Classic Motorcycle Club of Natal Committee Members

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004

EDITORIAL/CHAIRMANS CHIRP.

Please take note that this is the last Shop torque for 2003 – next one should be at the end of January 2004. If we are in luck a new Editor will have taken over from me at the A.G.M. and a “New Look” Shop torque will be in print! Any takers? Come on guys (and dolls) I’m sure new blood wielding the editorial pen would be appreciated.

Our A.G.M is just around the corner – Saturday 29^th November. Please put your heads together and discuss how you’d like your club to be run next year, and who you’d like to do the running. If you have any items for the Agenda please let me or Haverley (or any other Committee member) have them a.s.a.p. Remember that this is my tenth consecutive year in the Chair – surely it is time to retrench me (without pay) and replace me with a young hot-blooded enthusiast who is full of ideas and full of energy. Please give this some serious thought.

Our Durban Wheels Expo was advertised in many issues of Bike S.A. magazine prior to the Show, for which we are indeed very grateful. In addition to those advertisements the subsequent write-up and photographic display of our Show bikes as depicted across a double page headed in bold lettering and continued on a further four pages was, and is, simply terrific. A huge “Thank You” to Simon Fourie and Bike S.A. If any of you have not purchased the magazine’s September issue then go to CNA quickly, and hope that all copies have not been sold out yet!

As a token of our thanks we are inviting Simon and partner as our Special Guests at our 2004 Natal Classic Regularity Trial at Drakensville. We sincerely hope they will accept.

Jim Cramer

Editor

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UP FOR BALLOT – SATURDAY 4^th OCTOBER 2003

Yves Carie, Malcolm Lategan, Dudley Schafer and Ron Tanner, all of whom we introduced at our September Main Meeting. Good luck guys.

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MAIN MEETING – SATURDAY 4^th OCTOBER 2003.

Commences at 12h30. Display bikes to compete for our Concours Trophy. Panel of Judges to be appointed. Any SAVVA dated bike (or bike which SAVVA dating has been applied for) is eligible.

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BREAKFAST RUN – SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER 2003 – SKIPPERS RESTAURANT.

SHELLEY BEACH.

Leaving clubhouse 07h30 heading south via Old South Coast Road, Prospecton, Windy Hill, Toti etc, meeting up with our South Coast members and South Coast Wheels Club at the Hibberdene lay-by, then proceeding to Skippers Restaurant at Shelley Beach. Breakfast cost is R30 – proceeds to South Coast Hospice. R10 donation slips are included with this Shop Torque, some have already been handed out and more will be available at 4^th October Main Meeting. Please do your best to return the slip, along with R10 or more to Ron Dukes. If times are hard try to get five people to each donate R2. PLEASE DO YOUR BEST, AND IF YOU ONLY ATTEND ONE RUN THIS YEAR MAKE IT THIS ONE. Ride your ancient or classic if possible, but come on your modern or even by car if necessary. Be great to see some of our new members on the run.

Jim.

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MAIN MEETING – SATURDAY 1^st NOVEMBER 2003.

Commences at 12h30. Display bikes to compete for: -

1. 
   BEST SIDECAR AWARD – any outfit from any era. SAVVA Dating NOT required.
   
2. 
   BEST CLASSIC RACER – bike must conform to current M.S.A. regulations and must have competed in at least one official race during the current season.
   

3. BEST MATCHLESS – SAVVA Dating IS applicable, or request for dating must have been applied for, and accepted, by Dating Officer Brian Elam.

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“STRAWBERRIES IN NOVEMBER” – SATURDAY 15^th NOVEMBER 2003.

Commences 09h00.Combined with our monthly Social meeting.

Our bi-annual Swop Meet/ Bike sale/ Jumble sale/ White elephant/etc. Success depends on you as sellers, swoppers and buyers. Complete bikes, bits of bikes, books, magazines, tools, cameras, ornaments, kitchenware, baking, pickles, cars, boats, and toys – whew you name it!!! Bring and sell whatever you like, but, of course, let’s hope there are lots of bikes and bike bits. But remember, if we are all buyers there won’t be any sellers to buy from. Speaking of sellers – you are welcome to invite non-members who have something to sell to come along. Of course outside buyers are also welcome. Sell from car boot or bakkie or table (sellers to provide their own tables) No commission or charges of any sort payable to the club. Ain’t that wonderful. But a donation to the S.P.C.A. – whatever you can afford.

Jim.

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BREAKFAST RUN – SUNDAY 23^rd NOVEMBER 2003.

