The best thing I ever bought
I thought you might be interested in these three photos. I had just purchased my first bike from Nightingale Motors in Deptford, south London, and pushed it home to Catford. It was a
1934 BSA250 with a Pilgrim oil pump and hand change. The registration number was JH 4038. I paid £12 and 10 shillings which was my life savings at the time. It was 1952 and my wages were £2 10s a week.
In the first photo my friend is trying to start it and in the second photo he is pushing me. The third picture shows us return in utter bliss!
In 1954 I was called up for National Service and spent two miserable years in the Army. I was in Germany first for a short spell and then in Hong King as a dispatch rider and driver. On my return, I took up grasstrack racing in the South East Centre with a sidecar outfit where I had some success. I later tried my hand at road racing and I rode the Reg Gilbert Motors Honda in production events, including the Barcelona 24-Hours in 1967. At the same time I raced my sidecar outfit with a Triumph engine, then an NSU car engine, with some success. I found time and entries difficult so I really only played at it. My last race was at Crystal Palace in 1969 (that race is, I’m told, on YouTube).
Looking back, it all started with the best thing I ever bought – JH 4038. I hope the photos are of some amusement and wish all at OBM a happy new year which, in March, will be my 86th.