The battle for the Hastings mug
The Sussex seaside resort of Hastings is known throughout the country for the eponymous battle that changed the course of history.
The year 2022 was the 956th anniversary and nowadays the town devotes a week to mark that time. Celebrations include the Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Show, this year held on October 15, and which returned for a fifth time.
Organiser Bruce Dowling was pleased with his final tally of 89 motorcycles, a new attendance record, lined up on The Stade, an area in Hastings Old Town near the fishing community. Support came from the BSA Owners’
Club and the Vintage MCC, East Sussex Section.
Some riders had covered many miles to be part of the occasion resulting in a fine varied display of machinery. Qualifying date is 1982, but exceptions can be made for ‘exceptional later bikes.’
A 1972 Triumph Trident looked striking in white paintwork. It could be better appreciated after seeing the accompanied photo of it in its acquired state – a rusted rolling chassis, the being in a few plastic storage boxes.
A classic show would hardly be worthy of the title without Velocettes and a selection could be found at Hastings.
Among them was an MAF, Veloce’s contribution to the war effort. This example had seen no war service and when the factory converted it to civilian trim in 1946 it was sold to motorcycle journalist Bernal Osborne. After vanishing for some 50 years, the bike reappeared in bits and in very poor condition. It took a lot of time and effort, but it finally functions as its manufacturer intended.
The Triumph of Mark Trown repaid close inspection as his ambition of creating a usable offroader incorporated numerous subtle touches. The bike had been supplied new as a 5TA Speed Twin, but was ridden purely offroad for many years before near abandonment. Eventually, Mark acquired it in a sorry state.
He re-purposed it as a ‘Trail Twin.’ Yamaha forks, Bultaco brake, BSA silencer for the siamesed exhaust, were visible features, but the frame alterations, VW ‘Beetle’ air filter, seat and Royal Enfield tank were far less obvious. Did it have a daylight MoT? Actually, no, the LED lights were so well disguised they had to be turned on to be believed!
Mark had even created his own graphics for the Triumph.
The best bike? A tough call with so many possible contenders but Sue Stewart’s Sunbeam finally got the nod. Sue has owned the bike for 11 years, husband David assembling it from a collection of parts. The Model 8 ohv 350cc engine has been a trouble-free gem, actually put together by car specialists Crosthwaite and Gardiner. This was installed in a side-valve model frame, with forks from a 500cc ‘beam. The rear mudguard had to be replaced, a new carburettor was required and a replacement gear cluster sorted a worn out transmission. It’s now regularly ridden by its very happy owner.
Rather unfortunately, nobody attended on a Norman...