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A monthly publication of The Vintage Motorcycle Club Johannesburg, South Africa.

Volume 32. No 03. March 2017

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE: Since the 12th of March, I’ve experienced dreams of grandeur and magnificence. I honestly can’t wait for my name to appear in the top three DJ Finishes in forthcoming events. After all, the 2017 result was a Ward, sandwiched between two Waltons so in my mind it stands to reason I just have to wait for the “Wi” spelling arrangement to be in contention and I’ll be there! Seriously though, to our 3 valiant champions my heartfelt congratulations on an exceptional result. As anyone who has ridden a DJ Commemorative event knows; to be a serious contender, the preparation before, the concentration during and the knowledge/perseverance needed throughout the event is immense. For these three gentlemen to consistently in the top bracket of finishers is a real achievement. In the top ten finishers this year, seven riders are members of VMC although some entered under other clubs. To these individuals as well, I congratulate you on the achievement. I would like to give condolences to our club members who frequent this top ten list but this year encountered mechanical, technical and digital error which kept them out of the running. Overall, VMC performed admirably and held our hopes high. For the others of us, there is next year and I hope we can swell the number of first time riders and realize another goal in breathing new life into the DJ. I want say a big thank you, on behalf of VMC to Claude Stander and his team who ensured everything happened on the event, to Gwyneth Cronje and Elaine Cusdin who kept the DJ on track through many administrative obstacles, and made certain there was a bed for everyone and a huge welcome to the sponsors, Eskort Limited. May this journey together long continue, just as the DJ has passed so many times through your founding town of Estcourt in KZN. As we head into the colder season, may you all stave off the maladies of winter and enjoy the comradeship in VMC and motorcycling. Yours in biking and bike restoration. Ken

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The VMC would like to welcome the following new members: Jeromy Dacey Nicolaas Sim Gary King

Letter Box E-mail received from David Rutherford Good day, My late father had a 49cc moped called a Gobi (I think the spelling is right) it was made in Germany. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of it. the gears were on the left handle grip and you had bicycle pedals to start it and back pedal for the rear brakes. I have looked on the internet and cannot find any info on the bike, does anyone have any info on it? Kind regards, David Rutherford Tel: 072 108 1981 E-mail received from Mike Skelly Hi ,Thanks again for the mag . I found the article on the rotary engine great. I have a mate here in the sticks who very innovative. He picked up an old Sachs rotary and got it to run, he called me some time later and he informed me he wanted to put the motor into a Honda scooter. Well in no time he had it sorted out and after a couple of hitches with mixture and gear ratios, it now runs very well. Sounds like a hotted up DKW! From 2 blocks away, my wife would say, your mate Nico is about to pop in. He made a couple of Youtube clips. Perhaps you would like to see how a local rotary runs. Find the 2 clips "Honda scooter with Sachs KM 48 rotary engine under construction" and the other clip "Honda scooter with Sachs KM 48" Best regards, Mick Skelly

Editor’s note:

There MUST be many interesting stories to tell and tales to recount. It is very hard to edit a magazine with no contributors and ultimately the magazine must fail. It is your magazine and I know it is read with interest, so PLEASE send something in to the editor.

No matter how insignificant you feel your story may be, to others it may well be of great interest. A rebuild, an encounter with an old bike or racing personality. An unusual part seen, just send it all in and let’s see what we can make of it. Address it to: editor@vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za

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Past Events

15 NEWCOMERS ENTER DJ RALLY FOR CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES A Preview By Roger Houghton The entry of 15 newcomers is an encouraging sign for the organisers of the 2017 edition of the classic DJ motorcycle regularity rally between Durban and Johannesburg. This popular annual event commemorates the road race between these two cities which took place between 1913 and 1936. This year’s DJ Rally is the 46th of these annual commemorative events. This year’s DJ Rally will start at the Oxford Village Centre, Hillcrest, at 06:00 on Friday, March 10, and finishes from about 14:15 on Saturday, March 11, at the Classic Motorcycle Club's premises on the corner of Power and Refinery Roads in Germiston, with an overnight stop in Newcastle. This year’s rally has attracted an entry of 94 riders on motorcycles made before 1937. Among the first-time entrants are Harry Fisher, one of the presenters of The Bike Show on Ignition TV, and Wayne Harley, the curator of the Franschoek Motor Museum in the Western Cape. Fisher will ride a 1936 500cc Triumph Twin on loan from cla Another newcomer is Stuart Thompson, a successful builder of racing, rally and off-road racing cars who also runs several motorsport teams. He will ride a 1932 500cc Sunbeam Model 9. “We are very pleased that there are so many first-time entrants in this year’s DJ,” commented Clerk of the Course Claude Stander. “We need renewal in the classic motorcycle and car environment in South Africa and the fact that 15 riders are prepared to tackle South Africa’s premier classic motorcycle event is a positive sign.” The fathers of two famous international racing motorcyclists are again on the entry list for this year’s DJ Rally. They are Trevor Binder, father of world Moto3 champion Brad, and Derek Crutchlow, father of Cal Crutchlow, who competes on a Honda in MotoGP. Binder will ride a 600cc 1926 Indian Scout and Crutchlow a 1936 500cc Ariel Red Hunter. Last year’s winner, Ralph Pitchford, a Dakar Rally veteran, has changed his motorcycle for this year’s DJ Rally, entering a 1933 500cc BSA A5 instead of his usual 1926 Triumph P-Type flat-tanker. He has been rebuilding the BSA for several months, including a big push over the past two months. Pitchford’s first competitive outing on the more powerful BSA was on the recent Pre-DJ Rally where he finished fourth after losing time at the refuel point due to refilling the oil tank. There are many previous winners in this year’s field, including seven-time winner Kevin Robertson on one of his beloved Velocettes, three-time winner Martin Davis (1930 Sunbeam Lion) as well as Gavin Walton (1936 AJS 9), Mike Ward (1936 Velocette MSS) and Allan Cunninghame (1936 Velocette MSS). The Walton brothers, Kevin, and Gavin, were in fine form on the Pre-DJ Rally, taking first and second places, ahead of Mike Ward and Pitchford, with Martin Davis in sixth place.

