bmct news spring 2008

Rare Tiger 80 returns toCoventry

During 1936 Edward Turner tookover at the ailing Triumph factoryand decided to update the exist-ing Val Page models. This wasundertaken in the early stages byenhancing existing models to pro-duce an interim Tiger range untileventually all-new models wereable to be introduced. This meantthat for approximately five monthsthere was a short production runof what can only be described asa prototype new Tiger 80. Recent-ly the BMCT was fortunateenough to be able to acquire oneof these ultra-rare machines. In-deed it is so rare that the TriumphOwners Club were unaware of itsexistence. Only two others areknown to survive and both are inthe USA.

This bike was manufactured be-tween April and August 1936 anddiffers from the later Tiger 80 inhaving different gearbox, a twin-downtube frame and petrol tankwith oil pressure indicator insteadof a gauge. The front forks featurehand-adjustable damping, and

the tool box was mounted adja-cent to the top of the rear wheel.Indeed, some of the cycle partsand transmission componentsbear a marked resemblance tothe contemporary and more com-mon Val Page designed Triumph6/1.

When the BMCT acquired thismotorcycle it was in the late stag-es of a long restoration. Unfortu-nately the two previous ownershad been unable to finish theproject due to ill health, but as youcan see from the accompanyingphoto, the job is nearly complete.

As pictured the bike has just beensubject to a “dummy build” to en-sure correct fit and function ofcomponents before final paintingand assembly.

The team of volunteers at theCoventry Transport Museum

have now taken on the task offinishing the rebuild of this unu-sual pre-war middleweight Tri-umph, and it will soon take itsplace in the superb new Motor-cycle Hall which opened last yearwith the help of a grant from theBMCT.

Martinsyde Update

Neil Sinclair reports from Brook-lands that the Trust’s 1920 Mar-tinsyde is currently receivingattention from the museum’s vol-unteers. In order to make the bikesafe to ride in demonstrations onthe site, a fair amount of work isrequired on the front forks andbrakes, and the steering headbearings also require attention.New tyres also have to be fitted,and our photo shows volunteersPeter and Gordon (didn’t theyused to be a pop duo in the Six-ties?) with the new tyres ready forinstallation.

You may have seen the article onthis bike in December’s ClassicMotorcycle magazine. Accordingto the Martinsyde Register ourexample is the oldest known sur-vivor of the marque since deliver-ies of the first machines to be

produced at the factory only be-gan that year. Later, Martinsydepublicised its success in competi-tion, including some successes atthe Brooklands track. These willbe remembered on Sunday 20th

April when this and other historicmachines will be paraded at theBrooklands Museum’s special

event to commemorate the pass-ing of one hundred years sincethe first motorcycle event at theTrack. The atmosphere at theseevents really has to be experi-enced as the sights, sounds (andsmells) take you back to the hey-day of Brooklands as it was in thepre-WWII years.

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER

1

February 2008

Contents

Tiger 80 returns toCoventry

Martinsyde update

Festival of 1,000 Bikes

AGM Report

Haynes Village 100

Missing Enfields

Vintage AutoFest 2008

Trustees:John Kidson (Chairman)

Malcolm AldridgeSteve BagleyPaul Barnes

John HandleyPeter Wellings

Ian Walden OBE

Administration:Andy Bufton

MMSHolly CottageBishampton

PershoreWR10 2NH

Tel: 07754 880116

Registered Office:Rodborough CourtStroud, GL5 3LR

Registered Charity No.509420

Website:www.bmct.org

Missing Military Model RoyalEnfields

BMCT member Dave Morse is appealingfor information on the whereabouts of anysurviving examples of Royal Enfield’s350cc ohv Model WD/CO/B.

More than 29,000 of these and their sidevalve Model C relatives were made at Red-ditch for the armed forces during WWII andDave is looking for as much information onthe survivors as possible, including WDserial numbers and engine and framemarkings, with the intention of compiling aregister.

Members who own one or know of theexistence of such a bike (see photo) cancontact Dave at 18 Kelvin Road, Leaming-ton Spa CV32 7TE, telephone 01926421802, or email him atdgpmorsey@tiscali.co.uk.

