VSCC Double 12 at Brooklands

This was my first trip back to the Double 12 since my first visit 3 years ago. I always enjoy visiting Brooklands as it's one of those museums that you really have to explore to get the most out of it as there is so much stuff to see around all the various sheds and hangers, it takes at least 2 visits to get your head round the site. The Double 12 event celebrates the races of the same name that were held at Brooklands between 1929 -31. The race was a 24 hour endurance race but the neighbours complained and so the event was split in two 12 hour races held on consecutive days. The modern day event cannot be the same as the track is no longer complete. However the weekend consists of time trials and hill climbs up the Brooklands test hill. There is also a concourse and vehicles galore.

The Sketches:

1926 Ford Model T Ton Truck

(with veteran Triumph onboard)

(ink sketch)

Bought from Texas 2 years ago, apparently all this needed was a little fettling and away it went. I had to sketch it as it was my two favourite subjects in one place.

Essex Motors of Detroit

(ink sketch)

I didn't find anything out about this car, but I love the simplicity of it and the rather interesting suspension set up.

Pary Hassan Special

(ink and watercolour)

Again I didn't speak to the owner of this special. I always enjoy sketching single seater specials and with it being all black how could I resist?

The rest.... 

1928 Doug Earl Cotton JAP in the McEvoy shed

Francis Barnett Owners Club line up.

Francis Barnett 172cc Brooklands Track Special

 1927 Norton Racing Outfit

1917 Sopwith F1 Camel

 

 Fuel Mobil

 Crane

 

1901 BSA Path Racer

 Raleigh Concept Monocoque 1981

1905 Sloping Roadster

Bursford Ultimate Bike, the first pedal bike to break 200mph on rollers at Brooklands in 1995.

 

Whistling Billy, a genuine steam powered race car.

Cars like this were used in the States to pace horses.

 1921 Wolseley 10 Moth.

This is a recreation of the original car. The build was started when the original engine was found in Cornwall

 The Clive Lones Morgan. The first car to lap the outer circuit at over 100mph, and attained the fastest speed at 116mph in 1934.

Mercedes

Borgward  

Morgan Aero

An unusual Morgan 4 wheeler

Handlye Rolls Royce Special, with a Merlin V12!

Sinclair C5s a plenty

Windsor

Jaguar

 

Navarro 

Old Empire Motorcycles Fury

(digitally painted ink sketch)

Here's my latest concept for Old Empire Motorcycles. The Fury is based on a Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. It's a mix of sports and flat track bikes squeezed into one heavy bike!

This bike is available for commission and I for one would love to see this built:

Click here to go to Old Empire Motorcycles

VMCC Banbury Run 2014

Well.... possibly my favourite, most hectic event of the year. The Banbury run is the largest gathering of Vintage and Veteran motorcycles in the world, and to say I was spoilt for choice is an understatement. The entry list is huge with over 500 entrants. This is the 3rd time I've attended the event and I now know what to expect. Turn up at 8am and then have 2 hours to scout round and sketch as much as possible before they start leaving at 10am. I then have till 12 to run round the paddock picking bikes that aren't going to immanently disappear! I now only sketch in pencil on the day in order to sketch as much as possible. The ink is done in the comfort of the studio, unless some get left behind. Maybe one day I will be quick enough with the ink, like some sort of Zen calligraphy master, practice, practice, practice...

1926 AJS Model G

(ink sketch)

This AJS was found by Geoff by chance when he displayed another AJS at a show and a couple remarked that they had one like that with a different tank in the garden. Geoff asked how much and they said bring some wine, and so he turned up with 6 bottles and they accepted 4! All that was missing was an engine and gearbox and a few little bits... and here it is. 

 

Geoff plans to ride it as it is, and I salute him for it.

1903 Humber Olympia

(ink sketch)

I do like a challenge and a bit of wicker so this was the perfect combination. The Humber Tricycle Forcar runs an air cooled 403cc engine which was built under licence from Phelon and Moore. 

1929 Raleigh 15 Deluxe

(ink sketch)

I loved the character of this bike, it just looked like it had been loved and ridden. On carful inspection  I found a small metal bucket catching oil from the carb, a charming machine indeed.

1928 Norton CS1

(ink sketch)

Norton's chief designer definitely got it right when he designed the shaft and bevel camshaft drive on the CS1 it really is a thing of beauty. The CS1 was released the year after Norton entered their first over head valve machine in the 1927 TT with success including Alan Bennett's Senior TT victory.

1923 Duzmo OHV Sports

(ink sketch)

This bike really was a revelation for myself and a lot of other people at the run. If you gave it a passing thought as to where this machine was built you might think Europe somewhere, well you'd be wrong Duzmo were built in Enfield! Duzmo was started by John Wallace who had an apprenticeship with Collier & Sons of Matchless fame production began in 1919 and finished in 1923. This 1923 model was the last motorcycle designed by Wallace and apparently D.J. Sheppard took on Wallaces bankrupt stock, but it is thought none were sold.

Read more about these fascinating motorcycles at www.duzmo.co.uk

The Bikes That Got Away....

 1922 Norton 16h Sports

 1912 Motosacoche, first ridden in the Pioneer Run in 1932!

1928 BSA S28, Loved the look of this almost trials bike. 

1929 Royal Enfield Model C OHV 

1910 Handy Hobart 

1914 Williamson, sporting a water cooled Douglas flat twin. 

1913 Zenith Gradua, 90 bore.

Now on my dream bike list, this Zenith actually raced at Brooklands!

The Jumble....

Vintage and Veteran fully stocked with old goodness