classic motorcycle forum

Interesting theories about the high octane fuel - keep them coming.

In terms of buying old Spitfires - have you seen the current story of the enthusiast who has located a load of Spitfires that are buried in Burma and has just been given permission to dig them up? Apparently they were preserved in grease and buried to stop the Japanese from using them at the end of the war. There could be 20 or more. Each could be worth more than £1million. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/burma/9204921/British-farmers-quest-to-find-lost-Spitfires-in-Burma.html

Dave

It's a bloomin shame that when older people are still alive we don't ask them this stuff, but when they have gone we dig out their old possessions...

It is an interesting theory though, how common would it have been to run a Norton on alcohol in 1946?

Dave

Thanks for the replies - I was sure that it was the G3 / G3L as I have compared a few pictures, but I'll bow to the collective wisdom if that what others think.

I noticed on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchless_G3/L that they said (of the G3):
Post war G3/Ls were the military version finished in black instead of green or khaki. Despite its age, the Matchless was so well proven and reliable it remained in use by the Ministry of Defence for another 15 years after the end of the war, until replaced in 1960 by the BSA W-B40

The Matchless G3/L was a popular choice for UK trials riders, and after the war there were plenty of bikes and spares to enable champions such as Artie Ratcliffe and Ted Usher to win numerous national events for Matchless

I agree with the comment about using them as they were designed, rather than keeping them in concourse condition...

Dave

Final photo from my father in law's possessions (see also http://www.classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=4187.0 & http://www.classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=4186.0 & http://www.classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=3907.15)

I've no idea what this is, he raced bikes, cars and carts in his time, but this definitely looks like a bike and it looks special... any suggestions?


Cheers

Dave

Unfortunately my father in law Donald Whitehead died earlier this year - after 89 happy years of being a petrol head. He flew in the RAF during the second world war, after the war he raced bikes, then cars and later go carts. A pilot and engineer by trade he spent his career working in the motor industry.

He often spoke fondly of his Norton International - you don't see many exhausts like that! According to the notes on the back of the picture this bike, 'Bigga Banga', posted the second fastest time of the day at the Brighton Speed Trials in 1946.




I took him out on the back of my Honda VFR 800 a couple of years back (when he was well into his 80s) to see what he thought of modern bikes - he was impressed with the handling, the cornering and the brakes. I asked him if he was scared at any stage with the speed and the power - it was then that he reminded me that he used to fly Spitfires for a living and had been shot at by the Luftwaffe 

Hope you enjoy the photos

Dave

Thanks for the speedy reply JR

hows how observant I am, I'd not noticed the road tyres on the front and knobblies on the back. The lack of any lights or indicators would suggest (to me) that he didn't ride it there and back.

If it is the Tandon Kangaroo and it is monoblock rather that twin shock, does that make it a Mk1 from 51/52 as per the post by 'Stickinthemud' on Sept 29th? http://www.classicmotorcycleforum.com/index.php?topic=3907.msg13811#msg13811

Other bike photos in his possessions include a Norton International called 'Bigga Banger' which (according to the scribbles on the back) posted second fastest time of the day at the Brighton Speed Trials in 1946. And a Matchless, which I think is a G3 / G3L painted black. But I might need to post these pics elsewhere.

Dave