Today in motorcycle history, November 25, 1967

 

 

 

 

 

  At the historic San Francisco Civic Center, Evel Knievel successfully jumps two Triumph T120 Bonneville motorcycles with a 15' Triumph Motorcycle promotional banner tied handlebar to handlebar and two Dodge vans.  The jump was estimated at 91 feet.  On the previous day Evel had jumped four motorcycles and the same two Dodge vans for an estimated leap of 100 feet. 

 

  The weekend jump-a-thon would be capped off on Sunday with Knievel adding a VW bus (for the hippies at the show) for the last jump.  An attempt at a record-setting four motorcycles, two Dodge vans AND a VW bus.  After a long morning spent tracking down a VW bus to be used (with the slight risk of it being damaged), someone in his crew forgot to measure the distance. The final estimate for the record-setting Sunday jump was...an astounding...unknown.  The weekend's final known tally - 191 feet, no broken bones and a job-opening for a crew member. 

 

  Coincidentally, on that Sunday as Evel Knievel was jumping four motorcycles, two Dodge vans and a VW bus, San Francisco police arrested 7 hippies in a VW bus for "drug possession" on Haight Street.

Today in motorcycle history, November 22, 1940

 

 

 

 

  BSA is the target of the Luftwaffe once again.  Still reeling from the attacks on November 19, with barely time to catch their collective breath, BSA workers, the city of Birmingham and the country as a whole dig in.  Production of armaments and military transport were at red-alert levels so manufacturer's of all types were enlisted in the war effort.

 

  Designed by the legendary Val Page the BSA M20 started life as a heavy-framed sidecar model with a simple 500cc single cylinder side-valve engine.  With low compression and plenty of low-end torque through a standard BSA gearbox, it may not have been a speed-model but it could pull a pub off it's foundation.

 

  Brought to the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (MVEE) in Chertsey, Surrey, where they were originally shot down for military service, criticized for being heavy and too slow with poor ground clearance.  After debate it was saved by its reliability and ease of maintenance.  As the need for transport quickly gained speed orders were placed for large quantities.  Most M20's were used by the British Army, but soon the Royal Navy and the RAF also commissioned the bikes from BSA. 

 

  Designed as a general-purpose motorcycle for convoy escort and dispatch use, the M20 saw action in almost every theater of war.  Early 1939 models were made from standard civilian parts with the addition of military fittings, such as a large 8-inch Lucas DUl42 headlight fitted with a black out mask, a timing-gear cover with a screw-in plug for access to the magneto drive-pinion nut and special filler caps for the gas and oil tanks. These early models were also fitted with a long spiked kickstand pivoted from a lug brazed on to the rear frame tube that could be used as a weapon if needed.  Factory ledgers show that BSA exported K-M20 models to India, South Africa and Sweden, as well as civilian dealers and distributors.

 

    On a side note - there were eight major air raids оn Birmingham between August 9, 1940-April 23, 1943.  Other than BSA (motorcycles, an array of weapons), SU (carburetor's), GEC (plastics), Rover (engines), Fisher  & Ludlow (shell casings), Austin works (military vehicles) and Reynold's (light alloy tubing) were also targets.  Іn total, 2,241 people were killed, аnd 3,010 seriously injured, 12,391 houses and 302 factories were destroyed.

Today in motorcycle history, November 20, 2001

 

  Honda's road to world domination continues as they announce it has begun production of a new 125cc motorcycle with it's new joint venture company in China, Sundiro Honda Motorcycle Co., Ltd.

 

  A commemorative ceremony to mark the foundation of the company was held as a lineoff ceremony for the jointly developed M-LIVING motorcycle ('WanLiXing' in Chinese).

  M-LIVING is designed to incorporate the major attributes of the GL125 and CG125, both well-known "business motorcycles" in the Chinese market, as well as the renowned characteristics of the Honda brand - engine durability, superb fuel economy and emissions technology that meet forthcoming regulations.  Emissions being such a big issue to the Chinese government (damn it, where's that sarcasm key).

  The new motorcycle, to be sold at an affordable price of 5,500 yuan (in 2001 that was an unheard of $656.00), will be an ideal means of transportation especially in regional cities and agricultural districts where motorcycle sales have increased drastically in recent years.

   Honda President and CEO Hiroyuki Yoshino attended the foundation ceremony and said: "This new company has begun with big dream$ in the world's largest motorcycle market, where the economy is growing at a tremendous rate. I am excited by the energy displayed by this new company. It reminds me of the spirit we at Honda experienced in our early days. I am convinced that blah, blah, blah...will provide customer satisfaction in China."

Today in motorcycle history, November 19, 1940

 

 

 On the night of Tuesday the 19th of November, 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombs the BSA factory in Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.

 

  Just аs іt hаd іn the Fіrst World War, the Birmingham Small Arms Company turned itself оver tо the war effort, becoming а key supplier fоr the British military аnd therefore, аn important strategic target fоr the Luftwaffe. At approximately 9:25pm a low flying aircraft dropped two bombs which destroyed the southern end of the BSA building, trapping hundreds of workers. BSA's own fire brigade pumped the Birmingham and Warwick canal dry trying to put out the fire. Workers involved іn Britain's Civil Defense were brought іn tо help search fоr аnd clear bodies tо get the plant bаck іntо production.   

 Twо BSA night-shift electricians, Alf Stevens аnd Alf Goodwin, helped rescue theіr fellow workers without giving a thought to their own safety.  Alf Stevens wаs awarded the George Medal fоr hіs selfless acts оf bravery іn the rescue аnd Alf Goodwin wаs awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).

