The Little Grey Van Part 3

Le Petite Van Gris

Part 3

Lock down continues and although not going out on the bikes or in the cars restricts what I can report on we are having virtual car and bike club meetings to keep in touch and I started the LE. It is the only bike I can ride at present.

In between Gita and I have been exercising every day for an hour to help fill in the day and I have launched into garden projects like finding somewhere to store garden tables and chairs to free up patio space to have more pot plants even to the extent of creating a plant trough for tomatoes and beans topped off with extending the irrigation system to cope with daily watering.

Now back to the van, the interior lights have been fitted into the roof support beams and wired them in. not a simple job as I had to drill the holes laying on my back and getting hot swarf assaulting me in the process. At the same time I made some vents in the two outside beams to let hot air out and these have simple controls to blank the exit ports off. I have started rubbing down the undercoat that I put on a few weeks ago and that is hard work. 

I fitted one tail gate switch but its position made it vulnerable so decided that a long lever microswitch would be a better option. It was a challenge to wire in the ten LED spot-lamps into the van roof beams and get the set up working. Three sets of lights when needed and two sets for when the tailgate is opened. Along with this I have made two consoles for the rear upper corners that contain power sockets and a USB port. The left one has two switches in. One for power to the sockets and the other is the interior light switch. We may be sleeping in the van so I wanted a convenient way to turn off the light. I have also been preparing a wiring harness to the rear of the van that will run along the chassis. I will use the mounting bolts of the tail light clusters as earthing points and have a 40amp cable to it. There will be no earth to the chassis at this end of the van.

The rear light cluster has been interesting in that it is an after market LED set up and having had all the light fitting holes filled I have a blank canvas on where I could put things. There is a degree of symmetry that makes things look right. There is a fitting problem in that around the tailgate things that stick out need to be avoided one that they will get damaged and they hurt when you hit them. I have chosen slim flush fitting units for that reason. There are still loads to do before I get around to working on the engine. I have an oil cooler somewhere that I can fit when I find it having sheered the pipes removing it so I could get to the plate behind it to clean it up and give it a coat of paint along with the rest of the engine cowlings. All have been cleaned up and painted. The garage looks like the hanging gardens of spare parts.

The Little Grey Van Part 2

Le Petite Van Gris.

Part 2

Writing this on a Tuesday evening, the sun is shining and it is week five of our lockdown. I would like to be driving one of the cars or one of my motorcycles but have decided to stay at home and find things to do. I have already  had one bike club virtual night and two car club virtual nights. It is much better to be meeting up with people face to face but we can no longer do that. There is a bright side to this in that we can all have a drink which is not normally the case. So far no one I know has come down with this Corona virus but it has not been the cause of other people passing away. Sadly, dear friend, Bill Crosby passed away at the end of March. He was a strength that made things happen envisaging a London Motorcycle Museum and made it a reality. He saw it through to its final breath and left an immense legacy for us all. On another recent death and that was of the Great Stirling Moss. A man who put some sparkle into Motor Racing and as a child I watched many of the Grand Prix’s on a black and white tele. 

What have I been doing, well I started to strip a heavy flywheel engine that I want to use in this little van. I was kneeling down for so long I hurt my ankle and couldn’t do much for a week so I did standing up stuff like de-rusting the engine cowel. Once cleaned up I found some 20year old white hammerite that I smothered everywhere. This old stuff really keeps the rust at bay.

After much rubbing down I primed it and top coated with gloss black. Looks OK as it will spend it’s life hidden under the bonnet. More fun with the rear door of the van. Having got it in place using wood screws I needed to replace them with some stainless button head bolts. This is now done but getting the door in the correct position afterwards has been a pain. Fine when I had wood screws but with bolts it just did not sit right. I have got that done now. The mounting brackets for the gas struts also needed the screws replaced and after getting some 50mm bolts this is now done. The lower brackets required longer bolts but all not have had the brackets threaded to take the 6mm bolts so I don’t need to fit nuts. 

It all seems to be coming together. I have rubbed down the whole of the glass fibre van body and preparing to give it another coat of paint. This time with  a roller instead of a brush. I hope the finish is a bit better. It took me three days to rub the body down and I had to stop because I I had no finger nails left.

