51 years ago.....

[unclerob]

It was 51 years ago in the summer of 1971, I was 17, had passed my test a few weeks before and the big topic at the time was the Weeley pop festival ....but how to get there? My solution was to buy an outfit....an early swingarm A10 fitted with Douglas leading link forks, sweptback pipes with open megaphones, a fibreglass racing seat and a Steib sidecar frame with a very homebuilt riveted aluminium body! I think I got it a couple of days or so before the festival but I did most of my learning on the way there....carrying 3 passengers!
Not sure why but the other day I googled the Weeley festival (one of the largest ever in the UK I believe with around 150,000 people) and there was a pic of that very bike!!
It made the trip there and back but I wasn't overly keen on sidecars and eventually removed the Steib frame and replaced the forks with std ones....and used the bike for commuting to work for 3 or 4 years
Its reg number was LJN 354.....

 

[Greybeard]

Lucky!

Is that a swept up seat on the sidecar?

[unclerob]

Yes, it had a high backed car seat in it....we took it out so two people could get in sitting on the floor.....reminiscent of a 2 man bobsleigh!
I didn't appreciate it at the time but looking back it had actually been built quite well....the leading link forks for instance....and (I think) the wheels were 16"
Its worst fault was the sidecar chassis and bike frame weren't that solidly connected and the bike would slowly tip inwards fairly dramatically.....but we sorted that by two us pulling the bike back upright and two holding the sidecar....

[Greybeard]

... we sorted that by two us pulling the bike back upright and two holding the sidecar....

Oh, that's OK then 👍

[Topdad]

Oh the joys of a poorly set up outfit, I once puta a square 4 onto a small  sidecar chassis,just a board ,when you opened the thing up the sidecar wheel used to hop and left handers were a hoot to ,I'd done a few miles on outfits so managed but only for a short while sold it and back to A10's but solo's ,(anyone wants a watsonian sidecar chassis cheap please let me know )

[a10 gf]

Great story! Thanks.

[muskrat]

G'day Rob.
That's fantastic. Bet you had a double take when you saw the picture.
Cheers

[unclerob]

I was astonished to see it.....I probably had some pics of it once but long gone now!
But theres a follow up to this story....I must have kept the sidecar on for quite a while as I can remember riding it to school in the snow so it was probably the next summer that I did away with the chair and changed back to teles....fitted a pre unit Triumph front wheel and a comfier seat and used it to commute for my first job
That was as an apprentice at a Renault garage in Chichester owned by a retired Colonel by the name of Cooper
After a few months there I pretty much knew it all and when I saw him and another old chap looking at my bike one lunchtime I treated them to a short lecture on the wonders of BSA engineering which they both listened politely to.....I learnt some time later the 'old chap' was Eddie Dow!
 

[RDfella]

I treated them to a short lecture on the wonders of BSA engineering which they both listened politely to.....I learnt some time later the 'old chap' was Eddie Dow!

These unidentified persons meetings can be embarrassing. Recall in mid 60's I was at a tyre company collecting a tyre when an oldish chap in a dirty raincoat came up to me and asked what I thought of the remoulds on sale. I suggested every tyre should come with a spare wing for the vehicle to replace the one damaged when the remould came away from the carcass (not unknown). He wandered off without saying anything and when I got to the desk to book out, the guy said 'did you know who you were talking to?' 'No idea', said I - 'but he's just learnt something about those rubbish tyres'. To which the storeman replied - 'he's Commander Kent' (the chap who built / owned the retreading business that had several outlets across the UK and Europe). Actually, I wasn't embarrassed because what I said was true and, had he introduced himself first, I'd have said the same thing.
I'm not an arrogant or conceited person, but never been one to feel intimidated by anyone. Like when a small group of us were invited to dinner with the Queen. The secretary phoned me to say he hadn't received my attendance confirmation - to which I replied 'that's because I'm not going'. I'm used to meetings where the self-annointed ingratiate themselves with important people and I'd no intention of sitting a couple of tables away whilst the social-climbers gathered around her like flies on a dung heap. And I'd have had to buy a dinner jacket! (at the time my wardrobe was tuxedo and trousers). Always used to worry at a dinner I might ruin that by spilling wine or port on it. Not been to a 'black tie' for years now - which reminds me - my son borrowed my tux and probably still has it. Must look.