may 2011 - microsoftbtckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site3541/dorking news...v7 page 9 of 20 issue...

Owners Club - Dorking Centre.

Honorary President: Ivan Rhodes

DORKING CENTRE NEWS letter

– May 2011

This is the fifth new style Dorking Centre News Letter and the feedback I

am getting from members is supportive and positive. With a lot of help

from your Sub Editor Brain Ling we are getting a steady trickle of articles

which we think will be of interest and help to members...keep them coming

or the News Letter will become slimmer...or maybe that what you want?

My appeal for help in recording the Centres History has been encouraging and my

thanks go to those that have spoken or written to me; in particular my thanks go to Dave

Gladwell, Brain Ling & Gerry Kennel who have been a mine of information and

encouragement.

I was also quite touched that Brenda (Lavington ) Crossrose, has taken the trouble to get

in touch with me an promised to help in recording Arthurs & Brenda’s contribution to

Velocette & in particular the Dorking Centre: Brenda is an honorary member of the

VOC and she is a most delightful person. Others have indicated that they may be able to

add to the story, including Geoff Dodkin, who at this time I understand not in good

health; I am sure we would all wish him well.

At this time I am overloaded with numerous projects (not the least with getting my

Venom up to scratch for the long trip to Dijon shortly) and these research endeavours

are taking a back seat at the moment......but it will see the light of day!

My efforts to trace Geoff Blanthorn in the USA have not achieved

anything......is any one to touch with him & could give me his contact

details ?

Editor

WebMaster

I have been regularly developing the Centre Web site, adding links to other related

sites and hope you are finding our site both interesting and useful source of

V7 of 20 Issue No 005 Website: velocettedorkingcentre.btck.co.uk

information. For example I have recently added some great photographs of the

Centres awards, which were organised by our Social secretary Brian Howard & a

friend of his, a photograph expert Graham Leather.

I have also added some photographs of our annual club dinner & awards.

Don’t for get to check the clubs Events & Runs regularly...new events are added,

and sometimes changed, from time-to-time.

The feedback I get is positive, but I get very few ideas as to how/ what you would

like to see developed and /or added?

The Visit counter reached 3000 on 20 May 2011.

WebMaster

Hand-in-Hand to reopen I have just been advised by the M.D of the new owners, that our regular meeting

venue, the Hand-in-Hand, is now provisionally scheduled to reopen on the 16 June

2011. The new owners are renovating the pub & our old meeting room will become

a restaurant.

The pub will be renamed THE BOX TREE. The Chairman has spoken to the M.D.

of the new owners, who have assured him that they would like to be able to offer us

the use of the new facilities; but price and suitability of the venue has yet to be

established. The company were unwilling to give details of the new layout, except to

say that the old stage would be removed and a raised area build in its place; however

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET AT THE COCK

INN ....see below... Other ,better venues, in a similar area, are being investigated by

the committee.

Following on from comments made at our last AGM your committee are arranging

some Mid week Runs - (if there

is sufficient support ) - See Events & Runs page 1 for details.9 May 2011


Dorking Centre to support the British Motorcycle Racing Club Centenary meeting in July ..want to ride around Brands

Hatch...........contact the Event Manager for an entry form. Peter Mc Glone: see also

Events & Runs & committee contact details....helpers may get free entry tickets!

Alan Nightingale*

Chairman: Velocette Owners Club.

(Dorking Centre)

Space Filler & useful tips:

Confucius DIDN'T SAY:-

1. Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.

2. Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.

3. Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.

4. Squirrel who runs up woman’s' leg will not find nuts.

5. Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.


Our long delayed annual dinner & awards went without any further hitches and was

well attended by 65 members and guests.

The committee were a little worried that the ownership of the venue had recently

changed hands and feedback from a recent user was that the food, previously

excellent and plentiful was not as good. We were grateful that the new owner gave

us a good meal with no complaints being received by the committee.

The only problem occurred with the venues duff microphone system.

Thanks to the generosity of the members & Guests we had a first class raffle and it

seemed that most I us took away a prize!

During the course of the evening the Chairman presented the Centres awards, plus

one extra one this year The Big Bang Award! Produced by Peter McGlone

The Dorking Centre Awards

Details of how these Awards & Trophies are awarded and the criteria used can be

found on the Dorking Centre Web site, together with some really great photographs

of each one, which have been recently added...Take a look:

WebMaster


2010 – Sandra Smith The Helping Hand.

2010 – Avril & Ian Pollard BOX HILL TROPHY (Rose Bowl)


2010 – G. Kennel - BEST NAVIGATOR (B. J. GOODMAN TRIAL

2010 – N. Firth THE DORKING CUP (best bike)


2010 – B. Newton - The Goodman Cup (Known as the Chairman’s cup).