Another little project is the Burton gear shift linkage. My brother, Adrian, has made up a new linkage. The rubbers are gone and replaced with a ball end joint and steel block. The Burton gear shift tends to eat the rubbers because of the greater pressure on the levers as a shorter gearbox lever is used. I did a video to see what happens to the linkage when you change gear to get some idea if this would work. I know a longer version works as Citwins make one already.

 I’m not able to use this as it is too long for the space available on the Burton. I’ll let you know how this goes.

Although not using the cars and bikes they get regular inspections and start ups just to remind me of what they sound like when you crack open the throttle. One day soon I hope?

Wild Wife in Assam

A Bike Trip in Assam.

Thursday and we are doing last minute packing. So we are off to Dibrugahr about three hundred miles east, Bhonti, Gita’s sister and Majoni,  sister in law, are coming with us. Deepa, another sister in law, is missing out as she has to take time out from work. I get the impression of some family discord over this. An easy flight on a prop engined plane that takes about an hour. Taking off north east over the Brahmaputra river and turning right over the Pakke Tiger Reserve then east following the river.  We are in Dibrugahr by early afternoon, collected by taxi and delivered to Chinmoy’s place near the village of Tini Ali. This is a literal name in that Tini means three and Ali means road. It is the meeting of three roads. Chinmoy has arranged for me to see a Himalayan and would hire it for me. I decline but have a ride on an old 350 Bullet that is a right gear change and left foot brake. No helmet, nothing just a nice breeze in shirt sleeves however it stops on me because the fuel tap is not on properly. Fortunately Chinmoy is with me on his Bullet and I’m quickly on my way again. I even manage to kick start it without drama. 

The old British Bike feel just like the old Bullet I had when I was eighteen now that is nostalgia. My Velocette Valiant seemed faster and so much smoother being a light weight flat twin. Later we went off to Tini Ali to see a Hamalayan that I could ride if I wanted the next day. It had a broken head race and had a very clunky steering. This would not be good for slow speed manoeuvring. Back to Chinmoy’s home then we were out again to see Chinmoy’s sister and doing a round robin visited one of our friends father  who is very ill and then dropped in on Neal Akash at his studio in Moran Hat, Assamese Pop Star. We have connections.Just d roping a few names if you can remember my article of my trip to L’Aigle 2018, when I had a sick bike and needed to take a car, “Not a bike trip’. The car you saw at L’Aigle was used in a pop video for another star Manas Robin. If you feel the need, you can see it on Youtube in the song titled Gun Gun. Then back for a few beers and a not very early night when a few biker friends popped around.

Majoni, Gita , Bhonti and me by the Brahmaputra.

Friday was the little trip out on the bikes with all of Chinmoys friends. I had a choice of bikes and chose the old Bullet I had ridden the evening before. It was Chinmoy’s brother’s bike. Totally illegal but was nice to ride for a change. Soon the road turned to a sandy track as we headed off to the banks of the Brahmaputra. Lots of pictures, selfies and videos were taken on the way. Just before the river we stopped for the rest of the family, in the car, to catch up. It was a photo shoot with Gita Bhonti and Majoni taking turns posing on the back of the bike. 

Gita stayed with me as we went on to the river back to park up. Deep sand is no fun two-up and it was hard work keeping the bike going where I wanted it to go. We had a picnic on the bank, more selfies and the ladies paddling and posing. We had a drone buzzing us taking more pictures.Someone had made a selfie stick from some available vegetation. 

Going shopping on the way.

On the beach.

Early afternoon we made our way back to Chinmoy’s to go out in the car. There were selfies and videos taken on nearly everyones phones. Not something I would want to do in the UK. I would be scared of dropping the phone. I know the damn thing would switch itself off or not work when you pressed the take icon or something just so I would not be able to manage it. Even so enough of the guys got pictures and videos making it the best part of the day.

March 2020 News

March 2020 News.

