Over the past few nights I’ve made a small inroad into the towering pile of old photos received from my esteemed amigo Francois. A good number are from the world wars; many more are from the US (not, not just Indians and Harleys, we’re also talking Thor, Flying Merkel, Excelsior and Emblem); some exquisite pre-WW1 ads have been aded to the Artwork page—and many more pics have been absorbed by the main timeline and the second melange page, which is filling up to the point that I’ll need to set up Melange III. I now plan to get back to 1946 after which I’ll get back on schedule with 1948.

Some great snaps of pre-war Harley dealers and German road racers, more veterans, more images from the Great War (in Le Melange) and WW2 (in their own page), loads (and I do mean loads) more Indian and Harley snaps plus a couple of Hendersons, two Aces, a Reading Standard and Excelsiors—the latest batch from Francois (merci mon ami) is scattered through les deux melanges so if you have some time, brew up and take a look.

I was busy uploading more images in les melange when I came across a great batch of yarns from the colonies, including a record braking trans-continental trek on a Thomas. And a town that fined motor cyclists for motor cycling. And two watery motor cyclists: a Brit who set fire to a river and a Jerry who was caught out by a raised drawbridge. And an American reaction to a British Fairy. Enjoy; I’m going back to the pictures.

Since my last post my esteemed ami Francois has sent me several dozen excellent pictures. Many date from 1947/8 and will be published under their respective years, or in the melange; others are from the first and second world wars; there’s also a great batch of pre-Great War pics from the USA and…you get the idea. Normal service on the timeline (eg 1948) will be suspended while I get stuck into the photo files. I’ll post updates so you can check out the latest additions. As a taster here’s a snap of a nipper and his Adler.

I was about to start on 1948 when my attention was diverted by a 1906 issue of the Blue ‘Un tracked down by my endlessly fascinating wife (thanks boss). Additions to 1906 include a charming Continental touring yarn, a record breaking ride by one Reverend AJ McKinney; a report on Geoff Barnes’ record braking session at Canning Town courtesy of that maestro of the stopwatch, AV Ebblewhite; a report on the Essex MC’s hillclimb with (I think) some interesting machine data; a batch of readers’ letters and an excellent selection of ads including loads of classifieds that I found fascinating. And now I’ll get to work on 1948 (after I’ve uploaded another batch of images to les melanges, courtesy of mon bon ami Fanfan.

Another year’s complete, in the sense that I’ve exhausted my sources in search of stories from 1947. You’ll find some bike launches new marques, reports from the Milan show, the first six-race TT and the Ulster, as well as notes from the first post-war ISDT—the Czech hosts won, helped by the absence of British factory teams because Britain simple couldn’t afford it. The Jerries were absent too (the Czechs had enough of German visitors for the time being) but at least German motor cyclists had some petrol for their bikes. UK enthusiasts ended the year with dry tanks and they were not pleased. Read all about it; meanwhile I’ll get busy on 1948. See you there.

Among the stories awaiting your attention in 1947 is a comprehensive report of the first post-War TT, complete with three Clubman’s races. In the absence of BMW and DKW all the Clubman races and the Senior and Junior TTs were dominated by British bikes, but the Continental threat was still there, in the form of Guzzi 250s which were first and second in the Lightweight.

Whoops—I just came across another batch of yarns from 1946. How could I have left out the first Vespa? How could I have left out the Cushman vs Doodlebug scooter shoot-out? How could I have left out a 28½in-wide car powered by a Beeza 250 lump? How could I have left out the first all-ally Triumph twin that recorded the firm’s first Manx victory since 1908? I must stop kidding myself that any year is ever complete (some of the latest stories will need pics, for a start). But for now, at least, I’ll press on with 1947. See you then.

For the first, and possibly only time, I’m featuring a current event. In 1904 John Burney rode his Royal Enfield to victory in Irelands first motor cycle road race. He went on to take an active role in the motor cycle business, including partnering up with the legend that is Stanley Woods. Competitive motor cycling runs in the Burney family blood and John’s great grand daughter has done her share of long-distance touring on both sides of the Atlantic—and to mark to 120th anniversary of the race she’s helped organise a memorial run. Best wishes to all concerned—ride safe.