c1937 596cc overhead camshaft Norton

These photo's were sent to me by Ballazam from Indonesia (in the picture) and they show a remarkable motorcycle. Clearly a Carroll engined Norton, but it's the very rare 596cc version; bore and stroke are indicated at the crankcase as 82x113.

It took me a while to find the following passage in the Norton literature (Dennis Howard. Norton. Ballantines illustrated History of the Car marque book No 9, 1972):

"Bracebridge (Norton) never listed the 596cc overhead camshaft engine for sale to the public, for the simple reason that it really did not exist as a production model. The Norton works produced two versions of the (82mm x 113mm) 596cc single OHC engine, one in International and one in Manx form. Roughly a dozen of each were manufactured, the frames being of stouter construction, and having a large vertical kink in the upper frame tube in order to accept the considerably taller engine. The Inters were built for the leading Trials sidecar men of the period, while the hotter Manx version was more strictly suited for sidecar road racing. As several of the "600s" were doing battle in passenger machine races in the immediate postwar era, it is surprising to learn that few, if any, still exist..."

So that's the reason I could not find a model number for these "Bigger Bangers" as they were later called in the books. Apparently they were quite successful in the races. How on earth did this one end up in Indonesia? More pics via this link.

Tony's 1937 Model 30 Norton

Sent by Tony in the UK

"Above 2 photographs of my 1937 Model 30 Inter which I think is more or less to catalogue specification except for the tank finish and the additional rear light which I think is necessary safety feature."

Joe Craig tells of incident between the big races...

By Martin

In this article (The Motor Cycle, 1st April, 1937) Joe Craig tells of the experiences of a team manager on his overseas travels with the all-conquering Nortons, which makes interesting comparison with today's Formula 1 circus.  Of course 1937 was to be a bad year for Norton and Scotland with 40 year old Jimmie Guthrie losing his life in the German Grand Prix, as recorded on Guthrie's Memorial on the Isle of Man TT course, which reads: "James Guthrie, 1897-1937. Erected to the memory of Jimmy Guthrie, of Hawick, a brilliant Motor Cycle Rider, famous on the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Course for his wonderful riding and great sportsmanship. He won the race six times. Beat many world's records and was first in numerous foreign races. He died while upholding the honour of his country in the German Grand Prix, August, 1937."

1937 Model 40 Manx - For sale

For sale at Yesterdays; a 1937 Model 40.

1937 Model ES2 Norton - For sale

For sale at Dutch Lion Motorbikes: a nice 1937 ES2. Though front wheel, headlamp and the front mudguard seem to come from a BSA.

1937 Model 20 Norton

Sent by Ben in Australia

This is our 1937 Model 20. This started out as a cylinder head in 1988! A slow way to acquire a bike but very rewarding in the end. Not to mention a lot of fun!

Martin's fun day out

By Martin

East Fortune, 28th April 1974; a fun day out on Drew Taylor's 1937 ES2 Norton fitted with a Francis Beart dope Manx piston (14 to 1 CR on methanol) and a Rudge Ulster front wheel...  The story (there's always a story!!) was that as we were warming the bike up in the paddock before the race, the plug oiled up and we needed a change of plugs before I could go out of the paddock to the start grid.  Now any normal racer would have a normal plug and a normal set up, but not Drew Taylor!!  The plug was (for sentimental or maybe good luck reasons) the actual plug used by Jock McCredie in the 1947 NW200...  I thought he must have won that race but I just checked and he wasn't even mentioned..!!?

The plug (a Lodge racing plug) had a large brass ball screwed on the top and the plug cap was a special Lodge racing cap to match the large brass connector.  We didn't have a spare plug with the same set up, so we not only had to change the plug, we also had to rob another bike's plug cap and change that as well.  I got to the paddock exit and the marshal initially refused to let me out onto the track, but relented and I shot round to join the back row of the grid, only to find the race was already under way and I was playing 'catch up' instead of 'follow me'!!  To cap it all, on the third lap I lost the nearside foot rest so rode the rest of the race trying not to put all my weight on the rear brake!! Look closely at the pic and you will see the missing footrest, or rather not see it!!

I think a few people took pics of me as a back marker because I was trying so hard I nearly chucked it up the track on several corners... You can also see the cement on that corner where oil spills had been 'treated', lethally slippy as a result.  You can also almost read my Bell full face helmet script which reads 'Ecurie Ossity'...

1937 Model 30 Norton

Oliver in Canada sent me these pics of a 1937 Model 30 Norton. The bike was probably raced in 1952-1952, converted to road trim in 1975 and stored for most of the time since.

Why Guthrie, White and Frith did not compete in Australia

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

Double knockers in 1937...or not?

From: "Motorcycle Sport, July 1983, page 305-306". An amusing story by "E.U." Click the pictures for a full-page version. Contributed by Alf.

