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BRITISH MOTORCYCLE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MAY 2008

Ordinary Meeting at the Deganwy Castle Hotel, Deganwy, North Wales
1st Wednesday in the month at 20.00hrs
Wednesday, 2nd April 2008 - 70+ members present

1. The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming the members.
   
   
2. The Chairman introduced the speaker Mr Stuart Graham - racing motorcyclist.
   
   
3. The Chairman gave a report on the recent auto jumble at Mochdre Village Hall. He thanked all members who helped to set up the rooms and tables, which the Chairman managed to acquire. He also mentioned a number of members who were especially helpful and was very grateful for the help in clearing up on Sunday afternoon.
   
   
4. Tickets are now available for entrance to the Llandudno Extravaganza for Sunday only. This society has special agreement with the organisers for 5 May only.
   
   
5. Stafford Classic Bike Show is on Saturday, 26 April 2008. The 52 seat coach is now full and will pick up at the usual places.
   
   
6. Oswestry Auto jumble is 6 April 2008. Also the Big Breakfast at Press Heath.
   
   
7. The subject of the Librarian was raised. Mr John Evans said he would be willing to carry on in the post if he did not have to find room for all the magazines that the club has in stock. The Chairman said he would make some arrangements to rectify the matter.
   
   
8. Mr Phil Denton explained that he can now supply various makes of tyres (see enclosed advert). He regrets he does not have full fitting equipment at present.
   
   
9. Isle of Anglesey Annual Rally, Hen Blas, Bodorgan - 17/18 May 2008.
   
   
10. The guest speaker commenced by explaining his early life with motorcycles when he purchased a Lambretta scooter for going to work at the Rolls Royce Factory before eventually buying an Ariel Leader - a machine he had some affection for. He became very interested in the new Japanese motorcycles and persuaded his mother to finance the purchase of a new Honda 125. He then went tearing off around the Press Heath Area. A friend of the family who owned a motorcycle business entered him for some races at Oulton and Dundonald in Ireland. He won some of these which brought racing leathers and various other pieces of equipment. His friend and mentor sadly died in the paddock at a motor race. He was then approached by a Mr Bill Ward who lived in Blackpool and was invited over to view the machines in the dining room - AJS 7RS and Matchless G50. Would he like to ride one in the Isle of Man TT, the Ulster GP and Oulton Park? After getting good results on the G50 for the season he returned the bikes to Blackpool, back to the dining room.
    Getting married came next. At the same time he was making more money from racing than at Rolls Royce so he turned professional, got sponsorship for the Grand Prix season. He was also getting more experience, especially in servicing. He sent his machines to the specialist repairers in a particular field.
    He used to compete in Holland and Belgium at the respective Grand Prix and came second to Mike Hailwood at a very wet Belgium Grand Prix. He was then offered a work's ride with Honda. Riding the 6 cylinder machine was quite a handful. He came second to Mike Hailwood in the Manx TT but suddenly Honda pulled out of racing with the small engine bikes. So he got called to the Suzuki factory to ride their two-stroke machines which required a lot of skill as they were prone to stalling and seizing up. After a few hairy moments with these bikes, he was not impressed with them on the TT circuit so he decided to quit and bought a small garage in the country, where he sold sports cars. A most interesting talk by a gentleman who gave a wonderful insight into the life of the racing motorcyclist.
    

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