I am normally not short of ideas when it comes to titles but this one is a bit lame and I apologies for that. Keeping it simple has been a problem with a Trojan messing up things on my PC and more than one virus going around that is keeping me out of circulation, albeit self enforced nothing much is happening for me in the outside world. It is coming to me via the internet that is playing up due to over usage never before admitted to but very apparent as I tried to buy some polyguard vinyl gloves   as I was getting low and about to use more on my next mini project of stripping and refurbishing an elderly 2CV engine with heavy flywheel for use in the van. In doing so I have managed to do something stupid to my left foot that has left me hobbling in pain. This had ensured I stay put and not go anywhere that could put me and my wife at risk of the dreaded Lemonade virus. Corona made lemonade in the 50’s and 60’s and was a very popular brand. Not sure what they are called now or is it a Mexican beer? I have been in for a week already and my brain is starting to degrade from overload of news of few things that are good. I did have a good read with Mark Holmes Rebirth that records his travel around the world on a Triumph Rocket 3 and how that journey changed his life. He started as a widower that prompted his travel and came back a married man and a new life. 

I first met Mark at the London Motorcycle Museum when he turned up to pay us a visit. He said he was going to start in a few weeks. This was from the Ace Cafe  and I advised him that if he got to India in August/September time he would get very wet. Monsoon time. Leaving a couple of months later would see him in the dry season and be able to be part of the Goan Biker Mania that is held in November. He writes a nice story and I received a book from him when we met at the London Bike Show in February. The MAG Road magazine had published his, very much abridged version just before Christmas and I was able to supply him a copy of his article. 

Other news is not so good. I have just received the latest BMCT News (British Motorcycle Charitable Trust) and was surprised that Colin Seely had passed away in January. Colin was a keen racer successful  in the sidecar racing arena. When he retired fro racing he turned his talents to making sidecar outfits and special frames for many motorcycles among them Norton, Matchless, AJS, BSA, Velocette, Yamaha, Suzuki and anyone who wanted something special. Have I missed anyone? I met Colin at the opening of the Minter Cafe at the Museum in 2017 when he introduced the new facility. He was a good friend of Bill Crosby who ran the museum until recently. Bill was in good health the last time I saw him in late February.

Colin talking to Ian Kerr.

 I’m staring at my foot looking for inspiration as I wait for a new ignition switch for the Buell to arrive from Twin in Belgium. I’ve had to buy some of those “secure” Torq sockets to do the job. Ordinary Torq’s do not have recess to accommodate the pimple in the head of the bolt so you need a special one for the job. I don’t know why manufacturers have to make life so complicated, Allen bolts would have sufficed. I wait for the new switch to have another challenge.

Celebration of Speedway 2020

Celebration of Speedway

This is the first time a managed to get to this event at the Paradise Wildlife Park. Broxbourne. I was going on the Buell but decided not too as strong winds and rain were battering my area when I left. It was not all plain sailing in the El Cid either so the gust odd winds were making to side screens flap so hard that after only a few miles the strap that holds the left side screen in place broke and I was forced to stop on the hard shoulder to effect a repair. I used a nylon strap from the bonnet catch around the mirror stalk on the outside through the velcro seal of the side to the roll bar on the inside. It didn’t stop the side screen from moving but held it in place enough to carry on my journey to Broxbourne. I arrived, the rain had stopped and the wind abated. 

I know the museum is small but the content is huge and up to date with bikes from Jason Doyle and Chris Harris on display. I remember Ivan Magher from the seventies along with Barry Briggs but none of the earlier Speedway Heroes. It was very enlightening. As was the event. Bills’ Speedway bike was on display and with the lads from Whitewebbs supervising it this bike drew quite a bit of attention with more information about it coming forward from people who personally knew the history of Jim Tebby and his brother Stan. 

Keith had done a cracking job cleaning and polishing to pristine condition

Next stand was Kent Speedway advertising the “Kings” and the “Royals’. I have an invite to go and see them in Sittingbourne when the season starts. I did not realise that Wal Phillips had been a Speedway star, he even designed and built his own engine to race with the castings being done by Blackburn. It ran, but didn’t get developed. Other things that Wal made were on display, like his fuel injection system and the outboard front disc brake that was immensely powerful. An incarnation of this is on my Buell. 

