From Big Bang to suck-squeeze-bang-blow and beyond
One melange good…
…two melanges better? If you’ve been looking at the pics in the melange you’ll have noticed that the page takes some time to open. No surprise there as it contains more than 700 images. That notional box of old motorbike pics you’ve come across is full so it’s time to fill another…and another. At the time of writing you’ll find three melanges. Melange le deux is in (a highly approximate) chronological order; Melange trois is pretty random. Mon ami Francois keeps sending motor cycling images from his vast archive; with upwards of 1,500 awaiting publication I’m reduced to uploading them as they arrive, although I’m in the process of transferring dated images to their respective years. And I’m still adding pics to the first melange because that’s where the Great War and American bike galleries live and it would be silly to split them up.
Tamagni, winner of the motor cycle class of the wonderfully named Course du Mille, des deux Coupes Henri de Rothschild in Nice.
First pic out of the box dates from about 1930. These enthusiasts are posing on a 350cc Harley Model D.
More bathing belles from about the same time. The Henderson four is magnificent, the girls are pretty. But it has to be said, a smile would be nice.
Back in Blighty where it doesn’t look quite as sunny these sturdy lasses are on a Clyno.
Another British beach, a Beeza and a Zenith; this group seems to be enjoying themselves.
That’s enough glamour for the time being, the rest of this box of photos will be in at least approximate chronological order with a good number grouped together by year. Fading memories of motor cycles and motor cyclists…enjoy.
The Bollée tricar hit the streets in 1895 with a 3hp lump and claimed top speed of 27mph. It was nicknamed ‘torpille parisienne’ (the Paris torpedo).
OK, it’s a quad, but in the early days the line between bikes, trike and quads was blurred. In any case, this one’s French.
This is a Type TB Laurin & Klement which was in production from 1901-3.
“… looking for adventure, and whatever comes my way…”
This smartly turned out lad is pictured with his Adler; no doubt the gasper is intended to make him look grown up.
Another proud nipper—and is that really a triple horn on his handlebars? Kids today, eh?
The formidable André Grapperon at the Parc des Princes. And he’s wearing a tie. Très chic!
This is the Rose City Speedway, Portland, Oregon.
This pic arrived with the caption “Blair Shaw”, presumably the name of the young rider.
This Gallic enthusiast was pictured in St Romain de Roche, near Geneva.
This snappily dressed Triumph rider is pictured in Sydney. Up the Anzacs!
The rider’s name is Pernet; he’s competing in the MC de France’s Circuit De L’Eure.
This mature racer is doing his stuff in Lindethal, near Cologne.
Nemo’s piloting the pacer; Dankar’s following him.
This is obviously taken at a Paris-Madrid race but I do’t know which year which is why it’s dans le melange rather than sur en page.
The rider’s faded from history but his passengers do look happy. Note the extra door near the front of the chair. It’s an impressive hunk of wickwork.
Thanks to my mate Peter, a staffer on Australian Motor Cycle News, for this fine snap of Cec and Dora Weatherby on their 1929 Matchess combo during a reliability trial.
A proud dad with his daughter and his motorwheel Opel.
This tandem is designed for a lady passenger up front.
Sunday best and serious ‘taches at the start of a road trial.
Laon is in Picardy, where the Tommies thought the roses bloomed.
“Gaston Pélissier, the great comic star taking a ride on his Automoto motor cycle.”
The peach on his petrol tank seems to haver distracted this chap from his flat tyres.
The bike looks later than the ‘1904’ inscribed on the pic. No matter; our attention is inevitably concentrated on the coat. Ixion recalled: “…all good ‘autocarrists’ wore fur coats made of the pelt of an alleged China goat. Not having visited China, I do not know whether there are goats in that country, or whether the term was a trade name. Anyhow, the individual hairs of the coat were about four inches long, and rather coarse. The ground colour was white, with patches of pale brown and blue, and the fur bristled, instead of lying flat. We motor cyclists soon decided that these coats were unfit for our use.”
Is this a real breakdown or a posed portrait? I wouldn’t want to get oil on a Chinese goatskin jacket. And that’s not a phrase you read every day.
According to the contemporary caption this young man is one B Shaw.
Pioneer motor cyclist Muriel Hind appears prominently in he timeline.
Laurin & Klements: note the cooling ran on the right-hand example; presumably for sidecar use. I believe out colonial cousins cool these devices ‘parade fans’.