The Junior TT Assen, 26th of June 1937

The brochure; someone took it for granted that a Norton would win!

Dutch rider Bakker Schut with his Model 40 Norton.

Dutch rider Piet van Wijngaarden again, with his 350cc International factory racer; note the many trick bits compared to Bakker Schut's Norton above; rear suspension, square cylinder head, large front brake, magnesium crankcase, rev counter... I can see at least four other Nortons behind him.

Freddy Frith working on his bike and chatting with Joe Craig. The Norton looks identical to Piet's motorcycle.

Dutch champion Piet van Wijngaarden and the winner that day, John 'Crasher' White; Joe Craig stands between them. The rider on the left is Lo Simons with his 250cc Excelsior. On the right are Walther Winkler and his 250cc DKW.

Dylan's c1937 Model 18 Norton

An email from Australia: "My dad and I aquired what we believe to be a 1937 Model 18 Norton; this is it's story.

My dad and I were visiting one of his friends to look at buying a classic car and when we arrived there were cars all over the place! Dad's mate said 'take a walk and see if you like anything', so while dad and I were looking at cars in several sheds we saw the front wheel of the Norton sticking out from under a cover. We pulled it back and found we had discovered gold! We didn't know what model it was but we knew it was good. Right behind it was a 50's BSA sidecar outfit. We asked dad's mate if he would sell them and he said that he had had the BSA since he was a teenager and he wasn't really keen to let the Norton go either - bummer.

So we left empty handed (no car either) but everytime dad saw his mate after that he always asked 'are you ready to sell the Norton yet?' Dad's mate kept saying No until one day he needed cash to buy another car so he and dad worked a deal and the Norton was ours!

We have had it about a year now and established that it was probably what we call a 'paddock basher' as everything is worn out and loose, and it is missing all its road lighting. It doesnt start but it kicks over and is missing the Amal carb in the photos as dad took it off to try and clean it to get it started. Dad and I plan on doing a full rebuild of the gearbox and engine as a project we can share. The engine number is 70610, it would be great to know the history of this machine. I better tell you that the bike was found in Queensland, Australia.

sincerely, Dylan

 ps this last photo is of dad (Trevor) in full race trim!"

c1937 596cc overhead camshaft Norton

More photo's of Ballazam's very rare 596cc International Norton. The Norton seems to be remarkably original; the front hub and forks have not been replaced by WD16H items and it still uses the 10TT9 carburetter. Note the lugs on the rear frame tubes where the rear set footrest were fitted. It has a wrap-around oiltank and Andree steering damper.

1937 M30 Norton

This photo was lifted from Dennis' website. It depicts Keith Bryen on a 1937 M30 International Norton; obviously rebuilt for use as a scrambler. That's not a Norton tank.

Norton posters

Contributed by Howard from Australia. Two from 1929 and one from 1937.

Jimmy Guthrie

The pictures above show Jimmy Guthrie; famous for 19 motorcycle Grand Prix wins and 6 victories at the Isle of Man TT races. Most victories were on Norton motorcycles. Sadly, he was killed on august the 8th 1937 riding in the German Grand Prix. Stanley Woods, an eye withness to the crash, is adamant that a German rider "took Guthrie out". According to him, Jimmy crashed as he was forced into a gutter by Kurt Mansfeld on his DKW. Mansfield was one lap behind when this happened; he reputedly was an emotional man, perhaps trying to show he was just as fast as Jimmy. Though Stanley suggests he did it on purpose as the Nazi regime was unhappy at the English riders being so successful.

Dennis, who has an excellent website on Velocette motorcycles, is the custodian of Australian Allan Schafer's motorcycle literature collection. Allan was a prolific letter writer in mid 1930s to many of the worlds top riders. This photo above and the letters below come from Allan's collection; the pic is a sad shot of Jimmy (in the middle) in the pits just prior to that fateful crash. Mildred Woods (Stanley's wife) sits on the pit counter, team mate Freddie Frith is on the right.

Less well known, Jimmy had a motor-repair business together with his brother Archie and was a technically minded man; see his comments in the letter below on the plunger rear suspension used for the first time in 1936.

For a short film on Jimmy's life, click this link.

1937 CS1 Norton

This is the 1937 CS1 Norton that I could have bought from George Cohen early in 2002; which I didn't for all sorts of reasons. The bike had matching engine, frame, gearbox and forks numbers and was described to be very close to original specification.

It's the tamed version of the cammy models as produced by Norton at the end of the thirties. Distinguishing features, engine-wise, are the horizontal inlet stub and coil springs. The frame has a distinct bend just above the cylinder head; for the rest the frame, wheels and tinware look very similar to those of my 1935 ES2 model.

In 2002 the asking price was a lot of money, today I wouldn't think twice about buying it!