2007 AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the BMCTtook place at the Black Country Living Mu-seum on 16th October 2007. John Kidson(Chairman) gave the meeting a summaryof the activities of the Trust for the periodJanuary – December 2006 and presentedthe Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts.These were approved by the meeting, andthe trust’s auditors, Messrs Randall &Payne of Stroud were appointed as audi-tors for a further year. Life Member TrevorWellings had several observations andsuggestions to make concerning the run-ning of the Trust, and these were taken onboard by the trustees for discussion atfuture board meetings. Sammy Miller madecomments about the state of the classicbike market at the moment, which werealso noted. Graham Oxenbury thankedJohn Kidson and Andy Bufton for their workduring the year, and John Kidson paidtribute to former chairman Brian Wood whohas been forced to retire from the boarddue to ill health and the meeting wishedBrian well. The appointments of SteveBagley and John Handley as trustees wereratified by the meeting, and the trusteesretiring by rotation, John Kidson and Mal-colm Aldridge, were re-elected. It is hopedto publish the minutes of the meeting anda précis of the Report and Accounts in themembers’ area of our website when this isfinally up and running.

Vintage AutoFest 2008

The Rhymney Valley Transport Preserva-tion Society would like to extend a specialwelcome and invitation to all ownersof   classic British Made motor cycles andespecially members of the British Motorcy-cle Charitable Trust to join them at theirnow annual Heartlands Vintage AutoFestin Wales which will be an early rally seasonstarter over the weekend of 19-20th April2008. It is taking place at the BlackwoodCivic Centre & Country Park at Blackwoodnear Caerphilly, in South East Wales, andis easily accessible from the M4 andM5/M50.

The festival always  looks for the unusualand in 2008 it will seek to beat the recordfor the largest display of vintage invalidcarriages,  classic hearses,  and even Sinclair C5's and lawnmowers as well asall the usual large display of vintage andclassic motor cars, motorcycles, buses,lorries , ambulances, tractors and vintagemachinery etc. There will also be a Fridayevening and/or Saturday evening road run.There is also a music programme for gen-eral tastes, and Celtic wrestling on bothdays as well as a Saturday  evening pro-gramme. Camping on site is possible witha small charge to cover overnight addedsecurity, showers etc. For more informa-tion visit the dedicated website atwww.welsh-transport-festival.co.uk

The Haynes Village 100On Sunday 22nd June 2008 the Mid-

Bedfordshire village of Haynes is holdingits second Haynes Village 100 charity fundraising event. It is a celebration of motoringthrough the ages, the centrepiece of whichis the closed road parade which will bringthe sights and sounds alive. The event washeld in 2006 and 2007 and proved to be agreat success with over 120 vehicles pa-rading the 2.7 mile village route and staticdisplay on the Haynes Village playingfield.The 2008 event will follow a similar

format to 2007 with participants displayingtheir vehicles in a static display beforeembarking on a 2.7 mile lap of the villageperimeter through open countryside.  Thewider event consists of a village gala, tradestalls and family entertainment. Motoringhistory through the last 100 years will bethe theme of the event by showing exam-ples from as many years as possible be-tween 1906 and 2008. The event is opento cars, motorcycles and light commercialand agricultural vehicles and is managedby a team of volunteers to raise money forthe village charity.

Published by Matchless Management Services Holly Cottage, Bishampton, Pershore, WR10 2NH2

2008 Festival of 1,000 Bikes

After another record breaking event in 2007 the VMCC’s Festival of 1,000 Bikes returns toMallory Park on the weekend of 12/13th July 2008. As in previous years the event givesenthusiasts the opportunity to ride their own machines in multiple track sessions over theweekend. Catering for all classes of machines from the earliest Veterans through to machinesof the Superbike era, this is an ideal opportunity to be part of a great, wide ranging event.

The more relaxed noise regulations on the Sunday will provide the opportunity for owners toexercise their racing machinery. No doubt among them will be BMCT members like IvanRhodes, Colin Seeley, Chris Oliver and Sammy Miller, to name but a few. As usual, there will bePre-65 Trials and Historic Grass Track events, plus a Historic Sprint demonstration. We will bein attendance with our usual display up near the hairpin in the Avenue of Clubs, so come alongand say hello. For more details contact the VMCC on 01283 540557 or visit www.vmcc.net

A lovely Brough SS100 “Pendine” owned bya BMCT member