Uploaded for your delectation, a gem of a story from a 1912 issue of CP Fry’s sports magazine describing the life of factory roadtesters. Also new to the 1912 Features section is a brief test of the 1911 Junior TT winning Humber 339cc V-twin and a review of that most important development in motor cycling’s evolution: the kickstart.
Great Scott!
For the first time the Senior and Junior TTs were limited to 500 and 350cc; singles and twins competed on equal terms; most manufacturers boycotted the Island. It was a great year for Scott and Douglas, the racing was sometimes both wild and woolly with a rutted, flooded section of track forcing racers onto the pavement. Read all about it.
Beam me up Alfred
Well, “Beam me up Scotty” seemed a trifle too obvious for a feature looking at the two-stroke kid on the block. You’ll find a roadtest and a rider’s report on living with the Yorkshire wonder. All together now, ring-a-ding-ding-ding…
A Joyful Trip to Esher; a show trip to Paris and Charlie does it again.
Check out the 1910 Features list where you’ll find a delightful Edwardian tale involving a chap, his lady friend, a jinxed tricar and a 25-hour trek from Dorking to Esher (which, for those unfortunates who do not live in Surrey, is about 12 miles). After which join the man from The Motor Cycle at the Paris Salon. C’est très joli! And there are the highlights of the TT: pictures, blow-by-blow accounts, gossip and an interview with the winner.
Three more yarns from 1911
Todays’ uploads, all in the 1911 Features section, comprise a report on the gruelling ACU Six Days’ Trial, an entrancing essay by Ixion about some of his mishaps in the earliest days of motor cycling, and a thrilling Christmas yarn about a motor cycling bank clerk who saves the nation from a dastardly German plot.
Ahoy the Dreadnought!
In case you thought custom bikes were a recent arrival on the motor cycling scene, you ought to read about Oily Karslake and the unique bike he built in 1903. He built well: it’s still in regular use.
Three more features from 1911
Latest additions: Contemporary reports on the Scottish Six Days’ and London-Edinburgh trials, packed with tales of resourcefulness under adversity; and a selection of accessories including the Quidos Sidecar Foot-Muff. Don’t leave home without one.
1912 Read all about it
Just uploaded: a cornucopia of stories and pictures from 1912, including interviews with three top riders who reveal their most exciting rides and some roadtests.
Let’s get lyrical
Today’s additions: A moving poem about knights in armour and a dragon-powered motorcycle (in the poetry section, where else?); with more yarns and pictures from 1912.
More stories from 1903 and 1912
ALL A BIT random but among new material in 1903 you’ll find a report on the Glasgow-London trial with some cool pics of the four survivors; 1912 is the year I’m working on at present so more stories and pics are being uploaded daily (including an 814cc single-cylinder lady-back tandem from Connecticut).
