Could this be a one-off motorcycle built to compete at Brooklands in the early days of motorcycle racing?
The pioneering days of the motorcycle were exciting, fast-paced, and lucrative, as manufacturers and established cycle-makers scrambled to produce the next big thing that could rival the competitors on the circuits that were rapidly popping up across the globe. A popular axiom at the time was “win on Sunday, sell on Monday”… basically; start winning races, and you will most likely start selling your bikes, particularly if the win was at one of the prestigious tracks such as the Isle of Man TT, or the oval bank of Brooklands.
There were numerous private outfits that gave it a crack in an attempt to pace the big guns of AJS, Matchless or Zenith, to name but a few. Unfortunately, for many of those enterprises, the journey only went as far as the race track. It was a cut throat world. However, what it does mean, is that there are plenty of unique and exciting old race bikes out there, still hidden in sheds and waiting to be unearthed. It is what makes this sport so interesting. This is could well be one such example; a bike that has recently been wheeled into the light, and which could hold a few hidden secrets.
The wonderful old motorcycle is known as a VIN, well at least this is the name that is cast on the crank case. There is little out there to build the story of this motorcycle, but this is what is known so far…
The engine is a 565cc (90 × 90mm) overhead-valve single (the valve gear looks similar to that used on early JAP engines), with a Binks carburettor spitting in the good stuff. The gearbox is a heavy duty two-speed Jardine type with heel-and-toe foot change. This was well advanced for the time, when most motorcycles featured the hand change system mounted on the tank. The gear is of the counter-shaft type with gear wheels constantly in mesh, the change being effected by means of dog clutches (detail from The Motorcycle, 1913).
The front forks are unusual; they resemble the popular Druid type, but instead of the usual springs down either side of the fork, there is one located inside the steering stem.
The VIN is currently in the hands of Mathias Rauscher who has been on the hunt for more information on this unfamiliar marque. In the research and documents is a letter (dated 1993) between a Dr. Helmut Krakowizer from Salzburg, and the late Ken Hallworth, editor and founder of the Old Bike Mart. In this letter, Hallworth states:
“the bike was found some years ago (perhaps around 20 years ago) by a member of The Vintage Motor Cycle Club”.
That puts the date that it was unearthed at around 1973. A number of years later (approximately 1990) it would seem that the VIN went to the Bills Museum in Rochester, Kent. It next appeared in the catalogue for the auction of the contents of the Bills Museum, in late 1991, when it is believed to have gone to a chap in Merthyr Tydfil who then restored the machine.
The general opinion from Hallworth at the time:
“it was a one-off constructed possibly just after World War I, but using some pre-war parts.”
However, what else has come to light, is that a VIN was entered into competition in the very early years of motorcycle racing, which pushes things back a few years. There are records for a VIN entry into Brooklands, ridden by a P. V. Wallis, and then, in The Motorcycle dated August 17th 1911, there are race results for Track Racing at Cambridge. A VIN, again ridden by Wallis, is entered and returns a string of impressive results:
- Five miles open handicap – third place
- Three miles open handicap – second place
- Five miles open scratch race – second place
Slightly off topic, but of note, “a somewhat unusual accident occurred in the final of the last race. H Potter had his left foot jolted off the footrests and caught in the belt, partly locking the wheel and causing his machine to skid. Both rider and machine dashed into the crowd, and a lad was knocked down and injured. Potter escaped with a few bruises and a sprained finger”.
Ok, enough of the drama and back to the VIN. The competition and race records could point to the fact that this motorcycle was used to race in 1911. That being said, there were often prototypes that were built first of all, to iron out issues before committing to the circuit. What can be said however, is that this motorcycle has a race-bred stance. The dropped bars portray the image of a rider stooped low, chest pushed hard onto the angular, slimline tank, elbows tucked in, trying to make the combined shape of man-and-machine as streamline and fast as possible. The spindly exhaust that pumps fumes away from the rider is simple, but functional, and there are certainly no mod-cons that would add any undue weight to the machine. It could well be the Brooklands racer… it fits the bill, but who knows for certain. It will take a little more to know for sure.
The next step is the Brooklands Museum archives, which will hopefully unearth the next root to the story of this interesting old bike.
If there is anyone out there that can add to the history of this machine, please get in touch. Stay tuned for a hopeful Part 2…
Thanks and credits to Mathias Rauscher for the information and photos on this machine.
an article by The Girder Club
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