I'll name that bike in one...
By TMX Archives on 15th Jan 09
IT was looking at that picture of Sammy Miller (MBE) with his beautifully restored REG last week that started all this off...
QUITE a few readers have contacted us to say how fitting it was that Sammy Miller has been awarded the MBE, as reported in last week's T+MX. When you think of the things that Sam has accomplished in his lifetime and then set them alongside the scant achievement of sportspersons still in their teens and twenties who had gongs thrown at them wholesale this year, virtually willie-nillie, then Sam's recognition is long overdue.
There was also a lot of interest in the racing machine that Sam was pictured with last week. "What is an REG?” was the general question. Well it was a road-racing special built in the early 1950s by a BRITISH privateer called Bob Geeson – REG is simply his initials. We were as impressed as anyone to learn that a single individual could be responsible for building the engine which was actually WAY ahead of its time. The twin-cylinder four-stroke, built from scratch and featuring magnesium crankcases, plus double-overhead camshafts driven by a gear train, would actually stand scrutiny if a factory produced it today. If you look at early Honda engines (some ten years after the REG appeared) you will find more than a passing resemblance...
Again, this was produced just after the second world war had ended, over 60-years ago. It would have been much harder to produce then than would a similar project nowadays. Given the right computer software and a CNC milling machine, and taking into account vast improvements in metal quality/ specification, building such a project as the REG would be a piece of cake today.
The only recent venture I can think of that bears comparison is the Italian-built Vertemati motocross models – which actually featured a similar camshaft drive train to the REG) which sadly appears now to be defunct.
Back in the day of the REG though, building your own comp bike was the rule rather than the exception, although few went as far as to build their own engine! Most MXers, or scramblers, back then opted for a mix and match shed project with a frame from one manufacturer, engine from another, gearbox from somewhere else, front forks, wheels, etc, etc..
BSA frames were popular, likewiseTriumph and AMC engines while Norton forks definitely ruled the roost. These components were the pick of the bunch, likely lads who couldn't afford to choose made do with what was left over or what they could beg, borrow or otherwise acquire. If you wanted to ride in a vaguely competitive way this was what you had to do.
Many riders then gave their creations names. The obvious were Tribsa (Triumph engine – BSA frame), Mabsa (work it out!) of which there are of course many such examples around today, some still belting around the fields in Classic events. Other rider-builders went further on the naming front. Andy Lee called his machine a Fenman, referring to himself being a Fenman! Similarly a Cumbrian, Malcolm Tyson, called his bike a Fellman. And Jim Aim's ‘Orcadian' reflected on his Scottish island origins. And a northern centre rider called Alan Smith named his pride and joy MOOBAP which is ‘Made Out Of Bits And Pieces'...there was also the infamous Zeke Myers' Flying Saucer and Frank Bentham's infamous Stovepipe – so named because – and I have it on good authority – that the main frame tube was actually made out of a length of stovepipe...The stuff of legend.
All of which, in a pretty convoluted way, brings me round to what was the original inspiration for this page 5 piece which was bikes with names rather than boring model numbers. Back in the day there were comp bikes with stirring names like Greeves Challenger, Greeves Griffon, Dot Demon, Cotton Cougar, BSA Gold Star and Victor, Ariel Red Hunter, Velocette Venom...
Don't think that the continentals used to go in for this sort of thing but the Japanese, Honda of all people, came up with a couple of crackers back in their twin-shock days, with their Elsinore and Red Rocket models. Sadly, in my humble opinion, that was the end of naming MXers and it descended to the mundane Honda CR250, Suzuki RM125(B) and Kawasaki KX500 B7 or whatever. Zzzzzz!
The press – i.e. us – has attempted to jazz things up a little on manufacturers' behalf, christening Suzukis Yellow Perils and of course every Kawasaki ever built is a Green Meanie. All pretty uninspiring really I know... especially when Kawasaki came up with one of the best names ever for their top plastic rocket – the Ninja!
See, they CAN do names when they can be bothered. They could be marketing the Kawasaki Karate, or the Honda Hurricane, or the Suzuki – have a go yourself.
Does it matter? Probably not. Although it obviously mattered when they marketed Elsinores and Red Rockets – and all the manufacturers play the name game when it comes to their road bikes. Honda Fireblade, Suzuki Intruder, Yamaha V-Max etc, etc.
Anyone out there got any favourite named bikes – like the Shuttleworth Snap....