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The good news is that Samantha Anderson has been able to rebuild her 1909 500cc Humber Pedal Cycle after it was badly damaged by a fire during last year’s DJ Rally. This is the oldest motorcycle entered for this year’s event and will be the first to start each day. Samantha, a regular DJ competitor, is one of three women riders this year, with the others being Beverly Jacobs (1935 250cc Triumph Model 2/1) and Dorian Radue (1935 250cc Rudge Tourist), who comes from Australia regularly to compete in the DJ Rally. The DJ Rally is organised by a committee consisting of members of local motorcycle clubs such as the Pretoria Old Motor Club, Classic Motorcycle Club, and Vintage Motorcycle Club on behalf of the Vintage and Veteran Club of South Africa. Sponsors of this year’s event include: African Electroplating, Bike SA, Classic Motorcycle Club, Daikin, Eskort, Gawie Nienaber, Maizeys, Ola, Shield, Ultra Recon, Vintage Motorcycle Club. For more information contact: Claude Stander 082-570-2498

Claude Stander, who is organising the DJ Rally for the first time, seen with the 1936 Triumph which enthusiast Les Sims has loaned to TV presenter Harry Fisher for this year’s regularity trial from Durban to Johannesburg.

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GAVIN WALTON SCORES SECOND WIN IN DJ RALLY FOR CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES A Review By Roger Houghton Gavin Walton, a popular member of the classic motorcycle community in South Africa, notched up his second win in the prestigious DJ Rally for classic motorcycles made before 1937 when he won the 2017 event at the weekend (March 10/11). He had a total error of 220 seconds for the two-day event which took competitors from Durban to Johannesburg with an overnight stop in Newcastle. This was the 46th running of this regularity rally which commemorates the annual motorcycle races held on public roads between Durban and Johannesburg from 1913 to 1936. This year there were 70 finishers from an original field of 93 riders, with four non-starters and 19 non-finishers. This year the riders had favourable weather for most of the trip, with only one slight shower encountered, after a heavy downpour in Durban on the day before the start. Gavin Walton, who rode an immaculate 1936 500cc AJS motorcycle, won this event in 2009 and was second in 2010, 2014 and 2016. However, where he showed true grit was the he recovered from severe injuries received in a road accident in 2013. On that occasion, he was riding home in the rain after the 2013 Pre-DJ Rally. He stopped under a bridge to shelter from the downpour when he was hit by a car skidding out of control on the wet road and had his leg broken among other injuries. He not only recovered from the injuries but has been a serious contender on every DJ Rally he has contested since his recovery. Walton is also providing a valuable service to the classic motorcycle fraternity by supplying replacement parts for these old machines from the large stock he took over from Mike Lang last year. Second overall was another former DJ Rally winner, Mike Ward, who rode a 1936 500cc Velocette MSS. His error was 304 seconds. Third place was filled by Gavin Walton’s brother, Kevin, on a 1931 500cc BSA, and who had won the Pre-DJ Rally a couple of weeks before the main event. Ralph Pitchford, last year’s winner, said he found it difficult getting used to riding at set average speeds on his latest motorcycle, a 1933 500cc BSA, compared to his previous mount, a less powerful, 1926 500cc Triumph. He finished 15th this year, after an erratic first day when he collected 443 seconds’ error. The second day was much better and he finished fourth with 124 seconds’ error, for a total of 567 seconds’ error. The number of first time riders this year – 15 of them – was an encouraging sign for classic motorcycle rallying and nine of them qualified as finishers. The best performance was put up by Greg Kendall (1936 500cc Velocette MSS), who finished 13th overall by recording errors of less than 300 seconds on each of the two days for a total error of 455 seconds. Two well-known first-time riders, TV presenter Harry Fisher and Franschoek Museum curator, Wayne Harley, both completed the course finishing 77th and 76th respectively. Stuart Thompson, well known in the local motor sport world as a builder and preparer of rally, racing and off-road racing vehicles, was another first-timer who finished. He placed