Leaves clubhouse 07h30 heading for Engen Service Station at Kloof where more riders will be waiting. Route and Venue to be advised.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – SATURDAY 29^TH –COMMENCING AT 14h00 FOLLOWED BY PRIZEGIVING.

See you there!

Jim

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MAIN MEETING – SATURDAY 6^th DECEMBER 2003 – Day of the Harleys

Commences 12h30. 2003 being the 100^th Year of the Harley Davidson we wish to celebrate with them in a modest way by inviting all Harley owners to come and display them at our club. Hopefully we will at least see all of those belonging to our members but it would be great to see a lot more on display in our grounds. So please guys, spread the word around especially amongst the Harley fraternity and enthusiasts. There will be a free draw for prizes for those who have Harleys on display. As it is Xmas time we are requesting everyone to please bring something for Liz Mathews’ Bahle Fund – an old shirt or trousers, a tin of baked beans, packets of soup – in fact anything to wear or eat.

THERE WILL ALSO BE OUR R1000 DRAW

See you and many Harleys there

Jim.

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MYSTERY BREAKFAST RUN – SUNDAY 7^th DECEMBER 2003.

Route and Venue to be advised prior to departure from the clubhouse at 07h30.

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YEAR END COMMITTEE MEETING AND YEAR END RACE MEETING – WEDNESDAY 10^th DECEMBER 2003.

Both meetings to commence at 19h30.”The Smoothies” – i.e. Committee members to conduct their business near the library whilst the “Ruffians” i.e. our Classic riders – conduct theirs near to Pist ‘n Broke. I will see to it that the Committee meeting is short and sweet. Hopefully Geoff Isacks will do the same at his end. Thereafter we will join forces and enjoy a “Chairman’s round” of refreshments and gorge ourselves on the delicacies prepared by our dear ladies.

Sound good? Does to me – see you there!

Jim.

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SOCIAL MEETING/KIDDIES XMAS PARTY – SATURDAY 20^th DECEMBER 2003.

Social meeting commences as usual at 12h30. The Kiddies Xmas party is subject to at least 10 attending. Names and Numbers plus R20 per child to be given to Sue Wellbeloved not later than at our AGM on Saturday 29^th November. The R20 will go towards providing a Jumping Castle, cool drinks, ice cream and sweets for each child. Parents to please bring a plate of eats and a present, the value of which should not exceed R50. Party to commence at 14h00 with Santa arriving at about 15h00 along with all presents which must be carefully and clearly marked with the recipients name, and which should have been discreetly handed in on arrival to whoever has volunteered to collect them for distribution by Santa.

Jim.

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XMAS EVE BRAAI – WEDNESDAY 24^th DECEMBER 2003.

Fires lit at approximately 12h00. Traditional informal social event since 1984. Come and socialise for an hour or two even if you don’t wish to Braai. We hope to see many old timers and lots of our newer faces. Usually we are on our way home by 18h00 – thus giving us time to hang up our stockings for the Fat Cat in the Red Threads to stuff them full of goodies! See you there too

Jim.

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MONTH END BRAAI – FRIDAY 26^th DECEMBER 2003

Usual month end get together – last one for 2003 (can you believe it?) Always a pleasure to socialise with those who attend – whether regularly or occasionally. Here too it would be nice to see some of our newer members. Fires are lit at approximately 18h30 and the last of us usually pack up and head for home at about 21h00.

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NEWS YEAR EVE SOCIAL – WEDNESDAY 31^ST DECEMBER 2003.

Informal event commencing at 19h30. Club will be providing a cold buffet at R25 per head. PLEASE GIVE NAMES AND NUMBERS PLUS AT LEAST R10 DEPOSIT PER PERSON ATTENDING TO SUE WELLBELOVED NOT LATER THAN OUR SOCIAL MEETING ON SATURDAY 20^th DECEMBER. You are welcome to Braai or bring your own food should you prefer to do so. However you will, without doubt, miss out on a terrific cold buffet, which Sue and helpers will be providing.

Pist “n Broke and Dads Bag Café will be open for business. Music by CD – dance if you wish. Family and friends are very welcome. Come and see the New Year in amongst good company.

Jim

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VICE CHAIRMANS NATTER

All you guys and dolls out there with that rare Classic motorcycle are in luck. Because the value has just gone up. A huge fire at Britain’s National Motorcycle Museum destroyed 650 motorcycles with an estimated value of R95 million. The museum had 900 of the world’s fastest and most expensive Vintage bikes. Don’t worry Jim if it’s only the fastest and expensive bikes there can’t be any BSA’s. Only 250 of the 900 were saved. The cause of the fire is a mystery and is being investigated. “I can tell them what caused the fire”, it would have been one of the Triumphs spitting back through the carbs. All the Triumphs I have ever owned all spit back with the result of my Tiger 3TA catching fire, and I burnt my leather jacket putting it out one night after watching the Speedway.

