What’s 50cc?

I read with interest the story of ‘The not-so Grand Prix’ in OBA 70, especially the controversy surrounding the opening race, ‘The UltraLightweight’ Grand Prix, for solo motorcycles up to 200cc. I was a competitor. I rode a MOV Velocette owned and prepared by Malcolm Sullivan. This was the first outing for the MOV and my first and only ride on it. I led the field from the start but chose to retire on the last lap because scrutineering would have revealed those extra 50cc. Had there been any scrutineering, an extra 50cc may have been revealed in the winning Triumph Tiger 70 as well. The only race I could have won ended my brief racing career! Malcolm and I are surviving with our honour intact while I have followed the progress of the little Velo in its many stages of development and which was

later ridden with much success by Alan Burt, Ron Toombs, Richard Charteris, Jim Scaysbrook and Graham Roberts. Graham last rode it to create a lap record for a 250 at Collie Motorplex in WA in 2013. After 58 years of ownership, Malcolm sold the Velo in 2017. I have enclosed a photo (below left) of the Velocette (and Malcolm) at Bathurst in 1960. Graeme Bradley Colonel Light Gardens, SA.