Here’s a poignant tale of a motor cyclist at the front and his dream of home.

Three additions to the 1909 Features section today; the glorious Wilkinson TAC as tested by the Blue ‘Un and the Green ‘Un;  a very-far-from-serious peek into the futuristic motor cycling world of 1999; and a collection of TT yarns including an Ixion description of a lap that is truly wonderful. While you’re at it, take a gander at the England Invaded yarn—can motor cyclists defeat the dastardly invaders?

If motor cycling was to flourish it needed practicable machines and enthusiastic riders. Those riders quickly realised that they needed to act in concert to overcome draconian legislation and prejudice. They also needed the right organisations to develop sporting and social activities–it’s fair to say the discussions were intense.

The ACU’s open hill-climb was a major event in the motor cycling season; in 1908 competitors tried theior bikes and their skill on Sutton Bank in what our Yorkshire friends insist is God’s Own County.

In those pre-Tarmac days a ride from London to Edinburgh was not to be taken lightly. But by 1908 some hardy souls were entering the MCC’s London-Edinburgh Trial for fun; a few even hardier souls were also completing the round trip against the clock. Read all about it!

The world’s first motor racing circuit opened in 1907; in 1908 bikes joined the fun. It all started with a head-to-head race for a bet. Just posted in the 1908 features section you’ll find details of the action, some sniffy letters from the competitors, an uptight local suing the organisers and a world speed record. The pics are pretty good too.

In a handful of years the run from Land’s End to John o’Groats evolved from a voyage into the unknown to a route for the ACU Six Days’ Trial. But it was a trial that put bikes and their riders to the test. Check out this contemporary account of foul weather, foul roads and endurance.

The latest additions are a couple of features from 1908. You’ll find a lot of background to the TT and a collection of touring yarns, roadtests, tales of plucky endurance and rather a lot more. Go on, treat yourself.

Before expanding the material already posted for the twenties and thirties I’m catching up on some features. The latest of these cover the MCC’s London-Edinburgh trial and the Stanley Show, both from 1907. Bikes were appearing in all shapes and sizes: here’s a taster.

It was a busy year. New marques, new models, new technol;ogy, new challenges and a surge in demand from enthusiasts who had caught the motor cycling bug in uniform. There’s more than 90,000 words and stack of pictures to get through, so you’d better get started (and the Christmas story by Ixion is a doozy).