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48th and said he found his first regularity motorcycle rally a wonderful experience and will be back for more on his 1932 Sunbeam. The youngest rider to qualifier as a finisher was 19-year-old Tyrone Edwards, another first-time rider, who was mounted on a 1936 250cc BSA. The oldest rider to complete the course was 82-year-old Neville Smith, who rode a 1936 350cc Ariel Red Hunter and placed 46th. The oldest motorcycle to complete the course was Hans Coertse’s 1913 1 039cc Matchless 7B. They were the last official finisher in 70th place. Only one woman rider, Beverley Jacobs, completed the course as the other woman in the field, Samantha Anderson, suffered cruel misfortune when her 1909 Humber pedal cycle – the oldest motorcycle in the field – ran out of sparks near Heidelberg, on the final run in to Johannesburg. This venerable machine had been meticulously rebuilt after sustaining serious damage when it caught fire during the 2016 DJ Rally. Samantha was rewarded with the Hard Luck trophy for her efforts to get the Humber to the finish. The fathers of two MotoGP riders, Derek Crutchlow (father of Cal, who races in MotoGP on a Honda) and Trevor Binder (father of Brad, the 2016 Moto3 world champion on a KTM) both qualified as finishers, placing 51st and 55th respectively. Clerk of the Course Claude Stander, who was the chief organiser of this famous event for the first time, said he was very pleased with the way the event had run and he says he is up to fill the position of clerk of the course in 2018. There were some grumbles about the electronic loggers at the finish at the Classic Motorcycle Club’s premises in Germiston on the Saturday afternoon, but scorer Leon Stander could sort out the glitches to the satisfaction of the competitors by the time prizegiving was scheduled at the Vintage and Veteran Club’s premises in Oaklands the following day. Leon Stander pointed out that errors using the loggers was only about 2% and this compared very favourably with human errors when people had acted as timekeeping marshals on this event in the past. There was a vote at the prizegiving as to whether the direction of the rally should be reversed to go from Johannesburg to Durban in 2018, with those present voted strongly for the event to continue to follow the Durban to Johannesburg route, even though the first DJ road race, in 1913, was held from Johannesburg to Durban. RESULTS Overall: 1, Gavin Walton (1936 500cc AJS), 220 seconds error; 2, Mike Ward (1936 500cc Velocette MSS), 304 secs; 3, Kevin Walton (1931 500cc BSA), 356, secs; 4, Ryan van Heerden (1936 350cc Velocette MAC), 363 secs; 5, Jaycee van Rooyen (1936 350cc Ariel Red Hunter, 371 secs; 6, Adrian and Gerald Hollis (1935 600cc Sunbeam Lion sidecar combination), 375 secs; 7, Allan Cunninghame (1936 500cc Velocette MSS), 422 secs; 8, Grant Vacy-Lyle (1931 500cc Ariel Sloper), 433 secs; 9, Tony Lewis-Lyons (1928 500 cc Norton), 442 secs; 10, Peter Vlietstra (1936 500cc Velocette MSS), 455 secs. Day 1 (Durban to Newcastle): 1, Gavin Walton, 91 seconds; 2, Tony Lewis-Lyons, 119 secs; 3, Jaycee van Rooyen, 153 secs.

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Day 2 (Newcastle to Johannesburg): 1, Ryan van Heerden, 94 seconds; 2, Gavin Kevin Walton, 110 secs; 3, Gavin Walton, 124 secs. AWARDS Class awards up to 1925: Over 500cc – Mark Shaw (1925 600cc Indian Scout). Class awards 1926-1930: 251-350cc – Graham Bowles (1930 300cc Zenith Special); 351-500cc – Tony Lyons Lewis (1928 500cc Norton); Over 501cc – 1926 600cc Indian Scout; Sidecar combination – Brian and Desmond Lange (1928 1000cc Ariel Big Twin). Class awards 1931-1936: Up to 250cc – David Pitchford (1935 250cc BSA); 251-350cc – Ryan van Heerden (350cc Velocette MAC); 351-500cc – Allan Cunninghame (1936 500cc Velocette MSS); Over 501cc – Aubrey Cilliers (1936 550cc Triumph); Sidecar combination – Adrian and Gerald Hollis (1935 600cc Sunbeam Lion). Best performance by a woman rider: Beverley Jacobs (1925 250cc Triumph). Best performance by a first-time rider: Greg Kendall (1936 500cc Velocette MSS). Best Ariel: Grant Vacy-Lyle; Best Norton: Tony Lyons Lewis; Best Velocette: Mike Ward; Best Triumph: Aubrey Cilliers; Best BMW: Gawie Nienaber; Best Sunbeam: Adrian and Gerald Hollis. Best Performance by an overhead camshaft engine: Tony Lyons Lewis (1928 500cc Norton). Oldest motorcycle to complete the route: 1913 1 039cc Matchless 7B ridden by Hans Coertse. Oldest rider to complete the course: Neville Smith (82), who rode a 1936 350cc Ariel Red Hunter and finished 46th. Youngest rider to compete the course: Tyrone Edwards (19), who rode a 1936 250cc BSA and finished 26th. He also had the longest ride to the start in Hillcrest, outside Durban, travelling more than 50km. Team awards: Nominated team – Team Velocette (Mike Ward, Allan Cunninghame and Peter Vlietstra); Club team – Classic Motorcycle Club (Gavin Walton, Kevin Walton, and Ryan van Heerden). Hard luck trophy: Samantha Anderson (1909 Humber pedal cycle). Most sporting rider: Hamish Morrison (1931 550cc BSA). True Grit trophy: Hank Raatgever (1929 500cc AJS). Competing for the pure joy of riding: Hans Coertse (1913 Matchless).

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Gavin Walton, winner of the 2017 DJ Rally, arrives at the finish in Germiston on his 1936 AJS.

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VMC Calendar of Events 2017 (For next 3 months)

April

2 Angela’s Picnic SAMCA Delta Park

2 CMC Club Sunday CMC Germiston

16 Piston Ring Swop Meeting (Easter Sunday) PR Modderfontein

23 Century Run 2017 VMC Kromdraai

24 VMC Club Night VMC Oaklands

May

1 Dam Busters Rally Sunbeam C. Harties Dam

1 CMC Club Sunday CMC Germiston

4-7 Jaguar Simola Hill Climb Knysna

19-20 Natal Classic CMC Natal Natal

21 Cars in Park Natal VSCC Pietermaritzburg

21 Piston Ring Swop Meeting PR Modderfontein

22 VMC Club Night VMC Oaklands

26-28 South Africa Bike Festival Kyalami

June

3 Mampoer Vintage & Classic Car and Bike Rally

POMC Willem Prinsloo Museum

4 CMC Club Sunday CMC Germiston

26 VMC Club Night VMC Oaklands

Dates, events and locations may change. If anyone has information on changes or additional events that they would like included, please contact Rob Pattison-Emms at 082 891 8399 or avonrod@mweb.co.za

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From the Treasury

Subscription increase

Unfortunately, due to the sliding value of our currency, it is necessary to review subscriptions from time to time. While we would like to retain our subscriptions at a constant level for as long as possible, it is now necessary for an increase. In view of this and due to the pressures experienced by many pensioners, we have included a discount. The new fee structure, applicable from 1st July 2017 is as follows: Joining Fee R50 Full membership R300 Country membership R220 Discount for over 70’s 50% Discount for over 80’s 100% Family membership (no discount applicable)

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Discounts only apply to members with at least 5 years of continuous membership. If you qualify now for a discount or will shortly qualify, please send me your ID number or birth date. This can be done by email to treasurer@vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za or via SMS to 082-650-9880.