2010 – P. Read THE JACK SOUTH MEMORIAL SHIELD(Runs

award)


Colin Cordery The BIG Bang Award*

This spcially made Trophy, made by Peter McGlone, was made from the remains of

Colins melted piston from his racing Velocette at last years Dijon, France Classic

event.

It was made to mark many years of loyalty, supporting Velocette racers and his

undaunting sprite and good humour, in spite of numerus blow ups, over many years!


– A few Thoughts on Club Runs

The Centre now has a number of orange reflective tabards which we propose to issue

to the Leader and Back-marker when we organise a club run. Doing this we hope

will make it easier for members to identify these riders and hopefully avoid some of

the mistakes of the past.

I would like to take this opportunity to describe the run

drop-off system for those of you who may be unfamiliar

with its use.

The run Leader and Back-marker will be wearing orange

tabards. At the first corner or deviation from the current

road, roundabout etc. the Leader will indicate to the rider

directly behind him to wait on the corner, marking the

change of direction for the following riders^

This marking rider will only continue on his run when the

Back-marker reaches him and waves him on*.

This sounds very simple and so straightforward but there are a few pitfalls.

The marking rider must stop in a safe, visible position and not a few yards into the

new turning or in a position where he can be obscured by large vehicles exiting the

new road.

The marking rider must never move away from his position until the Back-

marker is with him. This is important.

If we have a large number of riders on the run, we will try to have two Back-

markers, one to go forward in order to warn other marking riders of a hold-up

stopping the run.

During the run feel free to overtake other riders if you wish to, that way you can ride

more at your own pace (within reason).


If you decide to leave the run part way through stop, wave other riders on until the

Back-marker is with you and tell him of your intentions before leaving. I have seen

a rider leave the route to go to his home followed by a number of riders believing

they were still on the run!

On some occasions there may not be enough riders to justify the drop-off system.

We will then go as a column with Leader and Back-marker but it is the responsibility

of every rider to check that they can still see the rider following them throughout the

run.

A few extra thoughts:-

We will always give the destination of the run to all riders at the start, so if the worst

happens all is not lost (except you). It is advisable to carry a map if possible!

Please ensure you have adequate fuel as often it is difficult to locate a petrol

station at short notice. Where possible, we will try to make a fuel stop as part of the

run.

On some runs, the leader may stop in a safe place to allow the whole group to

reassemble before setting off again.

If you have a breakdown or other problems, wait for the Back-marker who will

soon be with you and hopefully we will try to sort things out.

Now a personal plea, please do not ride too close to the rider in front, especially

the leader, as this makes it difficult for him to see the progress of the following

riders and also he is trying to read a route sheet. Unfortunately, in the last few years

I have seen two accidents where riders have collided with the Leader damaging both

bikes and bringing a rider off.

Sorry to go on at length about this system which I am sure most of you know and use

so well but when it goes wrong it can spoil a good day out for many of us.

Peter Read Runs Secretary

wait at least 20mins

^ If you’re not sure if you should stop...stop, no harm will come of it...but a

missing marker screws things up! Editor


Space Filler & useful tips ?

& AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

Understanding Engineers To the optimist, the glass is half-full. To the pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

P.S. The Editor is always looking for such really useful space fillers...please send them on

to the Editorial team.

Please note that if a member wishes to buy, or just

look at, any sweaters, vests, shirts etc at a club

night, perhaps you could call her before, so that she

could ensure she has the right item/s with her; as

she does not always bring a full selection with her This is a new item - back pack

Sandra Smith


Vulcanised Velocity (From the Fishtail Archives – Ft 250, with updates)

To the best of my knowledge I've seen no article in F/T concerning the Vulcan 1000

Special; questions were asked in the V.M.C.C. Journal some months ago about it

and its constructor but nobody seemed able or willing to expand on it. I therefore

became interested and thought I'd find out a bit more if only to satisfy my own

curiosity.

A phone call to the V.O.C. Membership secretary produced a number, and a visit to

Bob Higgs lives in the Ashby-de-lq-zouche area was arranged for August 4th. I

picked ideal motorcycling weather for the 260 mile round trip, and was rewarded

with a most instructive and enjoyable day.

Bob is a coal Board engineer

and the possessor of

remarkable skills as a glance

at the Vulcan's ''tricky bits''

will show.

Before leaving home I

roughed out a 20+ question

list which I thought would

both satisfy me and maybe

interest F/T's readers who

may never be fortunate

enough to see the Machine.

I’ll try to do Justice to Bob's

replies, though most of an

F/T could comfortably be

used on half of them.

Photos by Brian Ling & Alan Nightingale.

The project was conceived in 1978 and the following

9 months of evenings and weekends saw Bob

detailing on the drawer board.

