3. My own Douglas DT/SW5

When I was a boy, 30 to 35 or so years ago, there was a fellow called Lieutenant Colonel Archdale, who would come to local VMCC runs, on one of a number of machines - including a gorgeous Parallel g

Sunbeam (see my Sunbeam Model go bit) and a two-speed Scott - but, generally, on his Douglas; this Douglas.

My younger brother, Simon, and I, thought it was quite simply the best thing we'd ever seen, the aura added to by the way 'Archie' - though I never called him that to his face, always Mr Archdale - rode it. Which was always at pace. As well as the thoroughbred vintage motorcycles, Archdale had a penchant for old sportscars too, Aston Martins and Frazer Nashes in particular.

His family home was in

West Winch, near King's Lynn in Norfolk; there's actually an

Archdale Close there now.

After Archdale died, the Douglas disappeared, up to Scotland it seems, though it was brought back to Norfolk by a friend, Nick Farthing. I'd see it on rides, and always admired it, longingly. Eventually, I plucked up the courage and asked Nick if he ever chose to sell it, I'd like the chance to buy.

Some while later, the call came and I went to have a look and a chat. Nick explained he loved it, but 'it's just a bit too much: Or words to that effect- they were to prove prophetic. Anyway, I was smitten and had to have it. There was a quickfire sale

- my Comet went - and then I borrowed money by some mortgage readjustments

(perhaps not the most sensible idea, but well ... ) and the Douglas was mine.

So what was it like? Well, unlike anything else. It's about two foot high, and run and bump only. But the clutch isn't the best - it still ran an original Douglas flywheel clutch and gearbox; most had swapped to a Norton/ Sturmey-Archer box and clutch - so had to be started on the valve lifter. This meant running alongside, but as it was so low, dropping onto the saddle was a tricky skill. So it was run, get it going, let go of the valve lifter and pull in the clutch. Stop and get aboard. It dragged me along more than once when I got it wrong ...

But once going, it was magical. The engine was smooth and ridiculously fast, though soon I became obsessed with the idea of over-revving it and blowing it asunder; it needed an engineer to use it as it should be. There was also wise words about doing damage to them, by 'slogging' the engine. So it couldn't be under revved or over-revved; it all made me paranoid. That allied to the appalling comfort (there was none; the forks had minimal movement) and soon Nick's comments made sense. I sold it to a man I met in a bar in Ireland; but that's another story ...

Owning it and riding 'Archie's Douglas' was brilliant. It was an incredible machine to ride, like nothing else. I wish I had the skill and ability of Archdale (a talented engineer) as well as his long legs - he started it by sort of running with it between his legs - to have done justice to his machine.