Classic Bike Guide - Real rides, real riders

A right carry on

Only recently, I was at one of my regular parts emporia and noticed regular access points closed off. Apparently the Health and Safety Executive had deemed the odd Triumph crankcase on the floor to be a hazard along with items on shelves and as such had placed the areas out of bounds to the public. Only a day or two later, I was having some brake shoes relined when the proprietor took a call from a frustrated driver elsewhere who was being prevented from climbing onto the back of his flat bed to rope down his sheets, by the HSE man, until the cherry picker was available to lift him on in its cradle. Then on the way home I heard on the news that after 30 years or more, the HSE, had blocked the Red Arrows from displaying over Dartmouth Estuary in case the vibrations adversely affect local buildings. Is it me or are there too many fingers in too many pies?

You’ll read elsewhere in this issue Peter Williams’ final instalment of his time at Norton and the announcement that his full autobiography ‘Designed to Race’ will be available from early September, via his website and publishers Redline Books but, as far as CBG is concerned, the big news is that hopefully, from the October issue, Peter will be a regular columnist and contributor. Let me tell you, to have one of my all time racing heroes helping out is both a terrific thrill and a great honour. Peter and his ilk commanded, to most track-siders such as I, an almost God-like status, as we would watch them in awe, so to be on first name terms today is a case of having to pinch myself on a regular basis!

Indeed, in the days of my silver Mk2a Interstate, I had to look the part, so bought myself a set of one piece TT Leathers, in white with red and blue stripes of John Player Norton. I also bought one of the first full face helmets, a white Kangol Falcon – I couldn’t afford a Bell – and sent it to Peter’s Kawasaki dealership in Southampton, where he undertook a paint job in replication of his own helmet. With blue ex-Luftwaffe gloves and matching Lewis Leathers racing boots, I was the 100 per cent Norton man! That was the time when leg length dimension was longer than equivalent waist measurement and the crown had a good covering of thatch, ah memories...

Apologies to those of you who were expecting the Vincent four valve head feature, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait another month for that one – but it’s worth waiting for. What’s more the Comet engined racing outfit to which the first head is fitted, won first time out!

Nigel Clark
Editor