The Gold Star man
EDDIE DOW, born and bred in England, passed away on 21st March, 2017. He would have been 93 this year. If you have or had or ever thought about BSA Gold Stars, you would know who Eddie Dow is! Eddie trained in engineering during WW2 at Rolls Royce and then ended up in the Army as a Captain and leader of the Army Motorcycle Team for several years. He was highly successful in trials events riding Gold Stars earning first class awards in Scottish Six Day Trials and gold medals in International Six Day Trials. Eddie also was involved in road racing and entered the 1955 Clubman’s TT on the Isle of Man, where he won the Senior race against stiff opposition on a 500cc single BSA DB34 Clubman’s Gold Star. They were fast bikes for fast people and a weapon for a competent rider in control. With partner Arthur Taylor, he was involved in the motorcycle shop Taylor Dow based in Banbury, UK which specialised in BSA Gold Star repairs but was mainly noted for improving the breed with various mods and special parts. There is probably not a Gold Star on the planet that doesn’t run or utilise one of Eddie’s mods. There were various publications written by Eddie that are still in high use today for fettling and rebuilding. The BSA Rocket Gold Star 650cc twin was suggested to BSA by Eddie in the early 1960s. These were built during 1962 and 1963 and are highly collectible today, as is all the Gold Star range. From all Gold Star owner’s points of view, the words Gold Star and Eddie Dow are spoken about on a regular basis and usually in the same sentence. Eddie may be gone but his name will live on with each and every Gold Star that is restored and ridden...fast!