This clubman (pity we can’t see the name of the club on his pennant) and his Ner-a-Car are on the road near Havana.
French army riders getting messy at Satory, near Versailles, presumably testing bikes for military use.
French army combos.
This social gathering is in Germany.
Are these clubmen about to play motoball?
This Ms is pictured in Saigon.
This is the start of a race in Germany…
…and they’re off!
Two up on a Gillet Herstal.
This is a Puch engine, and very pretty it is too.
Elsie Janis (born Elsie Bierbower) was an American actress, songwriter, screenwriter and radio announcer. Entertaining the doughboys during World War I earned her the sobriquet ‘sweetheart of the AEF’ (American Expeditionary Force). And ain’t the sidecar a doozie?
Cairo, just after the Great War, and ex-WD bikes are going under the hammer.
…more of the same, and rather nicely colourised.
Say hi to Groucho and Harpo Marx. The combo featured in their movie Duck Soup; if you’d like to see it in action check out this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_QkC2PKkQ0
This ABC seems to be competing in a race sur Le Continent
This grumpy Victoria rider seems to be pointing at something.
This glum looking rider was on a racetrack in Hamburg.
The bike’s a Douglas; this snap carried the caption ‘Carmel Vinas’—and that’s all I know.
This rider’s Italian…
As is this snapshot…
…and this one….
…and this one….
…and this one.
This is German and that nipper doesn’t look happy.
Has that rider noticed he’s left his sidecar behind? (Right) This misty start was pictured in Latvia.
This club run headed to Devil’s Den, on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysberg PA.
Youth on a Magnat Debon, age on a Monet Goyon.
The family is posing with their NSU; the lightweight is a Motobecane.
Contrast the New York State trooper with the warlike NYPD armoured guncarriages.
“Jolly holiday maklers at a farm in Worcestershire try out a new sport with their motor cycoe and judgijg by their smiles surf riding on the farm is a great success.” Meanwhile, in the woods,it’s time for a cuppa.
A trip in the sidecar might not be too bad but the air ambulance must have been a nightmare for casualties.
DEALERS
This garage is in Hampshire. And here are some more dealers…
This one’s in Eastbourne. As my father-in-law used to say, “Dover for the Continent; Eastbourne for the incontinent.”
This dealer was pictured in 1915.
Pride & Clarke, fondly known in South London as Snide & Shark.
These riders are preparing for action at Porthmarnock beach, Dublin.
…this couple and their sporty combo are in Margate. Check out those disc wheels.
This young lady is pictured, presumably by the combo pilot, in the Massif De La Sainte Baume. (Right) Muddy roads demand grown-up legshields.
Three jolly Aussies share a big twin.
Judging by their armbands these clubmen are off on a trial. They’re pictured in Doncaster.
So you thought serious geezers in leather were a new phenomenon?
When you see a Neracar kitted out as a freight carrier it makes all kinds of sense.
This V-twin is a Griffon.
This is a Hulla, made in Germany from 1925-52 and, according to my trusty Tragatsch, sold predominantly in the north of the country.
These enthusiasts are Italian.
This was taken in Monaco; judging by the flowers and the mud the Duggie rider has just won an off-road event.
The caption on the postcard indicates that this Monet-Goyon scooter has been ridden to the top of la Roche de Solutré, a 495m limestone escarpment five miles west of Mâcon, France.
This 175cc Monet-Goyon was pictured at Brooklands.
And now some dated snaps, starting with
1914
This pic bears the caption ‘Colmar’, which is a town in Alsace, so we’re in France, but with the outbreak of the Great War Colmar fell into German hands. What’s in those packages? I have no idea.
In the ‘long hot summer’ before the war a chap named Dubost won a hillclimb at Argenteuil aboard a 750cc outfit.
This pic, and the next one, were taken at the St Louis Motordrome.
These bikes were being requisitioned in Paris for military service pending the arrival of WD models.
As you can see from the contemporary caption this fine portrayal of dirt track racing hails from Norton, Kansas. A quick google reveals that the city of Norton (pop some 3,000) was incorporated in 1872, when James Lansdowne Norton was three. Damn that was nearly a great coincidence!
This action shot was taken during a five-mile race at the Danville (Virginia) speedway.
1915
This twin’s a Motosacoche.
The contemporary caption tells us that the rider’s name is Robert (French surname rather than British first name, I suspect); the bike’s a 500cc Motosacoche and the road he’s scorching along is near Geneva.
