The latest addition to the A-Z Gallimaufry concerns the adventures of EJ Pennington: coiner of the word ‘motorcycle’; inventor of the ‘long mingling spark’ and the ‘war automobile’; entrepreneur, philanderer and, above all, world-class conman who ripped off entire towns. Roll up folks—its a great yarn!
The War Automobile was one of EJ’s more conventional ideas.
For your delectation—full reports on the Scottish and ACU Six Days’ Trials and the TT (including the first win by a Manxman), a fascinating feature on the evolution of the motor cycle, roadtests, heaps of new models including a two-stroke shafty, ladies’ fashions, hill climbs, races, technical innovations, a unicycle, two-wheel cars, Ixion at his most whimsical and, I kid you not, a hero supporting a Douglas (and rider) with his teeth.
The listing for 1922 is amost complete, bar some more illustrations. The traditional Christmas story is rather good; you’ll also find some rather of-the-wall accessories and much more mirthful material besides.
Uploaded this very day, a report of the thrills and spills of the 1922 TT, complete with Ixion’s impressions of the action, news of misbehaving TT riders annoying Manx folk and the sad tale of a rider who was forced to retire when his braces snapped.
“Busy scenes on the quayside at Liverpool and Douglas. Competitors embarking with their machines. (1) Not a speed mount but a vehicle that will be appreciated in and around Douglas. (2) International entrants arriving—the Indian team awaiting their turn to embark (3) CP Wood and his Scott arrive at Douglas. (4) FW Dixon takes his Indian aboard at Liverpool. (5) Bert Kershaw with his New Imperial.”
A full report on the big one, the ACU Six Days, is awaiting you in the 1922 Features section. Tales of endurance, technical notes and drawings, a staffer’s view of the trial, some cobby tiddlers and the debut of a big BruffSup…there’s plenty to read and loads of period pics. It was a great event.
“At the start of the speed test for the 500cc and 750cc machines. Some excellent times were made.”
1922 is turning out to be full of interest. Yarns uploaded today include the definitve story of the invention of the skidlid; an Edinburgh Trial competitor who ended up with hare on his face; a banking sidecar on test; a Harley with sidecar-wheel drive and a hill so steep that bikes were lowered back down on a rope. And we’re only half way through the year. It definitely beats 2020.
“The motor cyclist who carries a camera on his jaunts certainly adds to his pleasures by obtaining records of his journeyings, but possibly the artist’s pleasures are even greater, for the slightest of sketches carry more meaning—to the artist—than the best of photographs.”
In 1922 The Motor Cycle published its 1,000th issue and marked the milestone with a number of retrospectives, including a definitive history of the birth and evolution of the sidecar—in 1922 sidecar outfits were the most common vehicles on UK roads. And in the 1922 Features section you’ll find a real gem: nothing less than a succinct history of motor cycling evolution penned by Ixion.
“The first motor cycle, made by Daimler in 1885, compared with a modem TT mount—the AJS.”
The Scottish Six Days Trial had never been a stroll in the park but Spring came late in 1922—competitors slogged through torrential rain, sleet, gales and blizzards, over boulder styrewn moorland tracks, up freak mud-covered hils and through freezing watersplashes. None of which stopped some indomitable women riders joining the fray, and one of them won a gold medal. This one really is a ripping yarn.
“Tam-o-Shanters were very popular, many of the competitors preferring them to more orthodox headgear. C Guthrie (348cc Raleigh), DS Ball (800cc AJS sidecar) and R Evans (348cc Raleigh) at the lunch stop in Perth.”
More stories and pics are being added from 1922 including roadtests of the four-valve Ricardo Triumph, Harley’s 4hp flat twin and a brace of Brough Superiors; some extremely whimsical Ixionisms; a reader asking advice on a ‘subterrabrain waveium’; details of straight-six, four-pot two-stroke and radial-three engines; plans for an indoor garage; musical accompaniment at Brooklands; and a music hall artiste balancing a running Duggie (with rider) on his teeth. It’s going to be a busy year.
“Offside of the Low four-cylinder machine, showing the enclosed transmission and the speedometer drIve from the propeller-shaft…the clutch is controlled by the left Bowden lever and the front brake by the right Bowden lever. The left-hand pedal controls the back brake and the right-hand one the clutch, for which there is a dual control. The change speed lever will be noticed adjacent to the top tube.”
Finally, with the MCC’s Boxing day London-Exter-London trial, 1921 is ready for reading. You’ll find a number of new marques, oodles of new models, pics of riders doing silly things, tales of derring do on and off road, advances in motor cycle technology, the arrival of bike club flags, a TT report (and plans to move the TT to Belgium)…enough waffle from me, go look for yourself.
Miss Peggy Fraser, herself a motor cyclist, is the only fashion artist to consider the requirements of her sisters of the wheel. Some time ago Miss Fraser designed two motor cycling costumes, which were published in these pages, and now she submits three designs for hats in suède and glacé kid.