For petrolheads

[Patriot]

I've only ever been interested in all things mechanical whether on two,three or four wheels.
Does anyone else remember being in the city centre on a Saturday morning-near the Gaumont cinema I think-and waiting and watching for the Ariel factory riders to turn up at a cafe on Square Fours? The sounds and the smells, Oh, Heaven!
Or waiting outside the Norton factory in Bracebridge St. hoping to catch a glimpse of a Manx 500/Famous Rider?

I bunked off school on a couple of occasions to go York Rd. in Hall Green to drool over Velocette's.
When a school trip to the BSA  factory was organised I was like a child with two lollipops! As we were being shown round the assembly lines I saw a Gold Star being wheeled off and without thinking I asked if I could sit on it."No problem son". That was me gone for the day.

Excelsior at Kings Rd. Tyesley, James in Gough Rd.Greet.
All great names. All sadly gone from Birmingham.

[frederick]

Patriot,
Did you go to Dennis rd school, it's just that I/we were never offered a trip to the BSA all the time that I was there.

[Patriot]

Frederick.

I did go to Dennis Rd.school but I went to the BSA factory when I was at College Rd.school.
Always hated cycling after that!

[frederick]

When you were at Collage rd school did you come in contact with pupils by the name of Dianne Guest or Ted Eaton.

[Patriot]

Afraid not squire.

[Ogri]

Hi Patriot,
If it had an engine or wheels i have probably ridden it,drove it or fixed (or scrapped it) so F1 is among the motor sports i have an interest in,some more than others.
Know what you mean about electric cars racing,amazingly fast but still remind me of my old scalectrix
Incidentally i used to live within the motor cycle triangle you mention & they were all a big influence on me .

[Patriot]

Of all the motorbikes I owned the easiest to ride was my Ariel Red Hunter 500 and the fastest-and scariest-was my BSA DB34 Gold Star.

My Triumph 5T Twin leaked oil.
Velocette MAC leaked oil.
Norton ES2 leaked oil.
Combined with electrics from the Prince of Darkness (aka Joseph Lucas) it's no surprise British bikes fell by the wayside.

I did rescue a KSS Velocette from the backyard of the pub on the corner of Ladypool Rd. and Brighton Rd. and got it running, taxed and insured. Damn thing would be worth a lot of money today.