The chaps are members of the Newcastle MCC of Muswelbridge, New South Wales (ditto the following pic).
…and here are members of the Newcastle club with their wives and nippers.
SH Hilebrand and her daughter Fay rode from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma to visit family (a journey of some 1,300 miles).
The machine is a Sun-Villiers.
Unusually, this snap comes with an exact date: 22 June 1915.
Militaire.
Tiger Autobike.
This Norton Big Four bears its civvy livery; the ambulance sidecar indicates it might have been pressed into military service.
1916
The contemporary caption indicates that the bike’s a 4hp Douglas, the rider is one Rupert Karner and he’s clearly being scrutinised for sort of test.
From LA to Clacton; no further details to hand about this formal gathering.
The heading needs no translation; the French newspaper caption (usual apology for mon français d’écolier): “Carrying a dispatch and anxious to deliver it to its destination, he increased the speed of his motorcycle and on a slope, at the risk of breaking his neck, he proceeds literally by leaps and bounds; it is not yet the flying motorcycle, but it is not far from it.”
We’re in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Wanderer was a pioneer German marque that was established in 1902; twins like 4hp example were put to good use by the German army during the Great War.
1917
This combo is parked on the River Severn.
This outfit’s in Woods Point, Victoria.
1918
The front end is clearly ‘Baby’ Triumph and the engine looks right (a 225cc two-stroke) but there are some puzzling anomalies. In any case, a cool pic, don’t you think?
This New York motorcycle cop is armed with a Browning M1897 machine gun for ‘riot control’.
From Indian to Henderson, from a Browning to a Lewis MG; this outfit is crewed by members of the New York City Women’s Machine Gun Squad Police Reserves.
1919
This woman bestrides a Motosacoche.
This stately combo is a Husqvarna.
These travel-worn riders were pictured on the famous Cannonball Run.
1920
This chap seems to have uniformed twins and a pond yacht in his sidecar. The bike’s a Royal Enfield.
This Harley combo was in service with the Polish army.
Taken on 31 October, François Clech was pictured on his Motosolo at Gometz-le-Châtel.
Brooklands.
This is an Ixion Model B MkII.
This Duggie was soon to be overshadowed by the ohv model that debuted at the show.
This was the first year for the Louis Clement; the marque survived until 1932.
Whqt looks to be the Blériot team poses in Paris (no coincidence, by the by; the founder of the firm was THE Blériot, who, just nine years before this snap, had become le premier homme to fly across Le Manche (as our neighbours describe the Channel). And just because it’s a lovely picture…
It’s an Alba, built in Germany from 1919-24.
The caption translates as: “”Ernesto Gnesa won the 350 Grand Prix of Nations. The motorbike was a Garelli model ‘3hp’ with ‘two cylinders without valves’, as the advertisement of the time stated. The competitive debut of this bike came with a victory in the 560km Torino Salo in 1920.”
“Motor-Cycle Test—HF Edwards, on his BSA machine, dashing at full speed through a stream.”
These cheerful lasses are disportoing themselves on a New Gerrard combo.
1921
The Velo team in the Six Days Trial: George Denley SJ Jones and Eugene Goodman (son of Velocette founder John Goodman).
It’s Saturday, 16 April; Freddie Dixon and his Harley combo have just won the Sutton Bank Hill Climb in the record time of 1min 17.6sec
Aother Harley outfit, this time in France.
Graham Walker, clearly enjoying the sunshine during the weigh-in for the Grand Prix de la Sarthe at Le Mans.
That’s a nifty bit of cornering during a road race somewhere in Italy.
This is Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia who was involved in a lot of political intrigue. More to the point he was an enthusiastic motor cyclist.
Now there’s something you don’t see every day.
Another penny farthing, this time in the US of A. Was the cop having a friendly chat or issuing a ticket? I have no idea.
This medal’s from the Scottish Six Days Trial.
This snapshot was simply captioned “Mont Dore” which, it seems, is a villagein the Massif Central, on the bank of the Dordogne, 50km south-west of Clermont-Ferrand. And very nice it looks too.
As this postcard’s original caption tells us, a rider named de Labarre won the 1,000cc class of the 2,000km Paris-Pyrennes-Paris trial aboard his Harley.
We’re at the start of a two-day reliability trial in Czechoslovakia; F Nusi, K Sedivy and A Sulc are clearly delighted to be riding Beezas, and who can blame them.
