EXPAT BRIT’S HELLO VELO
I’m an old Brit in Florida and always have a copy of your mag close by. I bought this 1958 Velocette Venom from the previous owner after the bike had been in a local repair shop for at least three years. It came into the shop to have the magneto rebuilt and, while waiting for parts, it got moved to the back of the shop, was covered up and left there. I met the owner a few years ago and discovered he had quite a collection of British bikes; I recently sent him a text, asking if I could buy the bike off him as I had made a bit more room in the garage and I’m always looking for interesting new projects. He told me he had sold most of his collection and had moved house, but the Velo was still in the shop, so I made him an offer over the phone without having seen the bike in the best part of a year and never having seeing it fully uncovered. The only thing I was sure of was that it was a ’58 Venom and I knew it would be running when it left the shop. I didn’t even know it had aluminium rims until the owner told me. When I got this beauty home, as we unloaded the bike, one of my friends said: “Have you looked at the speedo – it’s done so little mileage...” My experience said either the speedo or the cable must be broken. I had the gearbox apart on my GS and wanted to put that back together before I starting on the Velo. The bike has an unusual chrome tank , upgraded chrome mudguards and stays, chainguard, aluminium wheels, and in the toolbox had the original papers from where it was first titled. I’ve been in touch with the Velo chairman here in the States, asking if they can tell me anything more about the history of the bike, but they suggested I contact Classic Bike. I think the original owner must have got it registered here, ridden it briefly, then the magneto packed up. It must have come to the shop where I first saw it to have the magneto rebuilt, but the owner passed away. The next owner bought the bike when it was on the bench in the workshop, but they moved it to the back of the shop while waiting for gaskets. The guy I bought it from had never even taken it home! The shop cleaned a lot of the dust off it just before I collected it, but this is how I picked it up and I’ve still not cleaned it. I’m undecided whether to fit an electric start or just leave it as it is. But I do aim to ride it.
John Perry, Florida, USA