SPORTING SINGLE SNIPPETS
The Ariel singles which came to be known as Red Hunters can be traced back to Val Page’s creations of 1926. Those Black Ariels have cultivated a cult following all of their own; the equine connection wasn’t established until Edward Turner flexed his influence in the 1930s
Launched in 1932, the top of the range Red Hunter 350 and 500 singles were introduced to ‘answer the demands of the sporting rider who wishes to combine fast road work or trials with occasional racing.’ They gained chrome petrol tanks, red paint and an identity to match the marque’s horsey theme
The NH350 was revised for 1933 with bore and stroke of 72mm by 85mm. The cheapest variant was the softly-tuned NF3 three-speeder, while the sporting Red Hunter boasted 6.9:1 compression and 17bhp, and cost £47.10s
Edward Turner arrived at Ariel in time to tidy up the 1934 range. The headlamp, with its built-in ammeter, grew to 8-inches while the enamel tank badges were stylishly recessed
Plenty of changes were made to the Red Hunter’s motor for 1934 as well: forged steel flywheels, revised induction porting, 14mm spark plugs and enclosed valve gear Before introducing their fullyenclosed top end, Ariel tested their system extensively to ensure that the oil mist from the crankcase (via the pushrod tubes and rocker box) was sufficient to lubricate the valve springs and guide and ensure spring longevity
The 1934 Red Hunter was also mechanically quieter than its predecessor, thanks to improvements to the oiling of the timing gear, and thicker crankcase walls
Although we normally think of a twin-port top end as offering more outright performance, Ariel’s singleport engine worked better when racing with a straight-through exhaust (and saving some weight certainly helped!). For fast road riders with sensible silencing, the twinport arrangement was hard to beat, however
‘This machine has earned a fine reputation among competition riders. It will do an honest 75mph, and 80mph when tuned.’ At least, that’s what the 1930’s publicity material said
‘Famous for fierce acceleration and high-speed,’ said The Motor Cycle, ‘the 350cc Red Hunter is soundlyengineered and reliable and is an excellent choice for regular use’