brooklands Museum, Weybridge Coventry Transport Museum Dover Transport Museum Gloucester Life Museum Grampian Transport Museum, Aberdeen Haynes International Motor Museum
Associate Membership is open to all, and allows free entry to all the museums in our affiliation scheme. Our funding comes from membership fees, bequests, donations, and income from our investments. Please direct any enquiries to the secretary, at the Registered Office address on the left.
Internal Fire Museum of Power, Tanygroes Jet Age Museum, Gloucester Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man Museum in the Park, Stroud National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Sammy Miller Museum, New Milton The Norton Collection Museum, Bromsgrove
www.bmct.org
The Tank Museum, Bovington
Preserving the past...for the future
To all BMCT Members I thought you might be interested in our events list for 2020. You will see there are a couple of new additions for next year! As you probably know the Museum opens at 10am and closes at 4.30pm. Our Tearooms will be open serving delicious home-cooked food and our three craft and gift shops will be open on all event days too! FREE parking and of course our many animals to pet and enjoy – alpacas, donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and our two aviaries! We have plenty of excellent B&B and hotel accommodation here in the New Forest and I can provide a list of some of them if required. We always say that on event days if you ride in on the relevant make of bike please ride in and park in our historic Courtyard on the paviours and amongst the statues! We look forward to seeing you in 2020 and if there is anything I can assist you with please don’t hesitate to contact me. Kind Regards Viv Viv Brackett PA to Sammy Miller MBE
Published by Matchless Management Services, Holly Cottage, Main Street, Bishampton, Pershore WR10 2NH