John Player Norton: The Emperor’s new clothes
Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook Norton was a shadow of its former self, but the company that produced its first motorcycle in 1902, at least its latest owners, still saw currency in one of the […]
Norton
Norton Nomad: A mix’n’match scrambler
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 88 – first published in 2020. Story: Peter Laverty Take a Model 77 frame, with its single front downbar and bolted up cradle, add the sleek fuel tank […]
AMC Parallel Twins: From go to whoa.
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 66 – first published in 2016. Story and photos: Gaven Dall’Osto A late-comer to parallel twins, AJS/Matchless nevertheless produced a design that lasted many years, albeit with more than […]
1955 Norton Model 88 Dominator: A civilised twin
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 71 – first published in 2016. Story and photos: Jim Scaysbrook For those of us who can remember back that far, the official coming-of-age celebration represented by the 21st […]
1963 Norton Electra: The push-button Norton
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 68 – first published in 2017. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Sue Scaysbrook, Bob Toombs. A short-lived Norton model and a dedicated Norton man make for an interesting afternoon in […]
Tracks in Time: Little River
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • With assistance from: Jenny Martinez • Photographs: Ray Kelly, Wes Brown, Noel Cheney, Ross Martin and other private collections. Like its more famous counterpart in the Irish Sea, the Australian TT was […]
Jack Findlay: Don’t call me Cyril
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Karel Zegers, OBA archives Mike Hailwood once told me that around the original 14 kilometre Spa Francorchamps circuit, there was no one better than Cyril John ‘Jack’ Findlay. That’s high praise […]
Tony McAlpine: The wild colonial boy
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Byron Gunther, Trevor Evans, Keith Bryen Wallace Anthony, or just plain ‘Tony’ McAlpine, died on the Queensland Gold Coast on September 26th 2005, aged 84. With his passing went perhaps […]
Ron Robinson: Never a dull moment
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Keith Ward, Charles Rice, Ron Robinson, FoTTofinders. At the end of 1962, Ron Robinson was at the crossroads. He’d been racing in Australia since 1955, and had honed his skills to […]
Brough Superior 11-50: Honourably discharged
Words and photos: Jim Scaysbrook • Original Photos: John Rettig Between them, the three 11-50 Brough Superiors featured here clocked up many thousands of miles in their duties with the Victorian Police Force. Up to 100 […]
