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Potent-looking Ariel-powered grass-tracker, raced in the south east by female rider.

Valerie Peto, of Streatham, poses with the special Ariel which she raced off-road in and around the greater London era in the mid-to-late 1950s, with the shown picture dating to 1957.

Writing in the Women Awheel section of The Motor Cycle, August 22, Mary Carmichael explained: “If Mrs Valerie Peto of Streatham is reading this, she is probably smiling. For she and her husband Ronald reverse the customary roles at grass-track, hill-climb and scramble meetings. Valerie rides a potent little two-fifty – an Ariel engine in a Ron Golding-modified Rudge frame. Her husband is her mechanic.”

Mrs Carmichael (certainly Mrs, as reference is made to her husband elsewhere in Women Awheel) goes on: “Already an enthusiastic motorcycle sport supporter, Valerie bought a 197cc Dot in 1953 and began competing in trials. On her next machine, a three-fifty AJS, she started scrambling. Her next mount was an ex-Monty Banks Gold Star BSA. Her enthusiasm is now for all the speedier sports. Last year she scored a third at the Sidcup Knattes Valley hill-climb. This year, if Valerie’s skill and the encouragement of her many well-wishers mean anything, she should add more successes to her tally.”

On inspection, it looks like the preSecond World War Rudge frame has not only modified from rigid to swinging arm, but also to oil-carrying, perhaps, too. Forks and front brake would look most likely to be BSA, all amounting to a special little special. The 250cc Ariel engine would date to the 1930s too. Though the name ‘Ron Golding’ has lost its currency, while Monty Banks is another name largely forgotten, they were clearly names familiar and thus in need of no explanation at the time.