The construction work took abort 4 years to

complete. From outset a Velocette spirit was the core


plan, using as many Hall green parts as possible and doing it the way he imagined

they would have built a thousand twin .Heads, Alfin barrels! Rods, fly wheels,

mainshafts, big ends and cams are all MSS components as are the timing gears.

Pistons are solid skirt Omegas to Clubman spec. with 1/16' packing below the

barrel. The oil pump is Velo, but with a 3 start worm gear to speed up output, this

requiring a new helix angle drive. Mains are beefed-up Timkins with a 6 thou. ''nip''

when set up.

Rods ate side by side as Vincent, so the pots are staggered with a slight benefit in

cooling to the rear one. Bob Higgs with his bike - April 2011

The crankpin has a shrunk-on bronze collar to separate the big end works. Standard

flywheels are used, drilled and weighted with sintered tungsten plugs for the current

balance factor of 50% this was originally 40% Imagine the work involved in the

changeover!

The drive side mainshaft is secured to its flywheel by a large tightly fitting screwed-

in Plug.

The 60o vee engine is mounted in the frame 60% wise vee engine is mounted in the

frame Ducati wise with the rear cylinder raised slightly. I should mention that the

wheelbase is long by solo standards with 59''/60'' as the present figure; the rear fork

is braced by a tube welded to the tapered arms just behind the pivot.

Typical of Bob's ''do it right" philosophy is the modification to the trunnion shaft

which is bored each end and fitted with bearings mounted on plates fixed to the

frame so that the fork is twice blessed, being supported on the standard bushes plus

two on the ends; Ideal for the loads engendered by sidecar hauling.

The Vulcan was designed as an outfit and is really unsuitable for solo use.

The frame is Velo from the

seat tube rearwards and

home brewed forward of

this.

A set of Bob's own Earles

pattern forks hold the front

end up and are adjustable for

trail and spring armload.


A 7R backplate and shoes operate

in an aluminum alloy hub of Bob's

design in the front wheel and very

effective it is, doubling as an

''audible means of approach'' at the

same time (it squeaks loudly). Rear

tub looks standard full width Velo.

Tyres front 3.25'' x 19” rear 4.00 x

18'', sidecar on a 16" diam racing

pattern of some sort. Al1 wheels on

alloy rims.

Monoblocs handle the gas works and are mounted on cast alloy manifolds, the rear one

from a Norton Commando fitted to the head in an inverted position. Lights are 12 volt

items with a car alternator driven directly off the nearside mainsheet via a rubber coupling.

A standard screw up Velo chain case contains automatic transmission fluid (try keeping it

inside), and lubricates the bit that caused as much brain pain as the motor - yes the

CLUTCH. Bob says the present item is Mark 5 and in brief it comprises: 6 steel and 6

bronze plates metal to metal in a deepened chain wheel itself fitted with square bronze

inserts.

The clutch plates are all drilled and angularly slotted opposite the tongues disc brake style

to stop them ''dishing'' and it seems to work well as Bob says tired old dished plates ''self

flatten'' when slotted. Thinks - I must try this on my MSS. Spring holder has 20 springs and

the clutch back plate is molded to accept 6 rollers for a smoother peel off. The standard

''frying pan'' or hinged thrust cup visibly bends when in use Bob found, so he made an item

with 100% increase in section in the critical areas. The internal bell crank and plunger rod

system was found wanting when extra leverage was required using a cable, so to the purists

horror an hydraulically operated push rod set up was made and fitted to the nearby outer

shell, and very well it works to the thrust race of course has its quota of 3/16'' rollers.

The clutch works satisfactorily in normal use but may slip slightly ''when the maximum

speed and acceleration figures were taken'' as the Blue 'Un road tests used to say. Nothing

seemed to slip when I was fortunate enough to be given a blast in the chair to a local

watering hole. It was nice to be in a Steib S500 again after 30 years. Piston slap was

audible though, as Bob explained, both cylinders are somewhat worn;


no doubt when you're up to your

oxters1 in design, testing and

CLUTCH problems something

simple like a lip on the bore is

small beer.

A nice little touch is the pump used to raise fuel from the pannier tank on the sidecar

chassis which is operated by depression in the rear cylinder.

Another is the toggle lever projecting about 1 1/4.. From the inside the left bar to operate

the indicators.

A dummy ''tank'' covers the motor and is made of glassfibre while a similar item serves as a

Q. D. seat.

Performance.

About 100 mph is available and it is reckoned the Vulcan can give a Steven's product a run

its or its money; 50 mpg is returned at the legal limit.

Bob's a ''let's improve it where we can'' type” and the scourge of the ''that's not original''

brigade.

A replacement combined Left Hand crankcase and primary chaincase Was discussed as

the ultimate leak stopper; one which incorporates both chaincase and Left hand engine

plate is already in pattern form but not cast.


