Another 90 Plus

Reading the story in OBA 97 on the Douglas 90 Plus brought back memories of regularly seeing one in Elizabeth St. Melbourne. It was in the early 1960s and I would be on my lunch break. It belonged to a gentleman whose name I think was Watts and it was the racing version with TT carburettors and no kick starter. Each fortnight he would pull up in Elizabeth Street. This was when Modak was on the other side of the road and Stanco nearby. Mr Watts, with the mandatory khaki army bag over his shoulder, would go into one of the shops to purchase the latest edition of the “Green horror”. With the Horror safely in the shoulder bag he would pull the “90” back on compression, take a few steps and he was away.

The bike looked a bit scruffy but the gold paint was clearly visible under accumulated road grime. What we would today call “patina”. No doubt if it appeared today, in its former condition, it would be a barn find. One wonders if the bike still exists as it would be a wonderful example of times gone by. I also used to see the bike occasionally at Calder Park, so it was apparent Mr. Watts took a keen interest in the sport.