A few feature suggestions...

Thank you for the excellent June 2021 issue of The Classic MotorCycle and in particular ‘The Finest Hour’ item by Richard Rosenthal.

For those of us lucky enough to have followed sidecar road racing in the 1960s, and in particular to have been at some of the Mallory Park ‘Sidecar Race of the Year’ events, what lovely memories it invoked. Even after all this time, simply to read the names of the drivers and passengers rekindles some of the excitement and wonder. Richard’s piece was beautifully constructed and is undoubtedly one of the finest on this subject.

Might it be an idea to run a ‘then and now’ article on the sidecar passengers of that era? Chaps such as Eddie Bulgin (who often waved a foot to the crowd at Mallory hairpin); John Robinson,

Eric Bliss, Emil Horner, and many other heroes. It would be good to hear about them, whether or not they are still living.

Another (intended to be helpful) suggestion is that it would be both interesting and helpful for readers if you were to do some items on classic lightweights. Many of the classic enthusiasts, myself included, are of an age at which even classic 350cc machines are rather on the heavy side.

I have splendid memories of owning and thoroughly enjoying a 175cc Ducati Silverstone Super in my teens but now my ancient bones are unimpressed by pseudoracer riding positions. It hurts (an appropriate word, don’t you agree?) to concede that, having been a café racer fan for all of my riding decades, I now find something more ‘sit up and beg’ a more attractive proposition. In fact, the medics have told me that, as a result of the many and various knocks, bumps and injuries sustained in years of grass-track and trials riding, I must ride light machines if I wish to ride at all.

It would therefore be correct to say that I have a vested interest in such articles. Thanks again for the consistently enjoyable magazine.

David Bill, via email.