My brother Dag was firing up the Velocette today.
It`s not easy to tickle a Thruxton, you need a long screw driver.
Yes, only one kick. I am impressed....
Showing posts with label Velocette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Velocette. Show all posts
Well….it was not in a barn. The Velocette LE was in a garage…..It was advertised in the newspaper. Only a short add: “Velocette for sale” and just the telephone number. I phoned the seller in the evening. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “Hello, Do you still have the Velocette for sale?” Seller: “Yes…….Do you know what a Velocette LE is?” Me: “It`s a 200cc water cooled flat twin with shaft drive” Seller: “Correct……You are the first one to know that……You can have it……For free”
He was working at the American embassy and the Velo was resting in the embassy cellar. They were cleaning up and the Velo had to go. He had it for a while in his garage, but lost interest.
An American embassy employee brought the bike over from England in the sixties. He used the bike for a Norwegian round trip and even visited North cap. He went on to another embassy and left the bike.
The LE had English registration, so that caused us some problems. Norwegian customs and the vehicle authorities can be difficult to deal with…..So the Velocette went to Sweden for a happy life…
Dag is looking skeptical….To close to a scooter for his taste….
I was not going to put this story on my blog…..but I could not resist when I was going thru my photos. This is not done to make fun of Gunnar……Only to remind him that it is now 15 years this spring since he got a Velocette…..
Some years ago Gunnar got the urge for a Velocette. He wanted a good bike, easy to Thruxtonize.
In Norway Velocettes are not easy to find so English adverts were eagerly read. After some months he asked me to come along to England for help and advice….
The communication between Gunnar and the seller had been in Engliglish of curse, so some finer points of language misunderstanding had happened. What’s “oily rag condition”, “A few evenings of elbow grease”,” nearly a runner” and “easy project” really means? It depend on the viewer….This was before digital photos and email. So the only way was to go and have a look for yourself….
Gunnar had a picture in his head for a nice, easy to Thruxtonize, Velocette 500…..
Have a good look at his face:
Trying to keep a brave face….
Do we see a smile?
Well, there are some new tank badges here…
“What do you think? Shall I buy it?"
Close inspection….
Is the engine number correct?
“I buy it……put it in the car”
Fifteen years later the Velo are still not ready. But I think it will be soon…..Now it have all the Thruxton goodies, including the engine.
On that trip we also went to Silverstone to see some classic racing…..But that`s another story….
More photos form the early eighties. When I go thru my old photos I notice that the bikes nearly stay the same, but people change. Getting older, heavier and losing hair ... I regret that most of my photos are of bikes and not the people that rode them. But who cared about that at the time? Bikes, beer and girls had highest priority.
This is from a British bike rally at Homborsund in the south of Norway.
A youth full “Speedy Gonzales” Gunnar are going to adjust the carbs…Where have that manly mustache gone, Gunnar? Gunnars pride and joy: BSA A-65 Lightning from 1971.
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Campsite cuisine….Gunnar and Aril enjoying lunch.
As usual, if somebody are doing repair to their bike….Spectators will show up for entertainment loaded with good advice. Some things never change….
From left: Totto, Aril and Pascal. Ariel WD getting brakes adjusted.
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BSA B44 and Rudge. The Rudge won a price for the best restored machine.
Haakons 1967 Velocette Venom Clubman.
Last night I went to have a look at Gunnar "Speedy Gonzales" progress in the garage. Always interesting to have a close look there, he might have stuff I need.....He was also serving cake and drinks.....perfect!
The Il Duce of motorcycling: Gunnars portrait behind the Velocette Truxton
Just some minor adjustments left?
A nice tail!........Fish tail that is!
The Power egg lurking in a corner.
The secret GP drawer. Every home should have one.
HD 750, guarded by the house ghost.
Yea???
This is a must have: A drill powered by a British Thomson-Houston motor. The famous magneto company. In short : BTH.
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The United States are the land of Choppers and flat trackers of course, but not only.
Apparently, there are many communities of old motorcycles fans.
San Francisco is a very good spot.
Pete Young and his wife Kim are very active. Pete despite a busy schedule between job family life, engineering, and blogging, kindly respond to our invitation.
Pete started riding bikes at age 10, Kim at 24. They Only own and ride pre WWII era bikes, with a focus on pre 1916 bikes lately.They enjoy Velocettes.