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Logger Purchase We have a new batch of loggers in stock for sale to members. Due to an unfavourable exchange rate, the price has increased. These will be sold to members either at a subsidised price for first time buyers or at our cost price if this is a second logger purchase. Prices are: First time buyers R500.00 Normal price R750.00 Please refer any queries to me at treasurer@vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za Peter Vlietstra

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SAVVA Technical Tip 118 – 12 volt petrol cut-off valves We don’t often hear about collector cars being stolen however it has happened. Recently, I fitted a 12 volt petrol cut-off valve to a car and thought it may be worth mentioning that such things are available. Originally they were designed to be part of elaborate security systems and were fitted in-line on the petrol pipe from the petrol tank to the carburettor. They operate on 12 volt and require 12 volts to open them to allow the petrol to flow and no voltage means no petrol flows. To protect our collector cars they can be operated by a hidden switch under the dash or where ever you wish it to be. They can also be used for other purposes. For example, I recently filled one to the tank of a little BMW Isetta. These cunning little vehicles had a mechanical tap which fed the carburettor by gravity. However, after 50 years these mechanical taps tended to corrode and leak and are extremely difficult to replace or repair. In this case, the solution was to replace the original tap with one of these electrically operated devices. Nobody in their right minds would think of stealing an Isetta so security wasn’t an issue. To operate, I simply connected it to the wire from the ignition switch going to the coil. When the ignition is switched on the valve opens and the petrol flows, when the ignition is switched off – no petrol. The car security shops keep them in stock and they cost about R150 each. Not much to pay for excellent security.

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Re-Building Spoked Wheels

New Wheels – Just Like Magic

Re-Building a Spoke Wheel with Confidence By Texas Joe

Rebuilding spoke wheels is one of the rights of

passage in the custovation* of an old bike. That

convoluted three-dimensional puzzle with an

alloy hub at the center of a spider web of steel,

wrapped in a rubber donut, is not as intimidating

as some think.

I admit, my first time was full of anxiety. Taking

the wheel apart was a no-brainer but putting it

back together caused me to wonder if I’d taken

on a project too big for my abilities.

How do you keep all the details straight? How

does the hub get centered in two planes? What is

run-out? What if wheel wobbles and breaks apart at speed?

Certainly a lot to think about and accomplish when building a wheel. However, the job is not

impossible and you don’t have to be Albert Einstein or an idiot savant. All you need is a bit of time, a

camera, a spoke wrench and a ruler. Lacing a wheel is like a good magic trick. Genuine motorcycle

slight-of-hand -- you know how to do it and everyone else is mystified. Now that’s worth the effort and

you’ll talk about it for years.

In this example, the wheel du jour is off a 1980 Velorex sidecar. It's part of a custovation project

involving a 1984 BMW R65, the driving force for the sidecar rig. The point is that spoke wheels are

very similar to each other; some have 36 spokes, some 40 and all have a hole in the hub. The axle and

bearings live inside the hub to allow the wheel to spin with ease.

I learned a while back that replacing the plain steel and plated spokes with stainless spokes and nipples

is the way to go. While cost is a bit higher, labor is the same and the conversion will last a lifetime.

Starting

After the Schrader valve is removed from the tube, break the tire bead from the rim. A mallet may be

needed help the separation, especially if there’s rust showing (Editor's Note: See our "el Cheapo Bead

Breaker" article).

Mix up a small amount of water and liquid dishwashing soap and smear it in and around the beads, both

sides. Continue to remove the tire and tube. Removal should be easy, however, one time I had a wheel

project with a tire that was so dry and inflexible; I had to cut it off with a hacksaw.

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Measuring and Photos

The next steps are the most important. Be sure to take photographs of the spoke layout on both sides of

the wheel and measure the offset.

Spoke layout is obvious upon close inspection.

On a 36 spoke wheel there are 9 groups of

four, while a 40 spoke wheel has 10 groups of

four. Note that each nipple sits in a dome that

alternates in alignment around the inside of the

rim.

Each dome has a hole and its placement aligns

with a hole in the hub. The spoke connects the

hub hole to the wheel hole, so each spoke in

the wheel has a corresponding mate in the hub.

The good news is that the pattern is repeated,

so all you need to do is get the first one started

in the correct location and the remaining 35, in this case, can only be installed one way. Get the starting

point wrong and you’ll be disappointed.

This wheel has all 36 spokes the same length and end bend. Some wheels have different length spokes

for the brake-side compared to the opposite side; no worry, just keep them marked, separated and

photographed.

Not all hubs are centered on the wheel. Depending on the type of hub, the hub may extend a little or a

lot beyond the edge of the wheel. To measure offset, use a stiff piece of metal (yardstick here) to span

the brake-side center radial.

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Use a small machinist scale to measure the offset the brake-side of the hub. Check the measurement in

four quadrants and record the average measurement. Measure the offset on the opposite side too.

Now the hub can be removed from the wheel. Sometimes it’s easy and the nipples unscrew without a

problem, but occasionally they are rusted on and cutting is the only solution. Be sure to get at least one

undamaged spoke from the four positions, keeping track of their original location. Brake-side inner and

outer and opposite side inner and outer.

If your wheel is not a popular make, like a

Norton or old Triumph, you’ll need to work

with a spoke maker and they will make a set

for you.

Sounds like a big deal but it isn't; you can

either mail some spoke samples to the

manufacturer or copy and fax the shape to

them. The main dimension points are

diameter, length and bend. Cost is usually no

different than a stock item and turn around

time is a few days.