This pic was taken in 1921 though the Moto Reve’s clearly earlier, probably dating from about 1910.
This pipe smoking damsel and her chum are mounted on an NSU.
Victor Horsman and his Norton—always a formidable combination (ok, solo…sorry, couldn’t resist).
Hohenstein Ernstthal, pictured at the Sachsenring.
Racing in Berlin.
1922
This cartoon appeared in the News of the World.
This is a 497cc Bleriot vertical twin: same configuration as the Triumph TRW but 24 years earlier.
This is a Terrot E-type.
Note the generous mudguards and legshields to keep road filth from the rider’s strides.
The Bitche military camp was set up at the start of the last century; between the wars, when this picture was taken, it was used to train reservists.
These tiddlers are racing at Montargis during the Grand Prix de France…
…running repairs during the same meeting…
…still at Montargis; evidently solos and combos raced at the same time.
Meanwhile, at the 1922 GP de Lyon, Vernisse rode his 225cc Yvels to victory in the 250cc class.
As the original caption indicates, a rider named Uisiloi and his Garelli are doing their thing at a Grand Prix meeting in Strasbourg.
Taken during the same meeting, this is a rider named Hollowell; his mount is a 490cc ohv Model 18 Norton, launched the previous year.
Well wrapped up against the winter chill, this enthusiast is riding a Husqvarna-Moto-Reve.
This couple, complete with matching outfits, are taking their ease on a Zündapp.
Winner of the 500cc class in the MC de Lyon GP, Jolly and his Meuniere. And one has to hope he got a cup to replace the shrubbery he’s carrying.
One of these chaps is the pioneer French ace André Grapperon. As this snap was taken 20 years after Grapperon entered the big league, I’d venture to success that he might be serving as the windbreak.
The front-wheel-drive Megola’s open frame made it suitable for riders in skirts.
This Beeza combo, ridden by un homme by the name of Leroux, was pictured during the weigh-in at Neuilly-sur-Seine at the start of the Tour de France (the proper one, for motorbikes).
1923
Folke Mannerstedt at Stockhold Velodrome.
RO Lowe and his Norton at Brooklkands during a BMCRC meeting. He won two races.
Norton Big Four combo, also at Brooklands.
The Douglas team, messrs Whalley, Dixon, Austice and Bennett, at the Circuit De Tours.
This outfit took part in the French Grand Prix.
French manufacturer Train supplied engines as well as complete bikes.
The pits at the Circuito Belfiore.
Ditto.
Albert Boulangier on his 125 Stella in Neuilly at the weigh-in for the Paris-Nice rally.
Dumoulin, at Versailles during the Paris-les Pyrénées-Paris rally.
1924
The bike, of course, is a Cotton; the rider, alas, is anonymous.
This snapshot, taken by a Marseilles photographer, was captioned ‘Course du Camp’.
The rider’s named Hommaire, the bike’s an Orial (a marque linked to MAG’s Lyon plant; it went under in 1926). This snap was taken at the Circuit du Lyon. Nice artwork on le chariot, n’est ce pas?
Another French marque, the Propul (according to Tragatsch) was made from 1923-26 with 250, 350 and 500 lumps from JAP, Blackburne and MAG and, as in this case, with a 98cc two-stroke.
The bike’s an Italian-made Acora, first made in 1923 and surviving until the outbreak of WW2; most were powered by Villiers.
This silver flask was presented to the winner of the Welsh TT, held on Pendine Sands.
Weighing in on a 175 Stella for the Six Days of Winter Rally.
This is a Royal Enfield on foreign service.
Le Grimpeur was set up by in Paris by Georges Ferniot; within a few months the marque was absorbed by Dresch but the name lived on.
1925
These charioteers seem to have their cornering technique well sorted.
Bert Denley is pictured on the rough-as-nuts concrete Brooklands speed bowl on a Model 18 Norton (note the mandatory ‘Brooklands can’ silencer). The substantial leather body belt says much about the po unding the track inflicted on the rider when going flat-out on a of rigid-frame.
G’day! This is sunbaked Nareen, Victoria.
This is Leonard Randles and his 493cc Sunbeam at the start of the ‘Manx Amateur Road Races’, generally known as the Amateur TT, which became the Manx Grand Prix.
French 250 champ Durand on his Terrot.
1926
This group of sportsmen are Italian.
We’re in Hamburg.
1927
This is a rider named Franconi, cornering his Motosacoche on his way to setting best time on the Course de Cote du Mont Agel.
