Some Military oddities

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Winter Studies

When it’s cold and frosty there is not much incentive to get out on two wheels to brave the elements and slippery roads so looking around there is always something lurking in a magazine to spark the interest. Sometimes the internet when Silodrome posted something about the Indian Papoose aka Corgi or from Facebook and some Italian charm. 

I have a wealth of photos to browse through and books to peruse I look for links between companies about who did what first and this leads me on to an article that I found about a Military Bike Club from Classic Bike magazine from June1994 and pick up on the Norton Big 4 outfit with the side car wheel driving set up. 

It did go into limited production for the army but it was not long before the Jeep came along and with all the other manufacturers doing something similar it soon lost favour. The strange straight on character of the sidecar wheel drive made it a hard machine to master so much so that when these were sold after World War Two the sidecar wheel drive was disabled as it was thought to be too dangerous for road use. Harry Baughan had his sidecar wheel drive trials outfit in the late thirties that Norton used unofficially. There are striking similarities in the designs. I came across another article about single trackers with some imaginative things that had handlebars and a saddle and could be related to a motorcycle like the German Kettenkrad.

There is a two wheel drive Raliegh special and a Douglas single track that would not turn and a twin rear wheel Triumph model P that had a track running over them like the modern snowmobiles. It also had a feature of leaf spring handlebars that I had only seen previously on a bike at the Old Timer Museum near Ostend.The photo is of an OEC and has a set of those interesting forks.

You can be assured that even BMW had their version of a Single Tracker. 

As for military bikes it seems that all the manufacturers did something in World War Two with mostly overhead valve engines being used but what people do think about about is the BSA M20 the main stay of motorcycling at that time when the Triumph factory was burned down taking Coventry Cathedral with it endingTriumph production for quite some time until the Meriden works was built. This leads on to what happened next and the TRW. I did see one at the Off Road Bike Show at the beginning of December but thought it unusual to have gold lining on the tank. Not something I think would be acceptable for the military use but looked well presented though.

Off Road Bike Show 2017

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Off Road Bike Show 2017.

The off road bike show has come around again on a cold winters’ morning in early December. So cold this year that the heating had no effect and nearly all of us stayed in out door gear all day except the hardy. James has just returned from his around Britain excursion and was used to the cold braving Scotland in gales and heavy rain. The trusty Cub on the stand for all to see. A great achievement by any standards. 

The weather even put off some of the visitors to the show and it felt like numbers were down a little this year. Still good fun talking bikes all day. I spent some time going around the displays and Motoball is back again this year. It’s origins lay in the First World War when some of the dispatch riders decided it would be a good idea to use motorcycles to chase the ball and not run after it! Smart thinking for those who don’t want to run. Motorcycle Football had its zenith in the twenties and thirties and almost disappeared in the fifties. The main centre for this seemed to be in the West Country and as leading light of off road activities was Harry Baughan in Stroud who organised trials there. His works riders were also involved in this at the time. Harry was not impressed by one of his star riders breaking a leg and messing up the teams’ trials championship efforts that year.

Another interesting display was the MV Augusta stand and those light weights were looking a treat. The guy on the stand had recently visited the Museum and his support is much appreciated.

Wandering around I found a Brooklands Westlake a 580cc 5 valve ohc single. Looked very much like a Goldie but was in a Norton International frame using a Norton gearbox. Outside was the usual stuff. I did see the remains of a Levis at an incredible price and a purpose built moped from the thirties. 

Some unusual stuff always turns up. This year was no exception and on display was an experimental  175cc single over head camshaft Royal Enfield from 1962.

Lastly I have to mention Zoe returning for another show to sell her books. I bought the latest one and need to read it before April when she is due to do a presentation at the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club night. Another lady adventurer having just returned from her travels around Wales on a 125cc scooter. I’ll report back on the book in the New Year.

Star of the show this year was a long track Goldie and, as always, some well turned out bikes for us to see.

Back at the Museum on Monday it was not quite so cold and I did sort though a few magazines for interesting articles and found two on Military machines. A report from Classic Bike June 1994 about a Second World War Bike Club and even earlier in Classic Motorcycle from February 1983 about tracked and single tracked bikes. Even an early attempt at two wheel drive. All to be discussed later when there is not much going on.