Tilbrook tales

I read, with great interest, the article in ‘Out & About’ OBA 90, about the Tilbrook sidecars. My parents had a double Tilbrook sidecar, attached to a Mk1 Square four Ariel in the early 1950s. I have attached a not very good photo of it from the rear. Dad made a windscreen and hood to weather proof the outfit, which was very effective.

Back then, you only got two weeks annual leave, and we used to travel from Sydney to Labrador, Gold Coast, Queensland. Three days on the road, seven days there at the camping area, and three days on the road back home. Atrocious weather, bad roads, driving rain and potholes – many, many potholes. Everything was packed into the sidecar and saddle bags; the only thing outside was the tent poles, attached between the bike and sidecar. I was 5 to 7 years old at the time (I am the older brother) and well remember the trips.

Were we bored? Never, not even transistor radios in those days, let alone Walkmans, CD’s etc. I well remember every time we stopped for petrol, people would admire the outfit and ask an embarrassed dad about it all. Unfortunately, my dad lost his life riding home from work on his little 2 stroke Malvern Star bike in 1955; run over by a careless semi trailer driver right outside Petersham Police station. Mum asked Jim Madsen to dispose of the outfit for her, and I believe that he had organised its original purchase from South Australia. Jim had a workshop somewhere in the back streets of Leichhardt. We visited there quite often. On one occasion, he had a Norton racing bike there, complete with silver fairing, which he allowed us to have a sit on. Henceforth, my brother’s nickname became “knocker”; for the “double knocker Norton”.

Prior to that, we had an 850 AJS with a double Murphy sidecar, complete with little door on the side to assist entry. Dad made the rag top for that too. He sold that for the Square Four when the AJ wouldn’t get up Bulli Pass, a day that I can remember very well. Pardon my musings, but as you are well aware, when bikes are in your blood, well, they stay there. Lyndon Tilbrook may be interested in the photo, as Tilbrook sidecars are rare, and I daresay, double sidecars rarer still. John Bennett Via email