Now for something completely different.
Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 2:56 pm
In a land far, far back in time, before I was born even (yep, that far back) my Dad bought an Ariel VB 600cc sidevalve single with a sidecar on. Brand spanking new it was and as I eventually arrived on the scene and was allowed in the sidecar on my own (never on the pillion as I was an ‘active’ child so I am led to believe) I assisted in the control of the beast by being tail gunner with a succession of weapons from cowboy six shooters to plastic tommyguns (not much in the way of sophisticated weaponry in the ‘50s, unfortunately.)
Anyway when I got to about 10, Dad sold the combo and bought a BSA Bantam and later went onto 4 wheels, that being the end of involvement with powered 2 wheels until I eventually had a 10 year old D3 150 Bantam bought in 1967 for the princely sum of £6 to get me mobile without pedalling.
Many years later – about 40ish – I went to IAT Waddington to see the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane, Vulcan and a few other aircraft with Lynn’s brother and noticed a display of British bikes on show.
One of which turned out to be my Dad’s Ariel, now as a solo.
Well I contacted the owner and gave (yes, gave) him the original sale and deposit receipts (salvaged when my parents both passed away) from when my Dad bought the bike as I believed that it was provenance and should be with the bike. He reckoned that I would be offered the bike if he ever decided to sell, and then we lost touch for a few years. Well, I managed to get back in touch a couple of weeks ago and when my gammy knee gets a bit better, I’m going to see him and may be able to buy the bike as he's now into old British 2 strokes so we still have 'something' in common.
I don’t really want it for any other reason that it was my Dad’s, but what’s the chances of finding a bike with a bit of history like that?
So what do people think? Daft or what? I hope I can get it as it's a bit of family history, so to speak.
Must be gerrin soft in me dotage!
Anyway when I got to about 10, Dad sold the combo and bought a BSA Bantam and later went onto 4 wheels, that being the end of involvement with powered 2 wheels until I eventually had a 10 year old D3 150 Bantam bought in 1967 for the princely sum of £6 to get me mobile without pedalling.
Many years later – about 40ish – I went to IAT Waddington to see the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane, Vulcan and a few other aircraft with Lynn’s brother and noticed a display of British bikes on show.
One of which turned out to be my Dad’s Ariel, now as a solo.
Well I contacted the owner and gave (yes, gave) him the original sale and deposit receipts (salvaged when my parents both passed away) from when my Dad bought the bike as I believed that it was provenance and should be with the bike. He reckoned that I would be offered the bike if he ever decided to sell, and then we lost touch for a few years. Well, I managed to get back in touch a couple of weeks ago and when my gammy knee gets a bit better, I’m going to see him and may be able to buy the bike as he's now into old British 2 strokes so we still have 'something' in common.
I don’t really want it for any other reason that it was my Dad’s, but what’s the chances of finding a bike with a bit of history like that?
So what do people think? Daft or what? I hope I can get it as it's a bit of family history, so to speak.
Must be gerrin soft in me dotage!
, but putting that aside, if i had a chance to buy my Dad's Norton 18, or my Grandad's BSA round tank then I wouldn't hesitate for a minute. Go for it ! 