“Coupe Motocycliste de la Meuse.”
Gaillon hill climb, Eddoura gives his 1,000cc Koehler-Escoffier some welly during the Gaillon hillclimb.
Gaussorgues rode his Monet-Goyon to victory in the 350cc class of the Grand Prix de France at Montlhéry, and all he got was a bunch of flowers.
Messrs Debaisieux, Dubois, Peron and Daniel on their French-made New-Motocycles during the wighing in for the Six Days of Winter Rally. [Much like a British manufacturer calling his range Nouvelle Motos, n’est ce pas?]
This family outing (these solid looking chaps are clearly related) c’est dans Montargis.
Gnome et Rhônes.
1928
This silver spoon is engraved “Thames 200 1928 Miss B Painter”. That engraving of a bike indicates that it was a trophy in a motor cycling event.
1930
Here’s a mensch and his NSU.
This rider’s a postman and not just any postie—he’s a Bournemouth postie.
Ready to take someone for their last ride on a soggy street in Bairnsdale, Victoria.
Italian 350 champ Mario Ghersi and his trusty four-valve Rudge.
Say bonjour to the Gillet-Herstall team.
1932
Monneret on the Koehler-Escoffier that carried him to victory in the Gometz-le-Châtel hill climb.
1934
The twerp on the bike is Il Duce, but surely that chap next to him isn’t Warren Mitchell?
All hands to the pump during the Exeter Trial.
1935
1936
This race was at Kesselberg…
This one was at the Nurburgring.
1938
Hugo Roik and his Husqvarna 500 twin are pictured at the start of the annual Grossglockner hillclimb in Austria.
These chaps are holding trophies won in the Paris-Nice trial.
This Motobécane was pictured during the Tour de France.
All I know about this pic is that it depicts “hand-made motor cycle masks” and was taken in 1938.
1939
Brooklands records…the world-famous circuit was a victim of the war.
An enthusiast named Jock Forbes and his pals at what was to be the final Brooklands meeting.
Stunt rider ‘Dot’ Smith, who rode with the San Francisco MC and was a founder-member of the Motor Maids, with her Harley Knucklehead.
Noel Pope on his home ground, off to set a record at Brooklands.
This Puch 350GS was produced before the Nazis took control of the company.
This pic appears to show an open day at the Belgian Sarolea factory.
Terrot had been making motorbikes in Dijon since 1902 when the Jerries arrived and forced the factory to make generators for Zündapps. This ohv 500 one-lunger was one of the last machines to be built before the occupation.
As this Tiger 100-powered Triton shows, Triumph riders were clearly impressed by Norton rolling chassis years before the arrival of featherbed frames…
…It’s well worth another look. Phwoar.
1945
AMA Gypsy Tour, Central Ohio.
1946
Les Slaughter does his thing on a MkVII KTT Velo at Bathurst.
1947
‘Tatave’ Lefebvre had just won the Bol d’Or on a cammy Norton. Cheer up Tatave for goodness sake!
These Aussies are hooning about on Bundeberg beach, Queensland.
Still in Oz, we’re at Victoria Park, Ballarat, Victoria; the rider’s name is Tony McAlpine and he clearly knows how to handle a cammy Norton.
This maroon beauty is a Moto Major.
1948
Highway 30, between Omaha, Nebraska and Salt Lake City, Utah.
125s at Hockenheim.
Harley and Indian meet Triumph in San Diego.
At the Paris-Nice rally.
1950
1951
Messrs Hug et Cherrier on what look to be Velos at the 350 class of the Circuit d’Orleans.
Ultima had been making motor cycles in France since 1908; in 1951 the firm came up with a 498cc dohc horizontal racing single.
It’s a Terrot.
AMC…the Yanks had the American Allied Motor Co of Chicago; the Brits, of course, had Associated Motor Cycles; but there was also a French AMC, producing 980cc ioe big twin proprietary engines and, as illustrated, a tidy 125
1956
1957
This Ajay scrambler is a 350.
…back to undated images. As always, they serve as a reminder that motor cycling, that magnificent obsession, dates back a long, long way. Enjoy.
The rider wears the uniform of a corporal in the Austro-Hungarian army. His bike’s a 491cc Laurin & Klement Type CC.
This magnificent machine is a Mars.
Mr Wilson has clearly won a trophy on his Rudge Multi, but the event is lost to history.
Wekkin? Wellin? Wettin? The logo looks Germnic; the bike’s a mystery.