I had only ever seen this type of brake once before and that had been fitted to a BSA from the sixties. More fun during the day with regular “start-ups” of some of the bikes in the display area. Boys’ dream, noise, smoke and the presence of raw power. Vroom, Vroom, Smile, Smile and a little video to see. The Rudge has a different sound to the modern machines. 

What I had not known was that the modern clubs are developing young riders from about the age of six graduating from 50cc speedway bikes to 125’s then 150’s before the big bikes. I think this type of competition for young riders to help develop their skills is fantastic and in a very controlled environment supervised by the experts. What could be better? An enjoyable day. 

In the Museum

Outside in the display.

III left before the end and the awards but did manage to listen to and see a couple of stars, old and new being interviewed giving their own views of life and riding experiences. Particularly an old German guy who came to the UK to ride and was not doing very well. Fast in the race but slow to start. He asked his coach what to do and was given the advice of full gas from the start. This he did. Fine going into the first turn but found he was going up the straight but without his bike. His Arse was getting very hot skidding along. When he returned to the pits he was expecting a harsh response but, to his surprise, “Good, good! That’s what we want!” It must have pleased the crowds and his performance improved from that point on. There was a fair amount of memorabilia to be had in the form of books and magazines. I did see a book about Speedway during the war and the competitions that were held that looked interesting but was not sure whether to buy it. Perhaps another time. I managed to get home staying off the motorways away from speed and weather and then set about repairing the strap.

It only needed restitching to be repaired. It took hours as I broke so many needles and thread. I really needed industrial stuff to do the job. Now it is back on the car ready to roll.

London Bike show 2020

London Motorcycle Show 2020

I have just read a recent tweet that Hackney council are wanting to charge motorcycles for parking.

Where do people get these ideas from? There is a consultation period about to start so I suggest that every motorcyclist gives them a piece of their minds to stop this. If Hackney does so will all the other Boroughs and that will be very bad news for everyone. There are few designated motorcycle parking bays so it would be a good protest to ride around slowing up everything on a Saturday trying to find one with the group stopping to ask every traffic warden where you can park. Now someone has rattled my cage to write something 

Birds of Prey...... Harlequin

I had a great time at the London Motorcycle show on Valentines Day. What better way than to spend it with your loved one? Gita was there too taking more pics than ever while I tried on new models for size. I had some success with the Honda MXT the 125 mini bike-Monkey bike with two seats. 

I thought “great for the back of the van” to go on holiday with. First I need to finish “Le Petite Van Gris” I found the Kawasaki Versys Grand Tourer much to my liking and more room to get your leg between the tank and the top box. Much better that the previous models where my foot got jammed between. I thought the 650 was a good deal. 

I had some real challenges with BMW and the big GS’s. I have a Buell XB12XT and it is small compared the these Giants. Needless to say I had to launch myself at the seat to just get aboard. 

Once seated I was asked if I would like to enter a draw to have a weekend on the rough stuff by a sweet young lady as I dangled my legs inches off the ground. I asked “What do YOU think?” She went away and I didn’t enter the draw. I sat on the 800 twin and found the foot rests in the way when I put my feet on the ground. Right in the middle of my calf muscle. If I had to get my feet down quick it was going to hurt. Shame really as it did seem to be a nice bike. Not far away was Royal Enfield and I sat on a new Himalayan and it felt like the old one. I sat on the Factory Replica Trials bike and that was as I remember it from early last year. Very sweet. I sat on the Interceptor and looked at the off road version. I like the power, but not the weight. Gita liked them all. Crazy lady.

Walking around I had a sit on most models. Having sat on a Monkey bike I thought the 750 twin might be a something for the future but I thought the modest power output was too modest and much less than my ER6F but the fuel economy was really good. The drawback with it was the positioning of the foot rests. Just like the BMW they stuck into my calf muscle when my feet were on the ground and as with the BMW the seat contour would not let me adjust my position to get around that. I did buy some new bike gear, a new helmet by HJC and Jacket and pants by Oxford that were the new laminated fabric that stopped the material becoming a sponge and dries out real quick, so I have been told. I have yet to try it out. For some reason, this year I and finding the weather making me cold and it is stopping me getting out on a bike. I would just like some sun and warmth in the air. There was some “hot stuff” at the show with the some BSB and TT stars racing 125s. It was great entertainment.