Getting Ready

With the hub removed, clean and polish the wheel and hub and replace the bearings. Since bearings are

cheap and the old ones are 20 plus years old, I usually replace them with sealed units. The cost

difference is pennies but they should last 30 years.

Polishing the stainless spokes and nipples pays off in bling and long-term good looks, while also

helping to retard the onset of tarnish. Just be careful, always wear eye protection on the buffing wheel

and don’t let a spoke slip out of your hands. I did that one balmy evening and it took two people an

hour on their hands and knees scouring the grass on the side of the house before the spoke showed up!

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With polished spokes and photo, align the fresh hub with the wheel. Start with the inner spoke hooked

into the hub and aligned with its wheel hole-mate. Count four holes and lace another one until all inners

are mounted.

Lube each spoke thread with the oil supplied -- this is very important to prevent galling and ensure that

you’ll get proper tension when tightening. Start each nipple with only 2 or 3 threads. Pay attention to

this because gradual and even tightening will speed the overall alignment process.

After the inners, mount the same-side outers. By this time the lace pattern is obvious. Then flip the

wheel, mount the inners, then outers, lubing and maintaining that 2 to 3 thread start.

Now is the time for a stogie and a beer. While puffing and sipping, mark your starting spoke and work

your way around all the spokes, tightening each the same amount with a wide-blade short handle

screwdriver; say about 2 turns each.

This method takes a bit longer but draws the spokes evenly, keeping the hub on center. About half-way

to the mid-thread point, measure the offset like before to see how close you are to the proper

dimension. You may have to push on the wheel rim to help seat the spokes.

Zeroing in on the final offset can be accomplished a couple of ways. First method is to cut wood

spacers the thickness of the opposite-side offset and position them under the wheel. That way the wheel

is suspended the proper distance and the brake-side offset can easily be checked. This works

particularly well for large offset hubs.

The second method is no spacers; just proceed uniformly around the wheel frequently checking the

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brake side offset.

The wheel will snug up and you’ll see that either most or all of the spoke thread is covered by the

nipple. The spokes should feel tight. Truing is next.

Truing

You’ll need some form of a truing stand to hold the

wheel, although the bike can be used instead by placing

the front wheel in-between the forks or rear wheel in

the swing-arm.

Or you can make a homemade stand out of wood or

metal. For this project, the sidecar axle is fixed to a

large bracket that mounts to the sidecar frame. Not

having the luxury of a separate shaft axle, I mounted

the bracket / axle on the bench.

Use a spoke wrench to tighten the spokes, anything else

will ruin the nipples and achieving proper tension will be

a problem.

Set up two guides, one to indicate vertical run-out and

the other horizontal run-out. I use copper wire held by a

convenient clamp.

For this kind of wheel, nominal accuracy is fine, nominal being 1/16 of an inch each for run-out

deviation. Slowly spin the wheel a few times looking at the vertical high-spot and horizontal high-spot

and mark the high vertical spot with tape

Keep in mind the truing process is a combination of adjustments that are opposite to the desired

outcome. Do vertical alignment first, horizontal will then be a snap.

Vertical Alignment

To move the rim from bottom to top, tighten spokes on top and loosen those on the opposite side. Make

small adjustments at a time using the spoke wrench.

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Keep rotating the wheel slowly, watching the pointer and the change to the tape reference point. Rotate

the wheel looking for a new high spot. Adjust as you go until the wheel spins true in the vertical plane

to no more than 1/16 inch variation.

Horizontal Alignment

Look at the diagram to see how to remove the horizontal wobble. Find the horizontal high-spot and

mark with tape. Watching the pointer and rim, adjust the spokes looking for a new high spot and less

than 1/16 wobble.

Spoke Tightening

Recheck the offset and if necessary make adjustments using the horizontal technique but this time,

evenly all around the wheel.

With the offset correct go back the truing stand. Mark a starting spot with tape, slowly rotate the wheel

and tap the spokes with a long round-shaft screwdriver.

The object is to get the spokes tight with all having the same approximate tension. How tight is

enough? One expert convinced me to listen to the pitch of an empty wine glass when tapped with a

fork. A tight spoke will make a ping sound.

A loose spoke will sound dead with no

noticeable ping. A tighter spoke has a higher

ping-note, so tighten the spokes to sound

similar. Tap and listen as you go around the

wheel and adjust as needed. Recheck vertical

and horizontal alignment and offset one last

time. Don’t forget to cover the spoke nipple

tops with a rubber band or tape.

Satisfaction

So now you have your rebuilt wheels cleaned,

polished and gleaming with stainless spokes!

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Norton Frame and Engine Identification