This motor cycling gymkhana was staged in Berlin and I have no idea what’s going on.
This soggy competitor, according to the opriginal caption, is one LJ Abbot. And this seems to be a pillion trial.
Sat howdie to Carlsbad, Texas.
This combo seems to equipped for fire-fighting.
My schoolboy French tells me that this motor cycling priest climbed a 908m peak called Mont Belluet on his Auto Fauteil scooter.
These skaters are towing the combo line on Big Bear Lake, California.
This family’s enjoying a spree with their Terrot.
After their success in the Great War…
…Triumphs were…
…ubiquitous…
…and many of them were exported.
The French-made Rovin wasn’t in the Triumph’s league, but they produced some cool ads. C’est un singe rouge sur une moto!
This snap, evidently from the start of a competition, is simply marked ‘Amiens’.
The bike’s a Gillet.
No, not a hearse, this is a St John Ambulance combo. It must have been an interesting experience for casualties.
We’re in Italy for this one.
The bikes look early 1920s; the place is St Thomas’s Square in Newport, Isle of Wight—and as you can see, bikes still gather there.
I have no idea why this pic was taken in front of that wonderful backdrop.
This was taken in Aix en Othe
This is a rare pic of a combo at work in Chile.
This group are pictured in Italy.
This was taken in Alsace; that boxy wickerwork sidecar looks like chairs used by the French lads in the Great War.
The bike’s an Ardie made (according to Muzza’s invaluable virtual Tragatsch) in Germany from 1919-1958.
A spill during the Ulster Grand Prix.
Judging by the clothing this pioneer run dates from the 1940s or 50s. The press agency caption reads: “An amusing procession of old motor cycles took place from Aerodrome Hotel Croydon to-day. The picture shows Miss Norah Everitt refilling her ‘JAMES’ solo built 1913.”
This is Billy Lamont, the Aussie speedway star who helped popularise the sport in the old country and won two world championships. Read all about him in 1928.
The Brufsup rider looking straight at you is George Brough,
These clubman are pictured at Royal Enfield’s Redditch factory…
…while this product of the Redditch factory was doing service overseas.
The ‘CA’ prefix indicates these bikes were registered in Denbighshire…
…while ‘EX’ links this one to Great Yarmouth.
This snap was taken in Chimay, Belgium, home of the renowned Trappiste brewery. Hence the smiles.
Chinese cops with their bikes; marque unknown.
“ENGLAND’S LATEST SPORT. Dirt Track Racing, the new famous Motor-Cycle sport, has now become very popular all over Great Britain, where Tracks are now opening up all over the country and each meeting is attended by huge crowds. This new sport is a serious rival to Greyhound Racing, which took London by storm last Season. This popular sport originated from Australia and well known Australian riders are now taking part in the London events. Our picture shows Mr A Angell, passing E Thomas in the handicap race for Motor Cycles with Sidecars at the Greenford Park Dirt Track meeting.”
Note the smashing painted backdrop.
The Dresh was made in la belle France from 1929-39.
The Schüttoff was made in Germany from 1924-39. As well as 250, 350 and 500 sv and ohv lumps it used 200 and 300 DKW two-strokes; DKW subsequently absorbed the marque. Three more Schüttoff snaps follow.
The New Knight was made in England from 1923-31, using Villiers and JAP engines from 150-350cc.
This racer’s a New Imperial.
The glorious five-pot Megola was made in Germany from 1921-25. The touring version was good for around 70mph…
The ‘Sport’ was rather more…
…and in racing trim it could top 85.
Racing in Turin.
Racing somewhere in Germany.
These Duggies were pictured in France, where the marque had earned a sound reputation during the war.
Two more Douglases doing their thing in France.
“Don’t eat the yellow snow!”
It’s a Jimmy.
This is a trial run by the Fordingbridge Motor Cycle & Light Car Club.
A French bike shop; a French tiddler. Not to be confused with tickler.
A French…whatever this is. Looks good though.
Well covered by their dusters, is this couple riding in the American flatlands?
Two chaps pose for a holiday snap on a beach. Father and son?
Three chaps in caps out on a spree in the sunshine…
Four chaps in caps aboard Bezas…ex-army? Posties?
This is a Victoria KR50.
I believe this snap was taken in Italy; date, location and marque unknown.
Miss Bartrap of Ashfield on her Telegraph messenger bike.
A great image of the wall of death. A pillion, no hands, and no handlebars.