 The raid turned оut tо be the mоst devastating attack оn BSA іn the course оf the war.  The net effect оf the November raids (Small Heath was bombed again November 22) wаs tо destroy machine shops іn the four-story 1915 building, the original 1863 gunsmiths' building аnd all nearby buildings.   53 BSA employees were killed, 89 were injured, 30 оf them seriously аnd rifle production wаs halted fоr three months.  Іt would be six weeks before the last оf the bodies were to be recovered frоm the site.

 

  The Government Ministry of Supply and BSA immediately began a process of production dispersal throughout Britain. Factories were set up at Tipton, Dudley, Smethwick, Blackheath, Lye, Kidderminster, Stourport, Tyseley, and Bromsgrove to manufacture Browning machine guns, Stoke, Corsham, and Newcastle-under-Lyme produced the Hispano cannon, Leicester and Studley Road produced the Besa machine gun, Ruislip produced the Oerlikon 20mm cannon, Stafford produced rocket projectiles, Tamworth produced two-pound gun carriages, Mansfield produced the Boys Anti-tank gun and Shirley produced rifles.  These were dispersal factories which were in addition to Small Heath and the other BSA factories opened in just two years following the 1940 blitz. 

 

  At its peak Small Heath was running  an incredible 67 factories engaged in war production including the M20 500cc side-valve.  BSA would eventually produce 126,000 M20's for service in WWII.

 

Today in motorycle history, November 16, 1941

 

 

 

 

  Equipped with his new "Slingshot" manifold Vic Edelbrock and his '32 Ford  set a new record in the flying quarter-mile. 

  In 1938 Vic Edelbrock designed a new intake manifold for his first project car, a 1932 Ford Roadster.  With a "need for speed" and disgusted with the hp output of the roadster's flathead engine, Edelbrock designed his own, nicknamed The Slingshot.  The new manifold allowed two Stromberg 97 carburetors to be used, eliminating a bottleneck that limited horsepower for the engine.  The manifold was tested at the Rosamond dry lakes (occupied today by Edwards Air Force Base), which was a testing ground for various California car clubs and racing associations.  After stripping off the fenders and hubcaps he drove the car in 7.41 seconds at a speed of 121.45 mph, achieving a national speed record in the flying quarter mile.  Originally, he had no intention of producing any additional manifolds, but the overwhelming response following his phenomenal speed in a 1932 Ford prompted Edelbrock to make more.  This was the first product he sold commercially and marked the beginning of the company as it is known today. 

 

  In 1995 Edelbrock acquired Qwiksilver II and began producing carburetors for Harley-Davidson.  The Edelbrock/Qwicksilver II was tested mainly on an FXR and from everyone I have spoken with it's a great performing carb.  A strong throttle return spring seemed to be the only complaint. 

Today in motorcycle history, November 15, 1916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  On November 15, 1916, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA), was founded.

 

 

  In September, 1903, the Federation of American Motorcyclist (FAM) was officially formed over beers in a meeting at a clubhouse in Brooklyn, New York.  During the next 16 years, the FAM developed competition rules and rider classifications, dealt with restrictive ordinances in cities like Chicago and Tacoma, Washington, wrestled with funding and membership concerns and made more rules.  By 1915 FAM listed it's membership as 8,247, but with World War I draining potential and current members, the organization went out of business in 1919.

  Throughout the years of the FAM's existence, there were indications of the increasing health and vitality within the fledgling American motorcycle industry.  One of these was the formation of several trade associations.  Among the earliest was the Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (MMA),  formed in 1908 to represent and regulate the motorcycle manufacturers, accessory makers and distributors.  On November 15, 1916, a similar organization, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA), was founded.

  With the death of the FAM, the M&ATA was left without a counterpart representing riders.  So, although it was totally controlled by the motorcycle industry, the M&ATA Education Committee began registering clubs, supporting motorcycle activities and instituting rules.  By 1920, the M&ATA began supporting the annual Gypsy Tours, attracting even more members as a result.

  They began registering riders in 1919, and by early 1924, it claimed about 10,000 members.  On May 15 at a meeting in Cleveland, the directors proposed to create the "American Motorcycle Association" as a subdivision.  The new AMA would control rider registration and activities, issue sanctions for national events, serve motorcycle industry members and continue the tradition of creating more rules.

  In late October, 1924, there were rumors that 1% of the rider's were already getting tired of all the rules.

                                           

Today in motorcycle history, November 13, 1967

 

  Jenny Gan stars with The Monkees in "The Wild Monkees".  In episode #42 of the second season the lads find themselves face-to-face with a notorious biker "gang". 

 

  The Monkees try to impress four women that turnout to be the "ol' ladies" of Butch and his fellow bikers.  Butch & Co. eventually challenge the boys to a motorcycle race.  Winner gets the girls.  Mickey, Peter, Mike and Davey dress in leathers, bikes appear and hilarity follows.

 

  Mickey is shown riding a 1967 Triumph Bonneville, Butch has a rigid frame panhead with a 4" over wide glide, cool looking old school chopper.

 

  Jenny Gan made such an impression in the role that she he began a "professional association" with Roger Corman.   In 1969 he put her in "Naked Angel", she played a biker chick, clad in leather and lace, it was a stretch but, she pulled it off.  Corman thought enough that he cast her (co-star, actually) in 1971's Women in Cages.