Our last two race meetings were very well supported by riders and spectators. The Idube meeting on 10^th August had so many spectators that the Car parks were all full. The young guys at the gate said that a Citi Golf with 4 young ladies stopped at the gate and when asked for R40 entrance fee, they wanted to know what it was they were going to see. The guy asked them why they had travelled down 3 kms of dirt road not knowing where or what they would see. They said they saw all the cars turning off so they followed.” Well” said the young guy “its Motorcycle racing.” “Ho” they said” that’s guys with leather suits on?” “Yes” he said.” Here’s your R40 – where can we sit” was the reply.

The meeting on 14^th September looked like it was going to be washed out. The morning was rainy in Durban but when we got to PMB it was overcast but dry. It stayed dry but cold until around 15h00 and all but two classes got in all their 3 heats. As soon as it started raining we stopped the race. I counted 65 spectator cars on the banking, which is not bad if you considered what the weather was like. A few of the riders stayed away but we still had full classes in all heats and some very good racing. Team Muller stayed away with Dave thinking Paul doesn’t need rain to fall off – he can manage quite well in the dry, and with Dave paying for repairs it must be the finance manager in Dave coming out.

12^th October looks like being another bumper meeting, with the added bonus of the Derby class coming down from Joburg. So all you out there that haven’t been for a while or haven’t been at all, nows your chance. Duncan Day is leading the Classic class with Hudson Kennaugh in second place. So come and see if Duncan can hang on for two more meetings. It’s going to be close.

Baffled Muffler.

BSAs’ don’t end up in museums Bob; they are in huge demand for road use.

Jim

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REPORTBACK ON BREAKFAST RUN TO CAMELOT – 24^th AUGUST 2003 –GEOFF WELLBELOVED

The run was well attended, in spite of the cold windy weather, with over 30 bikes and a few cars- a total of 45 people.

Derek Pirie led us through the Kloof Gorge, on his Harley outfit, to the Greensleeves Restaurant at the Camelot Golf estate.

Breakfast was very good, at reasonable prices, and served under a thatched Boma overlooking the Golf course. Everybody seemed to enjoy the food and the views, and I think we should use this venue again in the future.

Should anyone have any ideas for future breakfast runs to new venues please phone me with details and we can discuss routes etc? Your input into these runs would be most welcome.

Next run is to Skippers Restaurant at Shelley Beach in aid of the South Coast Hospice. Hope to see you there.

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WHEELS EXPO SHOW – BARBARA SINK

There seems to be some misunderstanding about the division of the profit from the 2003 Show.

Firstly each of the six Lions Clubs is a club in their own right. 50% of the profits were divided among the 4 charities i.e. St Mary’s Hospital, Highway Hospice, South Coast Hospice and Cheshire Children’s Home. The remaining 50% was divided equally between the 6 Lions Clubs and ourselves. Hope that clears it up for you.

Total profits from the 2004 Show will be divided into seven with each participating club having the right to disperse their share as they see fit. Each of the Lions Clubs will donate 50% of their share to the Main Charities and will donate the other 50% to a charity of their choice. The Main Charities will be different.

Would you all try and give me the names of any people you know who may come on the Show, whether as Trade or Private people who wish to exhibit their Car or Bike. The more exhibitors we have the greater the profit for the club. So it’s up to us. If you have any suggestions please put them in the box on the Bar a.s.a.p so I can act on them.

Barbara
P.S. As a mark of Respect please remove your hat/cap whenever we stand for a minute’s silence

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100 CLUB – 6^th SEPTEMBER 2003 – SALOME VAN NIEKERK.

To date 47 members have paid in full for 2003.

Winners.

1^st Prize No 41 R500 Don Swithenbank

2^nd Prize No 50 R20 Bar Card Jock Adamson

3^rd Prize No 70 R10 Bar Card Nick Schwarz

N.B. Please don’t forget that there is no draw in January 2004. The December 2003 draw will be for R1000. Tickets will be R20 and there will be quite a few consolation prizes. So please start saving up for your ticket. All you have to do is forego the next four beers.

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LIBRARY – ALAN YOUNG

Members continue to contribute to our collection of manuals and books of historical interest.

This month we thank Peter Varty for the following:

The Art of Motorcycle Racing – Hailwood and Walker.

