Bennett's 1925 TT Norton ?

From "The Classic Motorcycle, July 1991, pp 53-57''. Sent by Hans. Click the images for a full-page version. Refer to this blog entry for more info on this bike.

...and Simon's comments. From "The Classic Motorcycle, August 1991, p 26". More comments in this blog entry.

Why Guthrie, White and Frith did not compete in Australia

A letter from the Norton works dated 10 July 1937.  Sent by Dennis

The Motorcyclist Review

From "The Motorcyclist Review, August 1927". Sent by Simon.

The Motorcyclist Review was a monthly paper which ran from about 1925 to 1930. There is a full set of them at the British Newpaper Library in North London, where many other periodicals of interest can also be viewed - free! The CS1 on which Stanley was 'snapped' after his Dutch TT win carries the registration number OP8644 which is the number of the CS1 featured in the Motor Cycling road test of 9th November '27 and the 'Racer in the Rough' article from the Motor Cycle of 17th November '27.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm

Today I saw this.


My mind typically goes straight to the gutter when ever allowed to do so.
So I says to myself, "Self, That logo looks more like an E.D. with a little boner than a D.E. doesn't it? And doesn't ED stand for erectile dysfunction anyway? Why yes. Yes it does."


I wonder if they created this logo before Viagra and all of their commercials gained popularity and the term E.D. became a common house hold word.

Things that make you go "HMMMMM".
That's a mouthful!

Jock Muir, 1933, Model 40 Norton

Sent by Dennis. Text by Simon.

This is Jock (also known as Spug!) Muir. Jock never competed in the TT - only in the Manx, every year from 1930 to 1933 inclusive. His best result was the '31 Senior win, on a Norton. He also came second in '32 on a Velo in the Junior and 5th in the Senior on a Velo in 1930. In '33 he rode a 350 Norton as well and finished 13th on it.

T.T Toffee!

By Simon

There is a small paragraph in the May 31 1928 edition of The Motor Cycle to say that Stanley Woods had just started up the "TT Toffee" venture. Above is a copy of Stanley's letter head from his toffee manufacturing venture in Dublin about 1930. It folded after a short while however due to the depression.

Elsie and Mairi go to War

By Martin Shelley

I thought you might be interested to hear about a show in the Edinburgh Festival I have been involved with using the faithful 1920 16H Norton. Before the show opened, I took the author round Edinburgh to do some promotion of the show, (photo above, spoiled only by Di Atkinson's bright red sneakers, which should have been photoshopped to a dark brown to disguise them!!) and she then asked if she could use it in the actual show as a prop. This involved emptying the tank and giving the bike a thorough clean, which was actually quite a chore but has been beneficial otherwise as the bike hasn't had a 'proper' clean for a long time!

The show was called 'Elsie and Mairi go to War', a stirring true tale about two WW1 motorcyclists who had an amazing time nursing right on the western front near Ypres and who survived to tell the tale unlike many who perished... Take a look by following this link. Although the girls didn't actually ride Nortons, they were delighted to have the bike for the show, and it performed admirably as a static exhibit onstage, occasionally with one or other or both of them acting out a story in animated fashion. I had strapped the rear stand down so the bike couldn't roll off with disasterous consequences. After the last show, I refilled the tank and she started first kick and I rode her home!! What a performance!!

Remarkably, the My Royal Enfields blog has a post on this same subject today!

Alf's 1929 Model CS1 Norton

More photos of Alf's stunning 1929 CS1 that has probably been untouched since 1932. A unique opportunity to find out what they really looked like when they left the works. Don't bother asking, Alf won't sell!

Reece's c1925 Model 18 Norton

By Reece

About 12 or so years ago I bought an ever so slightly modified flat tank Norton. The previous owner was very short and modified it to suit him; have a really good look at the modifications including the rocker oil “troffs”! The fuel tank is an original that has been messed with, funny what people will do. Believe it or not, this bike started, ran and was rideable (if you were keen enough) when I bought it. It ran so quietly, amazing…Below as it is now.

Tattoo Birthday for my "SON" David Harley

Ever heard the old adage, Like Father Like Son? Well this one fits the bill.
My Son, David Harley (Yes, I really named him that.) has wanted a tattoo(s) since he was about 8 years old. He knew that waiting until he turned 18 was the only way it was going to happen. His time finally came. The session was not on his birthday, due to other commitments , but shortly afterward. I set up a session with a tattoo artist I've used in the past and have been very happy with. Neil Reitan from Tattoo Asylum hooked us up for a two person session back to back, or should I say shoulder to arm. We got a Father Son, Harley tattoo for his 18th birthday. This is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I think he will too.

By the tattoo virgins choice, I went first.
Here was my sit in .




Best for last, what this is really all about...
My Son's birthday present, and first tattoo.
His namesake fulfilled in ink forever.






David, B.T.W. Your tattoo turned out sick!
It was really cool being a part of this with you.
It was a day I'll remember forever.
Happy Birthday Kiddo!