Kim rides her 1930 KSS 350 OHC, Pete on 1938 MSS, now with a sidecar They Try to use the bikes as often as possible, the way that they were made to be used. No bikes are collected for display purposes, only to be ridden.
Their kids started riding at 9 months of age in the sidecar K&P organize some rides every year: the Rigid Ride for pre WWII bikes and the SF 49 Mile ride for pre 1975 bikes.
"49 Mile" is 10th anniversary this year, expecting around 200-250 bikes.
Pete have previously been president of the Velo club of N. America, and organized the 2006 Rally.
They Attend the Velo club rallies every July, with the kids. Rallies are 1000 miles in 5 days, in a different US state or Canadian Province each year.
They are volunteer and judge at bike events like the BSA Clubman’s show, Legends, etc.
K&P restored Kim’s 1936 Ariel Red Hunter after riding it for 10 years, in time for the 2008 Legend Show.
The bike was built in 1998 from a very incomplete basket case, with 75% of the bike missing.
Pete’s 1913 Premier is ridden pretty often at Pre16 events, and won best pre1930 at legends 2007. Peter will be riding the Premier on the Cannonball Rally, 3300 miles across the USA in September.
He's currently restoring the 1916 Excelsior.they do almost all of the work on the bikes themselves, except magneto windings, chrome and some painting.Pete spend about 3 hours in the shop for every one hour on the road.
They attend about 10-15 organized rides/rallies each year, plus rides with the family around town, to coffee on Sundays, etc.
Where does the passion for old bikes come from? Hmm. The beauty and the engineering of
the early bikes is very nice, and also interesting. The simplicity, and conversely,
the complexity of some parts keeps his attention. Shop repairs and restorations are done together, as are organizing rides and attending rides, rallies, shows, etc.
.
The United States are the land of Choppers and flat trackers of course, but not only.
Apparently, there are many communities of old motorcycles fans.
San Francisco is a very good spot.
Pete Young and his wife Kim are very active. Pete despite a busy schedule between job family life, engineering, and blogging, kindly respond to our invitation.Pete started riding bikes at age 10, Kim at 24. They Only own and ride pre WWII era bikes, with a focus on pre 1916 bikes lately.They enjoy Velocettes.
Kim rides her 1930 KSS 350 OHC, Pete on 1938 MSS, now with a sidecar They Try to use the bikes as often as possible, the way that they were made to be used. No bikes are collected for display purposes, only to be ridden.
Their kids started riding at 9 months of age in the sidecar K&P organize some rides every year: the Rigid Ride for pre WWII bikes and the SF 49 Mile ride for pre 1975 bikes. 
"49 Mile" is 10th anniversary this year, expecting around 200-250 bikes.
Pete have previously been president of the Velo club of N. America, and organized the 2006 Rally.
They Attend the Velo club rallies every July, with the kids. Rallies are 1000 miles in 5 days, in a different US state or Canadian Province each year.They are volunteer and judge at bike events like the BSA Clubman’s show, Legends, etc.
K&P restored Kim’s 1936 Ariel Red Hunter after riding it for 10 years, in time for the 2008 Legend Show. The bike was built in 1998 from a very incomplete basket case, with 75% of the bike missing.
Pete’s 1913 Premier is ridden pretty often at Pre16 events, and won best pre1930 at legends 2007. Peter will be riding the Premier on the Cannonball Rally, 3300 miles across the USA in September.
He's currently restoring the 1916 Excelsior.they do almost all of the work on the bikes themselves, except magneto windings, chrome and some painting.Pete spend about 3 hours in the shop for every one hour on the road.
They attend about 10-15 organized rides/rallies each year, plus rides with the family around town, to coffee on Sundays, etc.
Where does the passion for old bikes come from? Hmm. The beauty and the engineering of
the early bikes is very nice, and also interesting. The simplicity, and conversely,
the complexity of some parts keeps his attention. Shop repairs and restorations are done together, as are organizing rides and attending rides, rallies, shows, etc.
As you can see riding, is a big part of their time thus far...
.
.
The United States are the land of Choppers and flat trackers of course, but not only.
Apparently, there are many communities of old motorcycles fans.
San Francisco is a very good spot.