www.ClassicCycles.org

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1912 Henderson motorcycle goes for half a million dollars at Mecum’s Las Vegas auction in January 2017 Old motorcycles are cool. Over 1,000 of them went up for auction at two sales last week in Las Vegas, and over 1,000 of those sold. The top-seller hammered at just under half a million dollars. Is the rest of the world realizing that motorcycles are not only fun to ride, but also represent the best way to get into the collector market? Maybe so, but whatever the case, even if you don’t ride it, a classic bike is something you can park in the foyer of your business and just look at it all day. The bigger of the recent auctions was the Mecum sale, held Jan. 25 to 28 at the moto-friendly South Point Hotel and Casino just off Interstate 15 when you first drive into Vegas from LA. Mecum bills its sale as the biggest antique and vintage motorcycle auction in the world. Mecum had 949 bikes, and with memorabilia, the lot count topped 1,000. Total for the event was $13.7 million. (Bonhams also had a Las Vegas sale, offering up 345 lots, including 241 motorcycles, on Jan. 26 at the Rio Hotel and Casino.) They were all cool, and we would have been happy sputtering back to LA on any of them, except maybe the Hodaka 50cc (for which we’d want a truck). But our favorite, even before it sold (ask anyone) was the one that wound up being Mecum's top-seller: the 1912 Henderson Four. This unrestored model was made in the first year of Henderson’s existence and still sports the original paint and tires. Its four cylinders were arranged in a row and placed longitudinally in the frame, which just looks so much more interesting than modern transverse-mounted fours, in addition to representing a packaging advantage. The four cylinders total 934 ccs, or 57 cubic inches, with inlet-over-exhaust valves and a single-speed chain drive. You start it with a hand crank. The fuel tank is a long, cylindrical tube slung from the top of the frame. “It was a beautiful and elegant machine,” read the Mecum catalog description, “wonderfully constructed, very fast and expensive at $325.” In its day, it was known as “The Duesenberg of motorcycles.” Three other Hendersons made the list of top-10 sellers at the auction: a 1913 Henderson Four, 1913 Henderson 4-Cylinder Deluxe and a 1931 Henderson Four. Those three fours sold for $150,000, $127,500 and $95,000, respectively. A 1941 Indian Four also made the top 10, hammering for $90,000. Other big sellers included a 1928 Excelsior Big Bertha Hillclimber that went for $117,500, 1949 Vincent Black Shadow for $110K, 1923 Indian Chief Princess with side car for an even hundred grand, a 1914 Flanders Model D Twin for 95 large and a 1929 Cleveland Tornado at $91,000. Mecum also auctioned some of the last Ducatis of the Guy Webster Collection. Webster was a rock and roll and celebrity photographer who snapped up bikes in his travels. “Whenever I got any money, I bought motorcycles,” he told us. “It was the best investment I ever made.” Six of the eight bikes remaining in the collection, which once topped 400 bikes, sold at Mecum. Bonhams did well, too, with a 1955 Vincent Black Prince going for $103,500 and a 1948 Vincent 998cc Series B Black Shadow crossing the block at $112,125. None of that is to suggest that there weren’t regular good bargains for average Joes. You could have shown up in Vegas with a couple grand and left with a very nice, very fun motorcycle. A high bid of $2,875 at Bonhams would have garnered you at 1970 Ducati

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250cc Desmo Road Racer; a 1971 AJS 250cc Stormer Scrambler went for $2,875 and a 1993 Ducati 900 S S was a bargain at $2,070. Medium-strength pricing would have given you some really cool classics, too: a 1957 BMW 600cc R69 went for $18,400, and a 1964 BMW 500cc R50/2 sold for $16,675. So yes, there were a lot of cool bikes for sale. Mecum will be back at South Point with 750 motorcycles June 1-3. If you need to use up some air miles, Bonhams will hold its Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Feb. 9 in Paris, avec beaucoup des belles motos. Considering how easy it is to lose a lot more money than that in Las Vegas, this time you could have gone to The Strip and come away with something to show for your cash. Source : Mark Vaughn – Autoweek.com

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PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE DISPLAY Organisers are looking for the most rare, most unusual and most cherished motorcycles in all of South Africa. All those with motorcycles 1995 and older can nominate their classic motorcycles to be one of thirty especially chosen for the Pride of Ownership Classic Motorcycle display, hosted on the 2nd level of the Kyalami Pit Building, inside and at the top of the stairs from the main exhibition hall. Owners are encouraged to submit details of their bikes as soon as possible as space is extremely limited and highly sought after. Nicole Muller, festival director says: “The standard of the bike is obviously important, but for us, the passion of the owner and the journey the bike and rider have traveled on is equally appealing. It will be tough to decide which bikes join us so we are calling on industry experts for their help and advice.” Visitors will be asked to cast their votes in person over all three days of the festival and you might even hear a bike or two fired up over the weekend. Being the second classic bike competition to be held at South Africa Bike Festival organisers are already receiving entries from a maelstrom of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts. For 2017, we are joined again by The Classic Motorcycle Club of JHB, and would also like to welcome The 2 Stroke Smokers with their assistance with the vetting, voting and prize giving. Bikes will be loaded on Wednesday afternoon and can be collected on Monday. Each of the entrants chosen to display at the show will receive two festival passes per day to the value of R1140 as well as Beard Oil sponsored by Beard Boys to the value of R170 The South Africa Bike Festival webpage for more info and to enter your bike: http://www.southafricabikefestival.com/pride-of-ownership/

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IMPORTANT NOTICE Dear Valued Client We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your valued support. The SAVVA scheme has grown rapidly over the past year and we thank you for your support and referrals received. In dealing with more cover requests, we have established one area causing some confusion amongst our Clients, i.e. the definition of Club Use. We have therefore taken the time to review our policy wording to rectify this uncertainty. We hereby give 30 days notice to amend the Club use as set out below. The amended wording will be effective 1 August 2016 for existing clients and immediately for new clients. CLUB USE / USE 1

· Any activity by a recognized club affiliated to SAVVA or not affiliated, including displays, rallies, fun runs, processions, club meetings and journeys to and from such events, hire for weddings/matric dances and the like, but excluding: speed trails, circuit racing, off road events and hire for reward. Display beyond the immediate supervision and control of the Insured.

· Being taken for repair, restoration or maintenance under own power or by trailer provided this is not done in peak traffic time.

· Occasional journeys of a purely social and pleasure nature but excluding to and from a place of business, employment or education institution and business use.

