New-again Norton

From AARON ABELL in Adelaide comes this heart-warming tale. “A Norton Commando Fastback was dad’s (John Abell’s) ride when he was around 19 years old in 1969. He purchased the bike new in Mildura, our hometown. Life’s challenges were evident when he sold the bike with a goal to purchase a house in the early ‘70s. It would take several years to purchase another, and begin the restoration project to bring the bike back to its former glory. However, in the late ‘80s after several years in the restoration phase, it was ready to ride again, and was a regular sight around the Mildura Harley drags of the early ‘90s. 2010 would be dad’s 60th birthday, and I had a thought to restore the bike again, so the project started, and the easy bits were completed in a timely fashion, paint, chrome and polish. The engine re-build however, took a lot longer than anticipated. We were interrupted by dad’s sudden sickness and he soon passed away early in 2013, without seeing the bike finished; quite devastating! A huge thanks to Stuey from Brit Bikes in Adelaide for coming on board and helping me to finish. More than four years after the restoration began, I can proudly say that today it runs sweeter than it ever has, and I’m sure the old man is pleased with the result”.