Velocette vexations

After reading the long distance touring articles, it’s a sure way for me to remember my failed long-past journeys – just mention the V word!

I have owned two Velos, or almost two at any rate, and both left me stranded by the roadside. The first was a MAC, bought very secondhand from Sports Motorcycles in Manchester in 1969 or so. I went to look at a Francis Barnett advertised in the local paper and came away with the MAC!

The first failed journey involved an afternoon at Oulton Park, a distance of 36 miles. I arrived at the venue without any problems, watched the racing and set off for home a few hours later. I managed four or five miles before there was an almighty clattering from down below and a distinct lack of power. I don’t remember the engine being seized, no wheel locking or sliding down the road, but it definitely wouldn’t get me home!

I pushed the machine through a handy gateway into a field, propped it against the hedge, and hoped she’d still be there tomorrow when I would be back in my Morris Minor pick-up with a friend! Meanwhile, how to get home? Thumbing, of course. Very soon a fellow biker stopped; having a crash helmet in my hand no doubt helped. Guess what? My first – and only, so far – ride on a Honda 750, almost new, of course. I’m not a great pillion passenger at the best of times, but I enjoyed that high-speed lift no end.

The bike was still there the next day, and we manhandled the old girl into the back of the Minor and set off home. The cause of the failure was that one of the valves (I can’t remember which, probably the exhaust, I suppose) had lost its head, and obviously caused slight damage to the piston.

I can’t remember how I found a replacement engine, but it amounted to a partially dismantled Venom, and I made one machine from what I had. That was the basis for my second aborted journey – a much shorter one, though. My intention was a trip to Oxford to see some pals during the summer. I only managed to get half way along the Cheadle bypass before again coming to an ignominious halt. I’d covered some four and a half miles! I called Dad and he came in the company Land Rover; same procedure, and getting a little tiresome now.

Back at base, the diagnosis proved to be a stripped fibre gear on the magneto drive, a common fault, I think. A replacement from Jack Bottomley got me back on the road. Sort of. The MAC engine was no trouble to fire up; the Venom a different kettle of fish! I never did get the knack of starting the beast. It went down to Oxford in the back of the Morris Minor, and I used it during my final year at Oxford Poly. When I could get her to start…

Apart from the Oulton Park run, the 14 miles into Oxford was my longest journey on any Velocette. I seem to remember my next machine was a Suzuki

500, the 1977 two-stroke version, quite a different motorcycle.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for not missing an issue throughout this very difficult time.

David Pool, Chorlton-cum-Hardy