We thank you for your kind co-operation in utilizing your Vehicles within the new perimeters, reflected above. Kind regards FNB INSURANCE BROKERS

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Classifieds NB! only remain in for 3 months then must be renewed

FOR SALE: 1978 KZ 650 – fully reconditioned, registered and licenced – R35k negotiable 1978 KZ 650 – only 10 000kms – R25 negotiable 1978 KZ 750 Twin – (rare) – R30k negotiable 2002 Derbi Senda trail 50cc as new 50kms - R12 negotiable 2002 Derdi Senda trail 80cc as new 50kms – R14 negotiable 1992 KMS 200 trail registered but needs new main bearing – R6k negotiable Please contact Roy on 082 373 4716

Ducati M900 1995. Motorcycle in excellent condition. Lots of carbon fibre. Rear sets and special speedo cluster. R 45,000.00 Contact Ken Fox on 071 434 5060

Lathe with thread cutting gears, chucks, dial gauge with magnetic stand and cutting/turning tools etc. Chuck diameter +- 20cm, Bed length between centers - +- 45cm Price – R 9,500.00 Please contact Mike Lang – 082-8211826 Vincent Black Prince R1.4 Million not Neg Contact Henry Kinnear 082 463 0553

Brand new motorcycle tyres. Classic thread pattern. Czech Mitas make. Size 3.00/3.50/4.00 x 19 available. Call Janus 081 065 8275 (Benoni) for details.

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1981 Honda XLS 500. Only done 4700 km’s. In excellent condition. Asking price is R25,000.00 ONCO. Serious parties must please contact Errol John on 082 651 4331

I have two BSA’s for sale:

1) 1948 BSA M21, 600cc, very good condition, needs only a check over, fresh oil and fuel; R30 000-00 ONCO.

2) 1947 BSA B31, 350cc, complete, but could do with a re spray and rebuild; R15 000-00. Both are SAVVA dated,

Offers to Errol John on 082 651 4331 1936 Triumph T70 250cc - 90% complete. Bike can be viewed in Germiston R25000.00 (See picture below) Contact Jason 082 551 2634 jasonkeyzer@gmail.com

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Honda Black Bomber (CB 450) spares for sale. 2 Motor/gearbox units, some parts missing but generally complete 1 Spare head with valves, no camshafts 2 complete Keihin carbs and a box full of spares, float bowls bodies etc 4 new air filter units complete with rubber connectors Box of new and used cables, speedo, revcounter, clutch, front brake etc Lots of new and used engine parts including 6 new pistons and rings Box of assorted electrics, coils, condensers,light lenses, points etc 2 boxes of assorted used parts, covers, levers, footrests Maker a sensible offer to: Kevin Robertson, 083 321 3234; 012 997 1554 Books for sale The following books are the OSPREY Collection by Roy Bacon. To me these are the greatest books to have in your Classic Book Library as each book pertains to one particular MARQUE . The models they cover reflect engine specification, colours and original layout. These books are no longer in production BSA Twin & Triples - Roy Bacon (Osprey) - R 450.00 Royal Enfield – The Postwar Model - Roy Bacon (Osprey) - R 250.00 BSA Gold Star – and other singles - Roy Bacon ( Osprey) - R 450.00 AJS and Matchless – The Postwar Models – Roy Bacon(Osprey) -R 350.00 Ariel – The Postwar Models – Roy Bacon (Osprey - R 350.00 Norton Twins – Roy Bacon (Osprey) - R 350.00 Triumph Twins & Triples – Roy Bacon (Osprey) - R 450.00 Tuning for Speed - P.E. Erving - R 450.00 Modern Motorcycle Mechanics – J.B Nicholson - R 400.00 Matchless – Peter Hartley - R 400.00 CONTACT -: MIKE LANG – 082-8211826 OR 011-8495859 Books for sale Classic British Motor Cycles – Bob Currie – R450.00 Tuning S.U. Carburetters- including full needle charts – Speed Sports R150.00 Automobile Electrical Maintenance – Arthur W. Judge – R 150.00 AJS & Matchless Postwar Twins 1948-1969 – Roy Bacon- R 50.00 The Auto Expert – understanding the Ignition System - R150.00 Ariel Square Four – Super Profile – Haynes – R100.00 Honda – Mick Woollett – R150.00 Motorcycles an Illustrated history – Erwin Tragatsch- R125.00 Superbikes from around the World – Roland Brown – R150.00 The Complete British Motorcycle – John Carroll- R150 The complete encyclopedia of World Motorcycles – Mirco de Cet-R200 Miller’s Classic Motorcycles – Price Guide 1995 – Professional Handbookm- R200 Popular Mechanics Encyclopedia –R50 Classic Superbikes – from around the world – Mac McDiarmid – R150 CONTACT- MIKE LANG – 082-8211826 OR 011-849-5859 Workshop Tools for Sale I am moving to a retirement village and have to sell the contents of my workshop. Over the last 40 years I have collected some really useful and unusual tools for all occasions. There is far too much to list and I invite you to contact me to have a browse. Lathe with gear cutting facilities - 65cm between centres including, Chucks, Tail Stock, Magnetic dial Gauge plus lots of extra cutting tools. R 8500.00 AFROX Porta Pack – Oxogen and Acyitilene Small bottles – Bottle gauges and pipes nozzles etc. complete R 9500.00

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Arc Welder with welding leads etc. Like new still in the box R 2000.00 Workshop workbench – 4 meters long R 1000.00 Large Vice - used R 350.00 Large electric grindstone R 450.00 Drill press and cabinet R 1250.00 Wooden workshop bike bench R 1000.00 Hydraulic bike – workbench R 5500.00 Industrial Buffing machine R 2000.00 Large Steel Cabinet–with worktop +- 2.5X500X1High R 1000.00 Large Set of adjustable bush rehemmers suitable to finish bushes R 2500.00 Electric jigsaw in very good condition R 550.00 Electric high speed grinder (25 RPM ) with grinding and routing bits R 2000.00 Wheel Clamps (each) R 100.00 Portable Compressor 24 Lt HP 0.75 like new R 850.00 High Speed Grinder with chuck and tools(ideal) for boring out metal or routing R 1500.00 Gun safe – rifles R 1250.00 Micrometers (assortment for all occasions –metric and imperial FROM R 75.00 Cad Plating Plant – suitable most motor cycle parts R 2500.00 Many other factory tools for sale to suit BSA, Triumph, Etc, Including factory pullers. CONTACT -: MIKE LANG – 082-8211826 OR 011-849-5859 Restoring your bike? Classic Restorer offers VAPOUR BLASTING SERVICES. We clean aluminium, brass, and copper parts using VAPOUR BLASTING method. It’s a gentle, water based, non-destructive process for aluminium cylinder heads, engine blocks, gearbox casings, carburettors, etc. Professional, British made equipment is used. There is no excessive metal removing, no blasting material embedded on metal surface. Just a smooth satin finish. Call Janus Gruska from Classic Restorer for details: 081 065 8275 (Benoni) or email classic.restorer1@gmail.com

