Triumph Grand Prix

Some years ago I started collecting parts for a pre `47 classic racer. I had a Triumph rigid frame and a tuned 5T engine.
At the time I was working in a motorcycle shop who was dealing with British bikes. One day I was talking about my plans to a customer, after a while he asked me if I would prefer to build a Grand Prix instead. .....of course I would rather have a Grand Prix....and a new car and a big house. But he was not pulling my leg; he had a lot of genuine GP parts he wanted to sell. Some days later the parts was mine.
Well it`s a long time ago, and now finally I have started to put the bike together. Just to make things a little more complicated my brother and I are assembling four rigid Triumphs at the moment. The first one we bought in 1978!Factory advert from 1946.Here is Ernie Lyons on the first Triumph GP winning the 1946 Senior Grand Prix in the Isle of Man.
The powerplant: 40bhp @ 7,200rpm, top speed: 120mph

Ca 200 exampels of the GP model where produced

This Triumph model is not a GP, just a model. Can be quite confusing, but a Triumph model can cost You more than a GP model.

I will post some photos of the progress later.

Ok Supreme, Britannia ?

This is a wonderful period shoot from 1935. The bike is an Ok Supreme, and can be an Brittania from 1933/34. I am not sure, there are something that are different from the sales catalogue. Can be an Phantom with foot change?
The bike was sold off before the war, and we don`t know if it still exist.
The Britannia was the top of the line from Ok Supreme. The other models had hand change and deeper mudguards. The Britannia was listed with secial cylinder head, foot change Burman 4 speed close ratio gear box, Webb TT girder fork and could be delivered with BTH racing magneto.

Ok Supreme Delivery 1977

These photos are from 1977 when former master painter Herman Hansen delivered the Ok Supreme to the chairman of the motor club.

Post man

The weekend are saved. Just got this book from 1937 in my mail box.

The Dumb way round

Today i heard on the radio that my friends and motorcycle heros/dumb asses (take your pick) are home for a holiday because the bikes are shipped to America. They are going around the world on pre war Nimbuses with side cars. Check it out here : http://www.kccd.no/home_en.html Two years ago I borrowed the red Nimbus at a vintage rally.

Handy to bring petrol...

Hang on.

This photo was taken for more than 40 years ago at Hovland, a horse race track in Larvik. On the photo it says that it`s a one cylinder BSA. The bike has chromed brake plate, mudguard and stays, so I believe it`s a Gold Star.
It`s a great shot, thanks Reidar.

Classic trail

Some friends of mine started to talk about the possibility to take up trail. I will lend them my Bultaco in the spring, so they know what it is like. I got inspired so I posted some photos from varius classic trial meetings.Bultaco Sherpa, 350 cc, 1975. The thing to win on........35 years ago...My brother posing on my BSA Gold Star racer. For the time prepared for flat track racing.
The Bultaco and my Beta 350cc from 1989. The winner bike of the Norwegian trial championship in 1989.Lars on a Triumph Tiger Cub.

A trial in Sweden..

Collecting points.

Tom on his Bultaco Sherpa from 1965. The first of the classic Bultaco trail bikes.

The Bultaco in a winter race.......rear.

Ok Supreme cylinder head

Finaly I got all the parts for the cylinder head. The valves, valve guides and springs are the same as Brough Superior SS100. I felt rich when I for the first time in my life ordered parts for a Brough!Now the head are redy with new paint, grinded in valves and new guides and fresh springs.

Bitts and pices...

When you restore and build up old motorcycles, looking for spares can often take more time than the actual wrenching. But it's part ofthe fun, you meet nice people. Get to see the world......eh...well, some of it. I have seen my share of sheds, workshops and cellars.

A few weeks ago I had to go to Germany for some work training. But I managed to mix in some pleasure in the work...(No, I was not thinking of bars and girls).

Out in the countryside of Germany, not far from Hameln (where they play flute for rats), there is a company dealing with old bikes.....No, it's not German bikes, English and some American iron rules the premicises.
A round house with a Dunlop sign.......must be the tire storage.Fun to see so mutch English bitts so far from the white cliffs of Dover.What are they discussing? "So you cook the goose for 2 hours an then add the carrots....I see"Peter Long the owner, are a specialist in older bikes, pre war stuff. Have a look at their homepage: http://www.cornucopia-enterprises.de/indey.html

Tryed this nice hog in Bremen. A pig in traffic...

London

Just been in London. Had a look at the "London to Brigton run" display in Regent street.
A De Dion tri cycle in trafic. Something for older kids?A nice 1939 HD Knuckle Head, spotted in Notting Hill. I have seen it before at Goodwood. You have to bring the right tools to adjust a steamer.

This is a pub i can like!