NZ BSA Rally
National Norton Club Rally • 12-14 March, 2021 – Geraldine, New Zealand
The NZ Norton motorcycle club was founded in 1983 and from its 264 members, a decent 70 odd made it to this year’s rally, which was held at the remote Raincliff Youth Camp, nestled between the townships of Geraldine and Fairlie, in the South Island’s South Canterbury province. The rally arrival took place on Friday, with two ride options on Saturday (short: 106km, long: 160km) in perfect weather, including a visit to two transport museums in Geraldine. It was rather glorious, seeing and hearing a cavalcade of Nortons in various iterations thundering down some picturesque country roads in unison. The Saturday evening encompassed the AGM, a presentation by Kevin
Clark about his travels to Europe and the Middle East on a 1958 Matchless G80 in 1964, followed by annual bike prize giving categories. All in all, a very successful weekend.
Lex Westoby’s 1929 Norton ES2 500 was sold new in his South Canterbury home town by former cycle specialists Brehaut Brothers to a mechanic. Its third owner Ewan Cameron reckoned it had a competition engine in it. Only seven motors of its type were made by Norton, which apparently took two of these motors to the IOM in 1927. The bike was at some stage in bits for years, before being bequeathed to Lex, who put it very nicely together to its present state. The Norton runs a dry sump oil system, which was Norton’s first attempt at a dry sump motor. The motor has enclosed pushrods, a full cradle frame extending under the motor; the same frame as a CS1 OHC racing Norton with the same wheels, forks, and tank, but with an overhead valve motor. The ES2 also has a third stay in the rear fork and its saddle tank looked rather modern. This bike won the Best OHV Single trophy at the rally. John Pateman’s 1928 Norton was originally owned by his father, who sold it on during the ‘30s. After having various owners, it was purchased by his uncle in 1945, who returned it to racing. Said uncle wished to dispose of it in the ‘60s, when it was virtually worthless and the rear end having been out in the weather for some years. John bought it nevertheless and started collecting parts and doing various jobs on it over the years. But it was not until he attended the Banbury Run in 2007 that he realised the true importance of what he had and that he had been somewhat foolish for not having done something about this bike years earlier, especially given the model’s racing history and its family connections. Restoration was completed in 2012, but a magneto rewind was undertaken in 2013, to improve unreliable starting. The bike now runs very well and has done various rallies around New Zealand. John has various old bikes, but this immaculate Norton gives him immense pleasure and is reportedly a joy to ride.
His Norton left the factory on 12th August 1927 as one of the first 1928 models, pretty much as you see it now with its later addition of optional extras. The rear carrier with its leather-fronted lockable toolboxes and the George Dance tank knee grips were a factory option. The Webb forks, Andre steering damper, Sturmey Archer 3 speed gearbox, Lucas magneto (NZ spec only) and Terry saddle etc. are all correct for the year. Popular period optional extras John fitted include the Lucas bulb horn, Powel and Hanmer acetylene lighting set and the Bleumells tyre pump (mounted on the factory brackets under the LH side of the petrol tank). Chrome only appeared in late 1920s becoming standard in 1929 onwards. The plating work on this motorcycle was (and is) nickel. Lubrication is by total loss supplied by an external camshaft-driven Best and
Lloyd pilgrim type oil pump with an auxiliary hand pump mounted on the oil tank to supply extra lubrication if needed. John won the People’s Choice, Best Pre WWII and Oldest Norton trophies at the rally.
Jim Stevens’ 1968 Ranger 750 was bought as a non-going project 20 years ago and consists of a Matchless G85CS competition frame, which originally had a G85CS motor in it, but has had a Norton Atlas motor shoe-horned in.
The bike is shod with Matchless wheels and forks, an AMC gear box and is the 14th of the last produced in 1968. Jim’s example has fins on the brake drums, a lower bar on the handle bars, no
steering damper, chrome guards back and front, a longer seat with a strap, and the brake light switch on the front brake cable. Jim’s bike is a more roadgoing version than the other P11s made and his cylinder head shows the Commando casting, with the machining ready for the Commando oil lines, unlike other Atlas engines. The Ranger is reportedly a good bike to ride, with a nice power-to-weight ratio, handles well, is light and has done a lot of miles for its owner. The only minus about it is the single row primary chain, which needs constant adjustment. Jim won the Jamie Oliver award for his help with catering at the event.