Eddie Kirkwood has a selection of spares for mainly British bikes which he needs to dispose of. Go to "Spares for Sale" on Blogger website: http://britbikecapetown.blogspot.co.za/ 082 568 4913

WANTED: 18inch Borrani Aluminium Rims please contact Pierre Cronje 072 513 9432 Velocette MOV/ MAC / MSS webb Girder forks please contact Brandon Jarvis 082 410 8828 Velocette MSS gear box or parts thereof please contact Brandon Jarvis 082 410 8828 BMW R26 or R27 to purchase and/ or spare parts. 083 326 4911 Gawie Norton racing type oil tank to fit slimline frame Rod Thomas 031-762 1509 / 073 365 6494 Alternator type primary chaincase for pre-unit swinging arm Triumph.

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I need two inners and one outer. Will buy or have parts to swap. Tony Dodsworth. 082 742 1742 or 011 453 2688 To fit BMW R50 : 2 x Bing 1/24 Carbs complete pair or 2 x 1/24 Bing Housings (blocks) OR 2x AMAL Carbs (pair), same size as above Contact Trevor Jones – (082) 416-4650 Triumph Tiger Cub T20 engine and any spares Contact Pierre Cronje 072 513 94532

Ian Otridge looking for donor parts / bike for a Puch MS50V that I was given. It is commonly known as a 'Help my Trap'. Call 082 572 9749.

British Bike Spares, Specialising in classic British bike spares supplying parts from Wassell, the biggest new classic bike part wholesalers in the UK, has been purchased by Gavin Walton from Mike Lang. All the stock has been moved from Benoni to Springs on the East Rand. Gavin’s intentions include enhancing and growing the business, web basing it to provide on-line browsing and ordering and shortening the time between import orders and delivery at a competitive rate. Gavin’s details are: 74 Phoenix road Selcourt Springs 1559 Home 011 818 4055 Mobile 083 408 4296 Email gavin.walton@e6.com (this will change in the near future to britishbikespares@gmail.com ) Please call to enquire or make an appointment to see him.

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Stamps There are people who love motorcycles, and there are people who love collecting postage stamps, and believe it or not, there are people who love both. Over the years most postal services around the world have issued stamps with motorcycles on them. Here is a small collection of stamps from Vietnam with motorcycles on them. Some old, some new. ..........

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PARASKY

“The Skylight Professionals” Established 1981

TEL: 011-626-2970 FAX: 011-626-1420 parasky@absamail.co.za www.parasky.co.za

SKYLIGHTS: COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC

+ Staircases + Patio & Balcony Enclosures

+ Balustrades + Walk-ons

+ Gazebos & Architectural Features For us – the sky is the limit!

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RESTORATION and other SERVICES Full restorations. Pierre Cronje does these as well as wheel lacing and building. Call him on 072 513 9432. Ultrasonic cleaning call Henry Watermeyer on 084 800 8862. Petrol taps Enots flat-slide type, made in brass to your order. In sizes 1/8”, 1/4” and 3/8” BSP as well as Rally boxes made to your order with handlebar mounting brackets plus mountings for the rally plate and three watches. Trevor Fraser on 013 656 3063 or 076 591 5560. Restoration and other services. Gravel Man Services offers full service of all BMW boxer twins (old and new). Accident damage repairs and restorations. Please contact Markus Watson on 083 602 3503.

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THE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE CLUB P O Box 782835 SANDTON 2146 South Africa www.vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Ken Wiggins Chairman ken.wiggins@za.ey.com 011 793 7138 083 256 1949

Ian Holmes Vice Chairman ianhol@iafrica.com 011 793 7304 083 646 3089

Pieter Vlietstra Treasurer pvlietstra@gmail.com 011 793 4841 082 650 9880

Ian Storer Secretary hilian@isat.co.za 072 727 7382

Kevin Walton Club Dating Officer kevin.walton@norcossa.com 082 891 8399

Rob Pattison-Emms

Committee Member / Events

avonrod@mweb.co.za 011 849 5180 082 891 2869

Dave Watson Committee Member dwatson@telkomsa.net 082 551 5147

Chantal Madgwick

Committee Member / Editor

editor@vintagemotorcycleclub.co.za

083 708 3522

Brandon Jarvis Committee Member / Assistant Editor

brandon@ascotmews.co.za 011 907 3000 082 410 8828

FEES PAYABLE (up to 30th June 2017) Joining Fee R50.00 Annual Subscription R260.00 (R130.00 if joining after 1st of January) Country Member R190.00 (R90.00 if joining after 1st of January) Family Member R20.00 (i.e. spouse and minor children) Fees will increase for the year starting 1st July 2017 CLUB ACCOUNT DETAILS Account Number 1970259841 Nedbank Sandton Branch 197-005 Please use your name and surname as your reference when making a payment CLUB MEETINGS Meetings are held every 4th Monday of the month (except December) at The Vintage and Veteran Club (VVC), 3 Athol Oaklands Road, Oaklands Johannesburg, at 20:00. The opinions expressed in KICKSTART are not necessarily those of the Committee or the Editor.