We were supposed to go to Hackney on the way home to meet up with my daughter but that went by the wayside ans there was a signalling fault on the DLR that had us shunting between Canning Town and Poplar until we got off at Canning Town and got on the Jubilee line to come home. Too much to ask getting a bus with bike gear in bags and not knowing where and how to go. Nothing worse that trying to get through crowds when you are double your size. I visited the Motor Action Group stand during the day and found they were short of people for the weekend. I offered to come for tomorrow, Saturday, to help out. I duly arrived Saturday morning and the signalling problem had been fixed. I talked to allot of people about MAG, sold some raffle tickets for the biggest hip flask ever 1.7L about 4 pints. Fill once and go around the world!

I was due to get away early but I met up with some of my traveller acquaintances. Zoe Cano, I know well, Mark Holmes who had visited the London Motorcycle Museum before setting off on his “Around the World Love Story’ on a Rocket 3. I now have his book “Rebirth”. 

Some crazy guys who went around Morocco on Honda Cubs!

Also there was Sam Manicom and Elsepeth Beard the first modern around the world on a bike lady. Not only was she the first, but also ignored by the media at the time and she did it All on her own. No support, No sponsorship only her strength of character that got her through. Hats off to her. It took her years before her book of that adventure was published and I bought that one when she gave a presentation to the Wey Valley Bike Club in 2017. Doesn’t time fly.

New Year: New Display

New Year: New Display

I have done little on the blog in January but it just means I have not got around to writing it. I have been to the Wey Valley Advanced Club Observed Sundays in January and February. These are held on the first Sunday of the month and February was well attended. So enthusiastic are the members it was difficult at times to have a conversation. Out on the Buell for the last meeting and had to wash it after as the roads have been so mucky. Just after Christmas I managed to persuade Gita to help me make some car covers for the kit cars, the El Cid and the Burton from a caravan cover I bought on e-bay last November. It was for a 19ft van and there is a bit of material left over. I used a caravan cover because I was just not able to find a supplier for the material. All the covers seem to be made in China so the only option was to buy a cheap one and make my own. This was a challenge trying to make the curved stitching fit a straight edge and fighting with the 360 degree elastic edging just adds to the fun. It is not easy to pin things together that are trying to fly apart. Needless to say we managed it and two covers are almost finished.

In January I paid some visits to the London Motorcycle Museum to help facilitate relocating some motorcycles to Whitewebbs Museum in Enfield and dismantle some racking to be used in the bicycle display. 

I also loaded up the LE Club LE on my trailer and took it to it’s new home in Enfield subsequent to that it was wrestled into place on the first floor to it’s display location. I say wrestled because it took five of us to get it up the stairs, pulling, pushing, lifting and towing, with two on ropes up the front. LE’s are not particularly heavy, just awkward. We did the same with the Mark two cutaway. The engine and transmission cut away on a convenient board went up in the lift, albeit on end. Last lift of the day was getting a 1916 Douglas upstairs too. This was a bit lighter and only needed four people. By the time we had done this it was enough for the day and time for a rest. No hernias but none of us are as young as we were and there will be aches and pains to remind us of our efforts. We only have another six bikes to go up the stairs!

One very happy Chris.

Before all the huffing and puffing space needed to be made in the display area. A concerted effort cleared most of the bikes out the way before moving the displayed petrol pumps and this allowed us to get all the Rex Judd collection in one area. 

The new Rex Judd display.

This made room for us to move a Royal Enfield into the central display and created space to move all the Ariels into another area. All will be revealed when we have moved all the bikes and set them up where we think they should be. This all should give our visitors a better display and improve the angles for photography. Museums are an information source so being able to get close and personal helps those trying to rebuild and restore some treasured old friends. More pictures when all the moves are done.