My New Best Friend ("barn" finds...)

[rlucas]

So I've been spending a fair amount of time at my parents' house lately (small town in central Illinois, pop. 850 and
dwindling...). The other day, Dad informed me that the old Town Hall building, long unused, is full of old motorcycles.
Turns out that there's this guy who moved into town a while back; he's a British bike freak. Mostly big singles. He's got
another old building at the end of Main Street, a big woodworking shop, where he and his cronies hang out, drink coffee, and
watch the stock market reports on a big-screen TV. Apparently he made his money in construction. Bridge decking,
specifically.

Guy looks like just another old-fart farmer. But the Main Street building contains two BMW Zs (one an M-series), a Porsche
Boxster, some other cars, and some modern bikes - Honda Shadow, Triumph Speed Triple. He wants a new Bonnie to travel on.

Anyway, we managed to talk the guy into a tour.

Unbelievable. Right in my own home town. The Town Hall building contains, among other things:

- Several Bonnies
- Several vintage BSA twins
- 2-3 Matchless, including a nice G80
- Couple of AJS
- 3-4 Greeves, including one with the leading-link fork
- Harley/Aermacchi 350 Sprint SS, very nice shape
- A Rickman-framed Triumph 500 twin
- Ossa Mick Andrews Replica trials bike
- Magnesium-engined Husky 250 CR
- Several Nortons
- 70s-era BSA 500 MX

...and last, but by no means least...SIX (!!!!!!!!) BSA GOLD STARS!!!! I damned near pissed myself. He also said that
he had just sold "a semi-trailer load of old MX bikes...Huskys, CZs, Bultacos, stuff like that."

All are unrestored; some are pretty rough (the Harley is the only one in good cosmetic shape). He's invited me to go riding
sometime. I might have to take him up on that. I'm trying to figure out how to get him to pay me to work on this stuff.

Hey, I need a job...he's got a buttload of money, and old iron that needs some attention.

Win/win, I say.

Sorry, no pics, names, or location. I don't want to jeopardize this guy's collection - not that I don't trust y'all, but you
understand. I just thought it made a good story.


Rossi

[racerman_27410]

damn .... that is quite the collection.

i love history.....especially motorcycle history!

hope it works out for ya Rossi !   


KOokaloo! (yes the old bikes had it)

[rktmanfj]

I'd love to have a Matchless.   

Randy T
Indy

[rlucas]

I'd love to have a Matchless.   

Randy T
Indy

It's probably the most valuable thing in the collection, the G80. The bike's slightly rough, but the tank (on a shelf) is flawless.

I figure this guy's got $250,000 to $300,000 worth of unrestored bikes sitting in there.


Rossi

[gearheadstu]

I need to add to my collection. A Matchess G45 would do nicely, and a Norton Manx.

Good on ya Rossi! Maybe cajole him into coming down for the annual antique Britbike rally we always cross paths with @ Shady Valley during the Boone rally?

[mz_rider]

I need to add to my collection. A Matchess G45 would do nicely, and a Norton Manx.

Good on ya Rossi! Maybe cajole him into coming down for the annual antique Britbike rally we always cross paths with @ Shady Valley during the Boone rally?

Here's a G45 I snapped at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, England last year

Stuart

[Yamifj1200]

Kool deal Rock,
  Its always a treat to see some of the bikes that started it all. Sounds like a guy you need to ride with and a chance to show him your true passion as well. If nothing else it sounds like you met an interesting old fart and got to see some great old bikes. It would be fun to restore some of that classic iron into a running classic.... Hope to see you in Boone bro...


Eric M

[rktmanfj]

I'd love to have a Matchless.   

Randy T
Indy

It's probably the most valuable thing in the collection, the G80. The bike's slightly rough, but the tank (on a shelf) is flawless.

I figure this guy's got $250,000 to $300,000 worth of unrestored bikes sitting in there.


Rossi

A G50 is what I'd like to have.  I thought for a long time that it might be out of my price range to even consider, much like the Vincent I always wanted, but I hear that many of the engine parts are being made again for vintage racing.  Maybe a G50 (mostly) reproduction engine in a hot rod frame wouldn't be too far out of the question.

Randy T
Indy

[rlucas]

He's got his eye out for a Vincent - says he missed his chance at a Black Prince (the fully-enclosed job) a few years ago. Don't care for that one myself...

Stu - I told him about the Britbikes at Shady Valley. His stuff would fit right in...if it was restored

Rossi

[Mike 86 in San Dimas]

My dad's bike was a 500 cc single cylinder Matchless, would that be a G50? I don't think so. I don't remember him referring to the model name. Model was 1951 (maybe 1950). It's the bike I learned to ride on. Dad said "when you could start it you could ride it". Not an easy feat. You had to use the compression release to get the piston in the right position and kick it hard. Get it wrong and it threw you like bucking bronco. We (my twin and I) were ridden it by about 12. By this time it was stripped for dirt riding. When it wasn't running right he'd say "it must be the electrical system!" and would laugh hard every time. The wiring consisted of one wire from the magneto to the spark plug! We got some pictures of when it was new somewhere. I will try to find them to post. He sold that bike along with an AJS and some early Yamaha Enduros for $500 (they were kept in a barn).That was about 1980. Was I stupid to let them get away!! I get a little nostalgic, dad died last year at 95. He was still strong until cancer got him.

Mike

[rktmanfj]

He's got his eye out for a Vincent - says he missed his chance at a Black Prince (the fully-enclosed job) a few years ago. Don't care for that one myself...

Stu - I told him about the Britbikes at Shady Valley. His stuff would fit right in...if it was restored

Rossi

Never saw the Black Prince in person, but the first year I went to Mid-Ohio for Vintage Motorcycle Days, Vincent was the featured marque.

First morning there, I was awakened to the sound of a beautiful Rapide pulling in next to my tent.  It was awesome!  Later in the day, I was in the infield watching dyno runs when the same Rapide was loaded up for a run.  Never heard anything quite like it since.

Randy T
Indy

[Arnie]

For those who like or just want to see some Vincents, I've uploaded a bunch of pics to my gallery.
Here's an example:

[img] http://fjowners.com/gallery/99_12_03_10_9_08_43.jpeg [img]

Cheers,
Arnie

[Arnie]

For those who like or just want to see some Vincents, I've uploaded a bunch of pics to my gallery.
Here's an example:

[img]http://fjowners.com/gallery/99_12_03_10_9_08_43.jpeg[img]

Cheers,
Arnie

See if this one works properly

[Arnie]

For those who like or just want to see some Vincents, I've uploaded a bunch of pics to my gallery.
Here's an example:



Cheers,
Arnie

See if this one works properly  - Third time lucky

[mz_rider]

For those who like or just want to see some Vincents, I've uploaded a bunch of pics to my gallery.
Here's an example:

[img] http://fjowners.com/gallery/99_12_03_10_9_08_43.jpeg [img]

Cheers,
Arnie

For those interested in some Vincent action check out:

[/url] Top Gear Steam Train Race Part 1/4 [url]

UK TV car show "Top Gear" had a 400 mile "race" between 1940's car, train & bike.

Stuart