Vincent
Legendary bike under the hammer
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » Bike News - Monday, 23rd August 2010, 18:26 GMTThe motorcycle that took the legendary Helmut Fath to the Sidecar World Championship in 1968 and Horst Owesle to the same title in 1971 is expected to fetch as much as £80,000 when it goes under the hammer at the 17th Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show, Stafford on 16-17 September. The URS motorcycle and sidecar will be sold by Bonhams at the show after being offered from an important UK private collection, together with the 500cc URS-engined Seeley prototype that John Blanchard rode to 4th place in the 1967 Ulster Grand Prix and which was raced later in 750cc form by Tony Jefferies. World Champion in 1960 riding a privately entered BMW, Helmut Fath spent the next few years out of racing following a serious injury. When his attempts to return to racing were knocked back by the German manufacturer, he set about building his own four-cylinder ‘URS’ racing engine, which took its name from the village of Ursenbach in Germany where the project was conceived. The URS was plagued by teething troubles in its first two seasons but delivered Fath his sweet revenge in 1968, when he and passenger Wolfgang Kalauch beat BMW-mounted Johann Attenberger to take the World Championship. In 1969 another serious injury enforced Fath’s retirement from the sport but the URS was not done yet. Horst Owesle took over the drive and after a promising debut season which saw him finish 7th in the 1970 World Championship, he and passenger Peter Rutterford secured the URS’s second World title the following year. Also offered from the same collection is the actual 1977 MV Agusta 832cc Monza superbike that was tested by ‘The Motor Cycle’ magazine at 147mph, making it the fastest production machine in the world at that time, with an estimate £30,000 - 35,000. The Sammy Miller Museum in New Milton, Hampshire has put forward three of its machines: a 1933 AJS 496cc Model 34 (est £10,000 - 12,000), a 1934 Matchless 596cc Silver Hawk V-Four (est £30,000 - 35,000) and a 1922 Velocette 220cc EL3 Lady’s Model (est £3,500 - 4,500). The AJS and Matchless have been totally restored by the Museum’s own workshops to their customary impeccable standard, while the Velocette is presented in original and unrestored condition. Vincents are always in demand and this sale provides plentiful opportunities for devotees of the Stevenage marque to expand their collections, there being no fewer than eight already consigned. Six are offered by the same private collector: a 1954 Black Shadow Series C (£40,000 - 50,000), c.1948 Rapide Series B (£17,000 - 20,000), 1949 Rapide Series C (£17,000 - 20,000), 1955 Rapide Series D (£18,000 - 22,000), 1969 Egli-Comet (£8,000 - 12,000) and 1951 Comet Series C (£8,000 - 10,000). No sale at The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show would be complete without a selection of collectible Japanese motorcycles and Bonhams has some real rarities on offer this year. Consigned from the same private collection, these include a 1960 Lilac 300cc Lancer £3,800 - 4,200, 1959 Yamaguchi 49cc AP10 Autopet (£2,800 - 3,000), 1971 Bridgestone 350cc GTO (£4,000 - 4,500), 1966 Marusho 499cc Magnum (£3,500 - 4,500), 1956 Yamaha 125cc YA2 (£2,500 - 3,000) and 1959 Yamaha 125cc YA3 (£2,500 - 3,000). A 1919 Royal Ruby 269cc (£4,000 - 5,000) and 1953 Jonghi 250cc (£2,500 - 3,000), believed to be the only example in the UK, are offered by the same vendor. Other noteworthy machines include a restored 1929 Brough Superior OHV 680 (£65,000 - 75,000); a one-owner 1967 Velocette Venom Thruxton (£15,000 - 18,000); and an ex-Robert Dunlop 1988 Honda RS125 (£8,000 - 12,000). Read article
VMCC 1000 Bikes
Source: Latest News Articles from ACU.org.uk - Sunday, 4th July 2010, 23:34 GMTIt is now recognised that this unique event provides the best line up of “Past Masters” and famous machines assembled every year in the UK. Previously this has included many unique happenings such as 4 times World Super Bike Champion Carl Fogarty MBE getting his “knee down” on a track for the first time in 10 years at our 2009 event! The 2010 event will be no exception as the continued assistance of Simon Hartland of the National Motorcycle Museum will help provide more unique machines and star riders than any other historic two wheeled event held in Europe. In 2010 this will include a very special track appearance by an overseas Multi World Champion who has not appeared on a racing machine at a UK track for many years! Watch this space! Truly a Festival covering all aspects of Classic Motorcycling the event will feature- Public Road (Sat) and Race Bike (Sun) Track Sessions The biggest line up in Europe of Past Masters Machines and Star Riders on track. Pre 65 Trials Historic Grass Track Historic Sprint Demo Avenue of Clubs (50 clubs in attendance in 2009) Trade Stands/Auto jumble Real Ale Bar open all weekend with panoramic views of Stebbe Straight Even more Live bands on the new “Classic Racer Magazine Stage” starting Fri 9th July which will feature more