Matchless G50 CSR

Nicknamed the Golden Eagle, the Matchless G50 CSR is ridiculously rare – an homologation special of an exclusive, limited edition works / clubman’s racer. Not the sort of thing you see on the streets every day, but we know where you can find one. Or two! The National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull display this 1962 G50 CSR among the collection’s…

Thunderfest Fun

A remarkable range of classic bikes and cutting-edge competitors rocked up to Darley Moor circuit for the seventh Thunderfest on the Mayday Bank Holiday. As you might expect for a British bank hol, the rain tipped down all over the country – except at the demanding Midlands circuit which was blessed with sunshine and high spirits. This encouraged the participants…

Gripping Road Racing

  If you want to get close to the action, Oliver’s Mount race track offers a unique opportunity to be blown away (almost literally) by the superbikes and classic competitors. Ian Woolley held onto his hat… As winter begrudgingly melted into spring a young man’s fancy turned to, well … and after that, to bike racing. Such thoughts brought the…

Classic Racing

You can tell when spring has arrived because the daffodils are in bloom, there’s blossom on the trees and the VMCC’s British Historic Racing section have their practice day at Mallory Park. With this in mind, Richard Jones loaded Tessie the Hinckley Triumph with camera, cigarettes and Mrs Jones’ excellent cheese and onion sandwiches for a trip up to the…

Classic Racing

Grand-masters galore are unleashed at this year’s International Festival Of Speed in Australia. There’s a distinctly Italian ambiance to the event, what with all those dazzling orange Laverdas and a certain Mr Agostini aboard the MV Agusta… A round of applause! The Aussies are a polite lot and the classic motorcycling fraternity appreciate a good party, so when the MV…

The Motorcycle Files: insider info

As you might imagine, after decades in the business of thrashing fast bikes around race tracks, journalist Alan Cathcart has built up a simply staggering archive of information about iconic, often unique racers and roadbikes. Taking advantage of modern technology, he’s sharing his roadtests, data and insider info in a series of ebooks, The Motorcycle Files. Since it was launched…