Marjorie Cottle does a spot of fettling. As one of Britain’s leading trials riders through the 1920s and ’30s she’s a timeline regular, including riding with a victorious ISDT team.
Memo to self: fix the mower.
Pumping out at Liverpool was still a part of every trip to Mona’s Isle when I went in the 1980s, and it was still a pain in the arse.
Durand ON HIS Monet-Goyon during the Paris-Nice rally.
OK it’s a posed pic with models in period(ish) clothing, but you have to love a Bohmerland.
Ernst Henne starts one of so many high-speed runs on a Beemer.
This one’s captioned “MC de Narbonne”.
Google reveals: “Antoine Peugeot, a 23-year-old entrepreneur, presented the P 515 motorcycle ten days before the 1920 Paris Salon. This marked the reintroduction of Peugeot Motocycles to the 500cc motorcycle market, which they had previously exited in 1920. Antoine Peugeot’s efforts helped Peugeot Motocycles maintain its presence in the motorcycle market, solidifying its position as one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Today, Peugeot Motocycles continues to innovate, with a focus on electric motorcycles, as seen in their partnership with DAB Motors. Antoine Peugeot’s contribution remains an important chapter in the company’s rich history.”
“Successful manoeuvres have been carried out by the new French Army Motor Cycle Corps, which have recently been raised. The cyclist are equipped for many branches of military warfare. Our picture shows a motor cycle anti-aircraft machine gun in action during the manoeuvres.”
You’ll find plenty of mentions of Jimmy Guthrie in the main timeline; he was arguably among the greatest roadracers of them all.
This set of four pics originated at a German road race.
Racer Enrico Lorenzetti rides one of the first Guzzi 500s outside a Milan show—the placard reads: “The first Moto Guzzi in circulation since 1921”. In 1952 Lorenzetti won the 250cc World Championship for Moto Guzzi.
New York State highway patrolmen, clearly happier in cowboy hats than skidlids.
Arthur Lavington, riding in one of his 15 TT races…
…Tony Twycross of the VMCC Cyclemotor Section. Motor cycling is a broad church.
This is a Guzzi Loyola 175.
This Russian navy officer is riding a civvy Russian combo; sorry, I don’t recognise the name badge.
These Russian squaddies are stuck with a WD side-valve.
This proud nipper with his built-to-scale scooter is also in Russia.
According to Tragatsch…”Bartali—Italy 1953-1961: Named after a famous bicycle racer, Gino Bartali, these good-looking motorcycles had 48cc, 125cc and 158cc two-stroke and 123cc, 174cc and 198cc ohv engines. The 158cc Marziano was a super-sport model.”
Jean Dieuzaide takes a corner.
Say hello to the Garde républicaine. Google reports: “The Garde républicaine (GR), created by Napoléon Bonaparte, the First Consul of the Republic, in 1802, and officially known as the ‘Garde républicaine de Paris’ between 1870 and 1978, is today a subdivision of the Gendarmerie nationale which carries out honour and security missions for the highest authorities of the French State, as well as security missions for the general public. It also contributes to France’s cultural influence through its musical and special formations. Finally, it carries out assistance, training and cooperation missions, both in France and abroad…It comprises a cavalry regiment, two infantry regiments , a motorbikes quadron and musical groups including theRepublican Guard orchestra and the French Army Choir.”
Sylvie Vartan takes her ease on a a Motobecane Mobyclub 56. Google reveals that Ms Vartan is a Bulgarian-French singer and actress whose shows with then-husband Johnny Hallyday attracted full houses at the Olympia and the Palais des congrès de Paris throughout the 1960s and mid-1970s. She is a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur and, at the time of writing, is still gigging.
This is the blown BMW WR750 racer. Not for the faint-hearted
Ed ‘Iron Man’ Kretz was best known for his exploits aboard an Indian but…
Gary Hocking, having done rather well at Monza. A world class racer generally described as a Rhodesian (this was pre-Zimbabwe) but he was born in Wales.
Wilhelm Noll and Fritz Cron.
This mobile petrol station, based on a Chinese Dayang, earns its keep in Myanmar
My GS850 combo and 883 Sportster are looked after by an exceptional motor cycle engineer named Rick. This snapshot, on Rick’s workshop wall, depicts his his granddad Roy, clearly relishing the performance of a Goldie. Rick, fortunately, rides more sedately*. * This is a lie.
Motorcycle Timeline 