attractions for 2010 as well as the popular “Stars on Stage” interviews. “This year’s demonstration runs and high profile exhibition runs promise to be one of the best yet!” Amongst them, will be some of the most Iconic Sprinters in History that took many Worlds’ and National Records in their heyday. Here’s just a few of the machines that we’ll have on show and running: 1)We are delighted that this year will see the return of Maurice Brierleys’ “Methamon” World Record Breaking Sidecar to the Track. After 45 years in hibernation, this Supercharged Vincent has been sympathetically rebuilt by members of the Sprint Section and is scheduled to participate in Sunday’s Sprint Demonstration runs. 2)Also back by popular demand is another sprint / drag favourite, John Hobbs and his “Hobbit”. 3)Added to that we have the Trike of Graham Sykes with his 4 Ltr “V8” and... 4)The 2010 Top Fuel Puma “Purple Princess” of Steve Carey All in all, this year’s Exhibition promises to be one of the best yet! Supporting these ‘Star Machines’ will be an equally mouth-watering line-up of Riders and Machines that will get the adrenaline flowing. Read article
Pamplona collection under hammer
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash - Tuesday, 12th January 2010, 13:49 GMTClassic motorcycle dealers, enthusiasts and international museum buyers will be visiting RAF Hendon on 27th February, to bid on the Pamplona collection, reports Alastair Walker. Over 100 classic motorbikes were put together in a purpose-built museum by a private collector in Pamplona, Spain and the machines are mostly pre-1950s, with some rare machines from the 19th century Pioneer era included. Marques such as Motosacoche, Acme and Wanderer, as well as more familiar brands like BSA, Vincent and Harley Davidson will all be auctioned. There are nine four cylinder machines in the sale. Many younger riders probably don’t know that Honda didn’t invent the four cylinder superbike, but it’s been around since 1903. Brands like Belgium’s FN, or the Henderson/Ace and Indian concerns in the US were amongst the early adopters of fours. More at; www.bonhams.com VIPER AND ILMOR AGREE ENGINE DEAL Ilmor have agreed a deal to design and supply V-Twin engines to Viper in the USA. The new 152 cubic inch motor will power a high performance class cruiser machine say Viper, with a launch pencilled in for May 2010. SCORPION ACQUIRES DATATOOL One of the big players in the car alarm and security gadget market, Scorpion have announced their takeover of Datatool, the market-leader in motorcycle security products in the UK. The Datatool range includes conventional motorcycle alarm/immobilisers plus hi-tech items that send text alerts to your phone if your bike moves, plus Datatag and the Inforad speed camera detector. Scorpion Automotive say they have no immediate plans to change the Datatool dealer network and are looking forward to developing new products for the motorcycle brand. Read article
Norvin special wows NEC
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash - Monday, 16th November 2009, 10:37 GMTMick Barton’s Norvin special was one of the stars in the bikes section at the Classic Motor Show this weekend, reports Alastair Walker. Mick had a Norvin when he was a teenager in the 60s, but back then he couldn’t afford to customise the bike with the very best performance parts. So spending the last eight years, `on and off,’ building this ultimate cafe racer Norvin was a real labour of love. “The hardest part was sourcing an original Vincent engine,” said Mick, “I could have used a re-manufactured motor, but I eventually found a 1955 V-twin and then had it stripped, with bigger valves, hotter cams, low comp pistons fitted, plus GP 32mm carbs and a custom made 2 inch set of exhaust pipes made. The bike really goes well now. I think it’s realised the full potential of the bike, yet sticks with the old cafe racer styling of the 60s.” Other mods on the bike include Ceriani suspension, many polished and chromed parts, a V-Max fly screen and Yamaha TZ spoked wheels. The bike also has a neat, hand made oil tank placed beneath the seat hump, rather than set behind the engine. There’s no battery on the Norvin, instead it uses a Boyer Bransden power box, plus a Kubota alternator as its electrical system. The striking colour of the Barton Norvin is an Audi orange and caused a few eyebrows to be raised at the Ace Cafe stand, which hosted the Best Cafe Racer concours at the Classic Motor Show, held at the NEC halls. “Well, I know Vincents, or Norvins are often all black, but I hate black, it’s for funerals isn’t it?” Mick told insidebikes, ” I spend time in the USA and there you see brighter looking machinery so I went for the orange and polished up loads of parts. It’s too nice to ride in winter, but I hope to take it to various rallies and shows next summer.” Mick’s got another Vincent engine, this time a 1275cc one-off, which he intends to use on his next special project; “I found a supercharger the other week, so I might stick that on it, really create something that causes a stir!” said Mick with a wry grin. Read article