Motorcycle Manual – A Practical Guide

Story of BMW Motorcycles – Rob Croucher

History of the Matchless – P. Hartley.

Norton Commando Workshop Manual – 1967 on

A Guide to Motorcycle Electrics.

Motorcycle Carb Manual – Haynes

To Mike Coffey our thanks for Manuals on Norton, BSA, Ariel and Triumph.
Ken Potts for the donation of Classic Motorcycle magazines, and Jimmy Forrest for “The Book of the Sunbeam.”

At our upcoming “Strawberries in November” we will have a large selection of Classic bike and Classic Motorcycle mags. for sale. Together with workshop Manuals mainly for Classic Jap Bikes. The mags. will be sorted into years and sold as job lots. At “Plums in May” they went quickly so be there early and don’t miss out!

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News from the Prairies of Canada:

Wall to Wall Harleys.

by Grey Burning Muffler

Like most things the Americans do, they are taken to the outer limits of excess and the 100 year Harley Davidson celebrations are no exception. Ford have climbed on the bandwagon and somehow "linked" themselves to Harley and have brought out limited edition Ford/Harley models of cars and trucks. The Harley cult knows no bounds and there is a huge waiting list for new bikes and they don't come cheap. A guy here in Winkler has just bought a new "outfit": bike with sidecar for $65,000 CAD ie: R350,000 !

Ross has just bought a new Chev Tahoe all-wheel-drive 5,4 L V8 van with 3 rows of seats, towing package, (oil cooler, heavy duty gearbox and diff) and all the bells and whistles including some never heard of in SA, for R49,000. What the price of a famous name ? !! Harley have got it right and can name their price.

A small neighbouring town (12 km away) has just had their 37th Corn and Apple festival when the 5,000 community swells to 50,000 and hot buttered corn (mealies) on the cob, and apple cider are given away free to 48,000 people over 3 days of funfair, flea-market stalls and Country and Western bands and gospel quartets. One of the highlights is the "Show 'n Shine" of classic cars and motorcycles. Mostly Harleys of course. This year to co-incide with Harleys centennial, a "ride-in" was planned of Harley Davidsons from all over Canada, converging on this small town for a brief stop-over on their way to the huge Harley gathering planned at the factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA in September. The posters read "experience the sound of rolling thunder - the only thing louder will be the beating of your heart !!" And that was indeed so. A thousand Harleys of all descriptions, most with their trailers, tents, clothing and bedding aboard, led by some huge fire engines with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Even for a non Harley enthusiast like me, one couldn't help being impressed and overawed by the sheer numbers and roar of all those bikes. The ground shook ! What an experience. I can only guess at what it will be like in Milwaukee where there will be thousands and thousands more from every state in the USA. What fun the Canadian contingent must have as they ride and camp through North Dakota then Minnesota to Wisconsin to Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan, and quite close to Chicago.

The seasons change rapidly in Southern Manitoba and the days are already getting shorter as "fall" approaches and the long cold Canadian winter. All the necessary jobs involved in settling in to a new house like extra shelves and building a deck, have been completed as has the all-important workshop in the heated basement. The Triumph Bonneville frame is on the bike lift ready for work to start when winter sets in. Might even be ready for display at some Show 'n Shines next summer. Will have to join the ranks of "other makes" and of Japanese look-alike Harleys, to one side of the hundreds of the real thing.

Harvesting is seriously underway in the huge fields of wheat and canola and the lights of the combines and grain trucks can be seen every night working almost 24 hours to get the crop in before winter. Canada is indeed the bread basket of the world.

May your exhausts continue to burn Grey.

THE DURBAN-LADYSMITH RACES by JOCK LEYDEN.

PART FOUR – FINAL.

“Most generous prizes” were offered for the contestants in the 1922 “Ladysmith Race”. 50 pounds, 20 pounds and 10 pounds. With Gold medals and certificates to first, second and third, and fourth to tenth got tyres and vacuum flasks. No wonder there was a record entry!

Twenty-three competitors faced the starter and for the first time solos and sidecars were committed in one race. Bobby elected to race with his sidecar, with A. Fraser as passenger. George Taylor, a very shrewd character, who had joined Killerby’s the BSA agents thought it would be good publicity for that Marque if a 4 ¼ H.P. side-valve sidecar job did well in the Ladysmith race.

