THE WAY WE WERE
Nostagia-fest of old photos
I CAN DATE this photo of myself on my 1966 T120 Bonneville exactly. It was taken in Harrow, Middlesex, on April 28, 1971 – my 21st birthday. Early in 1970, I really wanted a new 1970 model, but I couldn’t afford it, even on HP. So I bought GKR 47D from a local dealer. I didn’t like the orange and white 1966 colours, so I made a lot of changes to ‘turn it into’ a 1970 model. I repainted it maroon and silver, added the balance pipe exhaust, and changed the forks and front brake. I also moved the ignition switch to the headlamp bracket, and the Zener diode under the headlamp, just like a ’70. Not long after this photo was taken, the crankshaft boss on which the alternator fitted broke off, leaving the battery not charging and the rotor idle in the chaincase. In those days, I knew the drag racer Denis ‘Stormin’ Norman very well. He gave me one of the cranks prepared for his twin-engined Triumph drag bike in exchange for mine. I also obtained an ARE aluminium barrel and pistons to enable me to reassemble the engine as a 750. This was a very fast Bonnie. I had loads of fun on it and rode the hell out of it. But I was self-employed in those days, and a downturn in business meant I was forced to sell it. I have owned a lot of bikes since then, and still do, but I have never forgotten that one. I believe GKR 47D still exists. I wonder if it still has the ’70 ‘upgrades’ and ARE barrels I fitted nearly 50 years ago? I would love to hear from the current owner if they see this.
Jim Wilson, Hayling Island, Hants,