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Messages - Stew

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The Classic Biker Bar / Re: 1939 ISDT
« on: September 10, 2019, 10:35:09 AM »
I've just skinned through the programme and was delighted to see that the good old BEEB devoted about 33 seconds of their precious programme to the 1939 ISDT. Well done the BBC.

I kind of knew that they would edit the hell out of it but at least it made the final cut.  Would you believe that those 33 seconds took best part of 40 minutes to shoot?!  Mind you for 15 minutes of that the camera wasn't working properly.

Stew

2
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: 1939 ISDT
« on: September 05, 2019, 09:39:18 AM »
Sorry for the lack of posting on this one for a while, but just wanted to say that if anyone is interested I have filmed a short piece to camera for the Antiques Roadshow World War 2 special talking about the ISDT of 1939, the result is that this is being shown this Sunday on BBC1 at 8pm (8th September).  So if you are a loose end please check it out.

Stew

3
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: 1939 ISDT
« on: April 16, 2019, 08:37:06 AM »
As Ian says the 1939 ISDT has a great back story, whether bikes were abandoned I can't recall but quite a few competitors rode their bikes home.
What is overlooked is the real help the riders were given by the German organisers to leave Germany before hostilities started, fuel, visa's etc.
Somewhere I have the story in an old issue of either Motorcycle or Motorcycling and I'd suggest that would be a good start for background.
Then the BSA owners club, maybe the ACU.
A surprising number of ex ISDT bikes survive, your may well still be in a collection, even a museum, Sammy Miller might help if he's in a good mood.
Have you checked DVLA records to see if that reg is still on their books?

There has been quite lot written about that 1939 event over the years.

Thanks for that mini-me, I do have a copy of that book (its at my mum's house somewhere) there is actually a picture of Les Ridgway in 'action' in there as well.  Late last year I did manage to track down a December 1984 copy I think it was of Classic Motorcycle? with the Les Perks' article in, although not actually managed to read it yet.

I have checked with the DVLA online and nothing was showing up there so will give the BSA owners club a go see if that leads anywhere.
Can't help but best of luck in your quest.

The 1939 ISDT was the one where the British teams had to make a fairly hair-raising trip back across the continent to avoid being caught up in the war. I believe a number of bikes were abandoned in France and others were loaded onto vans and brought back to the UK. Some managed to ride their bikes back.

I have a copy of the Rob Carrick ISDT book in which he says: "Of the CSMA team, Whitehouse lost 10 and Ridgway retired, leaving Fred Perks running on time" on the penultimate day - after which all British competitors were instructed to abandon and return to the UK.

I'm pretty sure his machine made it back to the UK as I also have a letter from someone at BSA apologising for the failure of it during the event, will try to scan that on later on when I get home.

Stew

Sorry for no replies/action on this topic for a while (life always gets in the way), in reference to my second statement as above, I have found the letter in question and it is actually a letter from Bert Perrigo of the BSA works, apologising for the failure of the machine.

Thanks

4
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: 1939 ISDT
« on: January 22, 2018, 07:59:56 AM »
Thanks Cardan  :), in answer to your question his birth name was Leslie but I don't think he was ever know as anything but Les, and our surname is always Ridgway although it had been spelt in-correctly as Ridgeway in a lot of text I have already found online.

Sadly I was a bit busy this weekend to scan the bit on I was promising to do, but hopefully I will get an opportunity this evening.

5
The Classic Biker Bar / Re: 1939 ISDT
« on: January 19, 2018, 11:22:41 AM »
As Ian says the 1939 ISDT has a great back story, whether bikes were abandoned I can't recall but quite a few competitors rode their bikes home.
What is overlooked is the real help the riders were given by the German organisers to leave Germany before hostilities started, fuel, visa's etc.
Somewhere I have the story in an old issue of either Motorcycle or Motorcycling and I'd suggest that would be a good start for background.
Then the BSA owners club, maybe the ACU.
A surprising number of ex ISDT bikes survive, your may well still be in a collection, even a museum, Sammy Miller might help if he's in a good mood.
Have you checked DVLA records to see if that reg is still on their books?

There has been quite lot written about that 1939 event over the years.

Thanks for that mini-me, I do have a copy of that book (its at my mum's house somewhere) there is actually a picture of Les Ridgway in 'action' in there as well.  Late last year I did manage to track down a December 1984 copy I think it was of Classic Motorcycle? with the Les Perks' article in, although not actually managed to read it yet.

I have checked with the DVLA online and nothing was showing up there so will give the BSA owners club a go see if that leads anywhere.
Can't help but best of luck in your quest.

The 1939 ISDT was the one where the British teams had to make a fairly hair-raising trip back across the continent to avoid being caught up in the war. I believe a number of bikes were abandoned in France and others were loaded onto vans and brought back to the UK. Some managed to ride their bikes back.

I have a copy of the Rob Carrick ISDT book in which he says: "Of the CSMA team, Whitehouse lost 10 and Ridgway retired, leaving Fred Perks running on time" on the penultimate day - after which all British competitors were instructed to abandon and return to the UK.

I'm pretty sure his machine made it back to the UK as I also have a letter from someone at BSA apologising for the failure of it during the event, will try to scan that on later on when I get home.

Stew

6
The Classic Biker Bar / 1939 ISDT
« on: January 19, 2018, 10:22:48 AM »
Morning all,

First of all hello as I am new to these parts so to speak (not necessarily to internet forums but definitely to the world of classic motorbikes), and apologies of this is not the correct part of this board to post in.  Anyway before I start rambling too much I may as well explain why I'm here, my Grandpa on my Dad's side was a very active trails rider in the 1930's on-wards until 1950 (I think).  He sadly died in 1995 but it was only after his death that the rest of the family discovered that he had ridden for the CSMA Team in the 1939 ISDT in Salzburg, competitor number 47.

It looks like he was on a works provided BSA Goldstar/Silverstar (not exactly sure what as it appears to be some sort of factory hybrid possibly).  Picture two is the registration document of that machine, whilst picture one is him (left hand rider) with the other two members of the team collecting the bikes from the BSA factory.  Picture three is the time card for day 4 (his last day before the machine broke down...I think). 

Anyway, my main question is this...Does anyone know what happened to the teams machine's after they were handed back to the factory?  Did they survive? I know its a long shot but it would be cool to find out what happened to them.
 I have a collection of paperwork related to this event along with 50% of his trophy collection, I think my cousin has the other half.  I will try to scan these documents on as I have just replaced my scanner form one that works ( the attachments are just photos from my phone and not the best quality I'm afraid.

I will leave it there for now.

Stew

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