The crankcase patterns are beautiful specimens of the art and were made by a specialist;

one of the few things Bob's not done himself. Ignition is by an electronic device with

manual advance/retard. A bit like having a dipper on an acetylene lamp. The bike has

tremendous torque and speed but can be ''felt'' when asked to slow march; it prefers to run

at speed and work hard. Imagine it fitted with Thruxton heads and M17/8 cams!! It was

said a pair of Viper heads and barrels would make a more "revvy" and therefore smoother

power plant but ''Sufficient unto to the day is the fullness thereof, Harry”, as Frank Bruno

might Say.

A good day, a smart and nostalgic session of passengering, a pleasant meal al fresco

together with absorbing bike chat; what pleaser more could one desire? Thanks Bob and

John (artist in bent sheet metal) for the day's events.

Brian Ling.

Dorking VO C centre

Editors note: 1 oxter . Scot, Irish, and northern English dialect the armpit [from Old English oxta; related to Old High German Ahsala,

Latin axilla] Translations. armpit a standard English word, not slang, which could and should be used widely. Be sure to wash under your

oxters boys. Shite, your kit smells like a squally oxter.


Chairman Alan Nightingale 01732 822 761

Secretary Gerry Kennell 01737 842 874

Treasurer Bob Newton 01293516026

Newsletter: Sub Editor Brian Ling 0208 857 1030

Technical Adviser Brian Ling 0208 857 1030

Social Sec Brian Howard 01372 452 174

Regalia Officer Sandra Smith 01273 845286

Runs Sec (U.K.) Peter Read 01483 811700

Member (Special Events) Peter McGlone 01306 730505

Member Bill Kennell 01483 419620

Member (Honorary) Dave Gladwell 01932 562992

News Letter: Editor,

Printing & Distribution Alan Nightingale 01732 822 761

(Email: [email protected])

Velocettedorkingcentre.btck.co.uk


Provisional event or detail in red

Dorking-Runs &Events - 2011

Month Date Event Meeting Point

Event Leader

June

1

12

24 – 28

25

Club Night

Club BBQ, Hassocks, West Sussex

Oswestry, Shropshire

Thames Valley – show your Velo day

Run out from

Hassocks 10am. :

BBQ from 12.00

Jack's Cafe (A5)

10.45 -11.15 am

Rykas

10.45 -11am

Make your own

way

Brian Howard

Alan Nightingale

Peter Read

July

3

6

9 -10

20 (Wednesday)

30 -31

Stanford Hall

Club Night

1000 Bikes, Mallory Park

Mid week run Jack’s Cafe, Bagshot

British Motorcycle Racing Club Centenary Meeting & Classic Parades

Jack's Cafe (A5)

10.00-10.30 am

Rykas

10.45 – 11am

Club stand in the Paddock

None

Peter McGlone

Peter Read

Peter McGlone

August

3

6 – 7

21

Club Night

West Kent International

Popham Show

Westerham 9.45-10.00 am

Rykas 8.45 -9am

Brian Ling

Brian Howard


The Club will Meet at (Until further notice):-

The Cock Inn Headley

Sue, Joe and Isabella welcome you to The Cock at Headley Church Lane, Headley, Surrey, KT18 6LE

Telephone: 01372 377258

Hope to see your there,

Regards,

Alan Nightingale

Chairman


ANNUAL SUMMER BARBEQUE SUNDAY 12th JUNE 2011

@ IAN AND AVRIL POLLARDS HOME:

Selah, Clayton Hill, Clayton, West Sussex. BN6 9PQ

TEL 01273 842433

Bike Run 10:00am

BBQ from 12:00pm

Come and relax in the beautiful Sussex Downs

Win a prize in our raffle (proceeds to charity)

See contemporary Velocette technology (Jack and Jill Windmills)

Take a walk on the downs and/or join the short bike run out.

Come and join your fellow club members in a relaxing get together, guaranteed good company, good food, beer, and wine.

Eat drink and be merry.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. Tickets from Brian Howard; with a stamped & addressed envelope: Cheque made

Payable to Velocette Owners Club (Dorking).

Highwaymans Cottage, Fetcham Common Lane,

Fetcham, Surrey, KT22 (SG

If last minute phone me (07836 222046) to confirm numbers

PLEASE NOTE THIS IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:- ALL PERSONS ATTEND THIS EVENT AT THEIR OWN RISK, NO RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TAKEN BY THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR ANY INJURY, DAMAGE OR LOSS THAT MAY BE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF ATTENDING THIS BARBEQUE.

Tickets £6:50 excluding drinks (Kids £3.00)

Donations for the raffle would be much appreciated

may 2011 - microsoftbtckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site3541/dorking news...v7 page 9 of 20 issue...

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