RealClassic

For RealClassic readers who enjoy motorcycle traveller’s tales, Paul Grace recommends this memoir of a remarkable ride through Africa… At the age of 21, Jonny Bealby had never read a book. Truth to tell, he was rather proud of the fact. ‘ Reading’s boring,’ he confidently told his new girlfriend, Melanie, who seemed to devour books by the dozen. Life…

Back in the 1960s, the big beasts of British motorcycling still ruled the scrambles roost. This DVD captures some of the flavour of that era… Thanks to the wonder that is YouTube, Editor Westworth went suspiciously silent when he should have been working a couple of weeks ago. Then he started yelping and squeaking, and it turned out that he’d…

Reg Everett was a 1960s road racer who found himself up against the likes of Mike Hailwood and Derek Minter on works machines, when he was riding a home-built Greeves-powered special. Colin Sparrow recommends Everett’s autobiography… 1960s road racer Reg Everett has teamed up with respected motorcycle writer Mick Walker to bring us his racing autobiography; ‘From Rocker to Racer’.…

Some times we’re asked if we ever review anything we don’t actually like. Well, Dave Blendell really didn’t like this book… Despite my total antipathy towards Mr Boorman I picked up a copy of his ‘Race to Dakar’ book in a local charity shop. Although I was a lot less than impressed with his televisual style I enjoyed ‘Long Way…

Some time ago, we mentioned Quasar machines and managed to spell the name wrong. Here’s more on the subkject (spelling not necessarily correct)… Photos courtesy of Paul Blezard The feet-forward Quasar two-wheeler was designed during the 1970s by Ken Leaman and Malcolm Newell. Several were produced from 1976 onwards – there may be 20 in total in existence – and…

So when did the Post Office start using BSA Bantams to deliver telegrams? Paul Wood continues his tale of working motorcycles, from the 1930s through to the heyday of the BSA Bantam… Before the 1930s, the Post Office had concentrated on sidecars for the bulk of their delivery rounds but the solo motorcycle was to make a return. When one…