THE WAY WE WERE IN MAY

1924

With more makers now fitting mechanical oil pumps, the new trend often included a telltale or sight glass to the pump, enabling riders to check oil pump function while riding. Until recently, mechanical pumps had often fed a sight feed with glass mounted into the main fuel tank or externally next to it. This involved much pipework from the mechanical oil pump mounted alongside the engine’s timing chest, to the sight feed/glass, which then fed the engine. The new type of telltale mounted to the pump negated the need for all this pipework and potentially leaking joints.

1949

As the Allied Control Commission started easing its control of transport in Germany, BMW were able to build 100 BMW R23s (pre-Second World War model) from existing parts, and manufacture 21,000 cycles. The company also developed an updated 250cc single cylinder machine, the 247cc (68x68mm) ohv R24. Its 12bhp@5600rpm engine was housed in a rigid frame with undamped telescopic front fork and black painted wheel rims for 3.00 section tyres.

Although considered by some a ‘basic’ machine, it proved reliable and helped Germany get mobile again. Complying with Allied quotas, BMW had now built its 1000th R24, which was a newly manufactured machine, rather than an assembly of prewar parts, like the 100 postwar R23s.

1974

Although NVT had started building 741cc Triumph Tridents at Small Heath, Birmingham, over 2500 completed Triumph twins still remained ‘locked-in’ at Meriden.

The background to this is Dennis Poore’s NortonVilliers-Triumph group, on the grounds of operating economies, signalled closure of Triumph’s Meriden plant and a move of operations to the larger, but dated, Small Heath site, with the loss of 1500 Meriden jobs. Hence the sit-in instigated by the shop stewards, with gates locked to bar senior staff from the site, and prevent the dispatch of the 2500 completed motorcycles.

NVT had planned to start the rundown of Meriden in February this year (1974), which coincidently saw a new Labour Government take office. The new Government’s Secretary of State for Industry Anthony Wedgewood-Benn and Minister for State Eric Heffer were in dialogue with the union leaders, in an effort to get the Meriden production lines rolling again.

1999

Five time and reigning 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, Australian Mick Doohan, crashed in a wet qualifying session for the Spanish GP at the Circuito de Jerez, breaking a leg in several places. Doohan was already racing with a thumb operated rear brake, necessitated by reduced ankle movement due to an earlier accident. Paddock rumours implied the Honda factory rider would retire as a result of this latest injury. The May 9 race was won by Doohan’s Repsol Honda team-mate, Spaniard Àlex Crivillé.