Pete Young and his wife Kim are very active. Pete despite a busy schedule between job family life, engineering, and blogging, kindly respond to our invitation.
Pete started riding bikes at age 10, Kim at 24. They Only own and ride pre WWII era bikes, with a focus on pre 1916 bikes lately.They enjoy Velocettes.
Kim rides her 1930 KSS 350 OHC, Pete on 1938 MSS, now with a sidecar They Try to use the bikes as often as possible, the way that they were made to be used. No bikes are collected for display purposes, only to be ridden.
Their kids started riding at 9 months of age in the sidecar K&P organize some rides every year: the Rigid Ride for pre WWII bikes and the SF 49 Mile ride for pre 1975 bikes.
"49 Mile" is 10th anniversary this year, expecting around 200-250 bikes.
Pete have previously been president of the Velo club of N. America, and organized the 2006 Rally.
They Attend the Velo club rallies every July, with the kids. Rallies are 1000 miles in 5 days, in a different US state or Canadian Province each year.
They are volunteer and judge at bike events like the BSA Clubman’s show, Legends, etc.
K&P restored Kim’s 1936 Ariel Red Hunter after riding it for 10 years, in time for the 2008 Legend Show.
The bike was built in 1998 from a very incomplete basket case, with 75% of the bike missing.
Pete’s 1913 Premier is ridden pretty often at Pre16 events, and won best pre1930 at legends 2007. Peter will be riding the Premier on the Cannonball Rally, 3300 miles across the USA in September.
He's currently restoring the 1916 Excelsior.they do almost all of the work on the bikes themselves, except magneto windings, chrome and some painting.Pete spend about 3 hours in the shop for every one hour on the road.
They attend about 10-15 organized rides/rallies each year, plus rides with the family around town, to coffee on Sundays, etc.
Where does the passion for old bikes come from? Hmm. The beauty and the engineering of
the early bikes is very nice, and also interesting. The simplicity, and conversely,
the complexity of some parts keeps his attention. Shop repairs and restorations are done together, as are organizing rides and attending rides, rallies, shows, etc.
.
The United States are the land of Choppers and flat trackers of course, but not only.
Apparently, there are many communities of old motorcycles fans.
San Francisco is a very good spot.
Pete Young and his wife Kim are very active. Pete despite a busy schedule between job family life, engineering, and blogging, kindly respond to our invitation.Pete started riding bikes at age 10, Kim at 24. They Only own and ride pre WWII era bikes, with a focus on pre 1916 bikes lately.They enjoy Velocettes.
Kim rides her 1930 KSS 350 OHC, Pete on 1938 MSS, now with a sidecar They Try to use the bikes as often as possible, the way that they were made to be used. No bikes are collected for display purposes, only to be ridden.
Their kids started riding at 9 months of age in the sidecar K&P organize some rides every year: the Rigid Ride for pre WWII bikes and the SF 49 Mile ride for pre 1975 bikes. "49 Mile" is 10th anniversary this year, expecting around 200-250 bikes.
Pete have previously been president of the Velo club of N. America, and organized the 2006 Rally.
They Attend the Velo club rallies every July, with the kids. Rallies are 1000 miles in 5 days, in a different US state or Canadian Province each year.They are volunteer and judge at bike events like the BSA Clubman’s show, Legends, etc.
K&P restored Kim’s 1936 Ariel Red Hunter after riding it for 10 years, in time for the 2008 Legend Show. The bike was built in 1998 from a very incomplete basket case, with 75% of the bike missing.
Pete’s 1913 Premier is ridden pretty often at Pre16 events, and won best pre1930 at legends 2007. Peter will be riding the Premier on the Cannonball Rally, 3300 miles across the USA in September.
He's currently restoring the 1916 Excelsior.they do almost all of the work on the bikes themselves, except magneto windings, chrome and some painting.Pete spend about 3 hours in the shop for every one hour on the road.They attend about 10-15 organized rides/rallies each year, plus rides with the family around town, to coffee on Sundays, etc.
Where does the passion for old bikes come from? Hmm. The beauty and the engineering of
the early bikes is very nice, and also interesting. The simplicity, and conversely,
the complexity of some parts keeps his attention. Shop repairs and restorations are done together, as are organizing rides and attending rides, rallies, shows, etc.
As you can see riding, is a big part of their time thus far...
.
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