If
you can't get the real thing........
Exactly
that! We would love to have a Matchless G50 in a Sealey frame to
display but so far no one have donated one. This is unlikely as such
masterpieces of racing history are still out there being raced but we
are ever hopeful. Next best thing has arrived and will be with us for
the next few months, so come to see it while you can is the full
sized wooden replica. It is a work of art and taken some 700 man
hours to complete. The detail is incredible down to the cable ends
and the allen bolts that adorn the crankcase. The controls look so
real you feel that if you pulled on the front brake lever the brake
would actually work. Not something to do so it is view only and
don't touch! Previous experience by the artist with a Norton has
resulted in a number of broken levers! I have taken a few pictures to
whet the appetite!
Now
moving on and we still need more income and the best way is come and
pay us a visit. While we have the Matchless the 500cc Gold Star racer
is in the little barn and will come back later. As we are still in
winter and there is not much going on I have a chance to look at some
of the old bike magazines and found a technical article on the
Greeves Silverstone engine and fitting a Dolphin like fairing to a
Velocette LE. I remember this when it was first published in Motor
Cycle on 20th August 1964!!
I'll not bore you with all the
details but I thought the development by Greeves of the 197cc
Villiers engine into a competitive product that was enlarged to 246cc
was amazing then when they felt they could go no further designed
their own engine out of the trials and tribulations of racing along
with a great deal of thought to build a successful competition
machine.
These two Greeves were at the Off Road Bike show Kempton Park December 2015
Silverstones Mk 1 and 2
I
do get out occasionally and last Thursday left Museum fliers at
Ryka's before heading off for the day on a ROG's Run with the Wey
Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club. It was a very pleasant outing
clocking just over 200 miles on my Kawasaki ER6F and not too cold!
That's because I have fitted some R&G heated handlebar grips!
My
project for the coming week is to get the kick start on the Velocette
Valiant working correctly. It feels like the teeth on the 60 year old
starter quadrant have stripped and I will need to fit a replacement
and may be the starter pinion too. Can't wait to get it fixed as
there will be shows to take it to. Southern Classic bike show on 21st
May at Kempton Park is usually my first one of the year so I do have
plenty of time.
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