Teenage dreams

High speed, high spec and the object of a longlived love affair: the acquisition of this rare first year BSA Mk.II Spitfire has been a long time coming for ex-racer John Weeden.

This is a real-life love story. Since 1966, John Weeden has pined for a 650cc Mk.II BSA Spitfire. In the year England won football’s World Cup, the object of John’s affection was out of reach but, 54 years later, he’s the owner of an example of the 654cc overhead-valve parallel twin machine. And now Weeden, a retired professional restorer and motorcycle racer, has just finished restoring his Spitfire.

He said: “It was 1966 when I first saw the Spitfire. I was a teenager visiting Pride and Clarke and the Spitfire was much dearer than the BSA A65 Lightning, so I bought the Lightning. I really wanted the Spitfire but I couldn’t afford it!”

BSA’s 1966 price list bears witness to that fact, with the Lightning listed at £355, compared to the whopping £389-10s of the new-for-thatyear Spitfire.

“I worked as a professional motorcycle restorer from 198586 until 2006 and for all those years I told myself that I would buy a Spitfire for myself. It took a long time, but I got one in the end and it was so lovely having it on the stand at Stafford last year.”

It’s not hard to understand why the Spitfire has such an enduring appeal for Weeden, and no doubt countless other teenagers. The 1966 BSA Spitfire fused tried and tested, proven technology (using the standard A65 frame and unit construction engine) with flashy race-spec components, such as Amal GP carbs and 190mm front brake. In this sense, the machine was both fresh and resourceful – the latter being all the more important as BSA slipped towards its inevitable decline. Cutting costs by using existing components was no doubt a priority.

Though looking at it now, it’s no wonder that the Spitfire was the heartthrob for John Weeden. And now he’s finally the proud custodian of the object of his adolescent affection, his teenage dream fulfilled. “It’s amazing, and I intend to keep it,” says Weeden, smiling. Now that’s true love.