Can you keep a secret?
By TMX Archives on 27th Apr 12
Did you all see the story doing the rounds of the National papers recently regarding a stash of WW2 Spitfire fighter planes having been discovered in Burma?
Apparently as many as 20 of the iconic warbirds were buried towards the end of WW2 (1945) to stop them falling into the hands of the Japanese.
The best bit is that these Spits were brand spanking new and dismantled, with all parts reportedly having been
carefully greased and wrapped in oil paper before being crated and the crates sealed with tar to keep out moisture.
In theory, there could be a whole squadron of as-new Spits ready to fly – assuming everything really is in A1
condition – once they have been released from their 40-feet-deep resting place.Brilliant news for Spit lovers.
There have been many similar rumours regarding most types of transport down the years. Enthusiasts have got excited regarding stories of secret hoards of Jeeps, or tanks, or cars of all descriptions.
Steam railway buffs were at one time convinced that the government had a ‘secret' hoard of steam locomotives
holed-up in a tunnel somewhere – the location varied, depending on who was telling the story – for use during a "national emergency!”
No such collection of classic British steam locos has ever been found!
But the Spitfire story got me thinking. What if there was a secret stash of historic motorcycles out there somewhere? What as-new model would you hope to stumble across in your travels?
British bike fans would hope to find a few crates of BSA Gold Stars in the Small Heath vicinity of Birmingham – or perhaps a Velocette or two at Hall Green.
Or how about a cellar full of Bultaco Pursangs being excavated during the building of a new tower block in Barcelona? Dream on...
Much more likely is a container full of 1980s Japanese models sitting unloved in a warehouse on a dockside – somewhere in the world.
I'd settle for a cache of unused YZ/ RM/ CR/ KX two-strokes to leak out into the marketplace. A real find would be
something like a lost shipment of air-cooled, twin-shock Honda Red Rockets.
What price would you put on one of those?
Back in the day (mid 1980s) there were rumours of a shed-load of TY350 monoshock Yams (trials) which were apparently skulking in Canada.
The 350 was the unsuccessful variation of the super successful TY250 – and converting to 250 was a very expensive option.
Whatever, if anyone knows of any secret stashes out there please feel free to tip me the wink.
Your secret will be safe with me.