Brought up on Harleys, he went all out on strengthening the outfit, buttressing it everywhere. The sidecar passenger was his boss’s son, 17-year-old Arthur Killerby who was game for anything, as long as it was racing. They started No. 1 with a nice handicap allowance of 3 hours, 52 minutes, and set the wheels rolling in the dark at 5.08a.m. Jack Booth left 12 minutes later. Len Cohen with an Enfield outfit departed at 7.19 am. Blackburn came next at 7.33 am. Edgar Marie (Triumph) was the first of the big solos to go at 7.45 am (perhaps Edgar is better remembered as the Comrades marathon runner who competed in that murderous slog for years. In 1949 he was 62 years old and had to get a medical certificate before being allowed to compete. His 29-year-old doctor, who was a very fit rugby player, was so impressed he decided to enter too. Edgar finished 25^th and his doctor trailed in 45 minutes later. The game old Edgar ran till he was 69 and had a 5^th, 8th, 9th, 15th and 25^th place to his credit.)

N.M.C.C. gossips of the early days swore Edgar carried only one tool in his tool bag, a stilson wrench. Yes, Edgar Marie was a character, without a doubt.

Kenyon and Young on Ricardo Triumphs, now they were getting “real” race machines (O.H.V’s no less!) left at 8.10. Dick Donaldson on a Norton went off 10 minutes later. Fred Murray and Bunny Loader left together at 8.59 and at 9.00 J.Parks. from Ladysmith, departed on his 1000cc Indian.

At the turn-about point Taylor was first, then came Booth, Jordan’s Indian Scout sidecar outfit, and Bobby, who had moved up six places and won back one hour, 30 minutes of Booth’s two hours, 13 minutes start. Cohen had dropped 28 minutes on Bobby, having had a fork shackle break outside the siege town, and doing a temporary repair job with a spare front axle!

Then came Kenyon, and Loader who had blasted through the 248 ks in 3 hours, 35 minutes, a record for the distance – another of Bobby’s records gone.

Bobby’s sidecar time, of course, was also a new record, his 4 hours, 15 minutes having knocked the sidecar record to smithereens and being inside his old solo record for the race, truly this was a race indeed, my masters.

Bunny, who had conceded 1 hour, 16 minutes to Bobby, was 46 minutes behind. It could be a close thing, but it looked as if Bobby would just do it.

Coming down through Curry’s Post, and well in the lead, Taylor’s sidecar axle broke and the BSA outfit looped the loop. Rider and passenger were knocked unconscious. A passing motorist saw them lying by the roadside, but instead of stopping to render assistance, rushed to report it to the officials at Howick. After some time, young Killerby opened his eyes and seeing George lying nearby slapped his face till he came to. George’s first words were “Go and find that wheel” Being a very obedient young lad Arthur did as told, after all, George was foreman in the shop. Then a roar heralded the approach of Bobby Blackburn whose Harley had lost its right handlebar. “Jump in and I’ll take you to Howick” said Bobby, and he was disappointed when they declined the offer, reminding him that he was still in the race. Off he went. Sometime later, guess what arrived from Howick. A funeral hearse. The passing motorist who had spotted them earlier lying by the roadside had obviously feared the worst, and reported the sad news to the officials at Howick. George and Arthur were happy to tell them they were very much alive.

Into Pietermaritzburg at 2.31 came Booth and 9 minutes later Blackburn. Could he catch the Triumph before Durban? It would be close! 24 ½ minutes elapsed before Loader appeared. It looked as if the race was in the bag for Bobby, though both Harley riders had smashed records all the way. Bobby was within the solo record for that trip – if that wasn’t racing what was? So they went down the last winding stretch to Durban. The big machines were closing the gap rapidly and before Drummond Bobby was in the lead, then Bunny took Booth and in wild fury went after Bobby, catching him at Gillitts where the outfit’s forks broke.

A few weeks later Natal was shocked to learn that when returning from Pietermaritzburg, where he had gone to attend a horse racing meeting at Scottsville, Bobby’s Harley with passenger, Reid, in the chair, had crashed mysteriously at the Botha’s Hill railway crossing and he had been rushed to the Durban Sanatorium severely injured. Three days later South Africa was saddened to learn that the 21-year-old star had died. The cause of the accident was never ascertained. He was buried in West Street cemetery just inside the entrance gates, on the right side. I can remember going there several times in my youth with my young friends, for Bobby was an idol in the 1920s.

The grave is still there; marked by a marble monument, but the Harley Davidson wheel, which poignantly marked it, has long since rusted away. It is worth adding here that Bobby Blackburn had won the 1921 Durban – Joburg race in a new record time of 10 hours, 12 minutes, 19 seconds beating his own record, set in the 1919 down run by over an hour. He was the only rider in the

history of the race to win this event from scratch.

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