The Way it Used to Be – or Woz!
Following the second world war, 1939-45, motorcycle racing recommenced in S.A. with most riders competing on their road machines. After riding to the track, the lights, number plates and etc., were removed, events were ridden then the lights and plates went back on and home they went.
In speedway racing a lot of riders started riding older machines. For example, Jack Young, who went on to become world champion, used to ride a Peashooter Harley as did his brother Joe while another brother, Frank, rode a Norton. Several other riders, most of whom lived in the Flinders Park-Findon area, including Bob (Bakey) Leverenz, rode a variety of machines that were adapted to speedway style. After a few years several JAP pure speedway machines came on the scene so a road class was incorporated in speedway racing. This class continued for a few years until eventually there were enough pure speedway machines to run meetings. So, out went the road class. Some of these riders gained sponsorship but, other than those lucky few, if you couldn”t afford a tracker that was the end of your speedway career.
Riders then began riding road machines in scrambles or motocross as it is now known. Riders competed on BSA, Matchless, AJS, Tribsa”s, after a few years along came the Greeves, Dot, CZs and other special motocross machines so if you couldn”t afford one you were no longer competitive. Probably a lot of riders retired before they wanted to.
Observed trials riders competed on converted Villiers, BSA Bantams and any other small machines they could adapt. There was the occasional four stroke competing. Probably the most notable was our club”s Fred Greneklee on his 350cc AJS. Most of these riders were able to enjoy their trials at a reasonable cost.
Eventually along came the Bultaco, Montessa and other well sprung motorcycles which eventually made the Villiers specials pretty well obsolete. A lot of riders still competed but with no Bultaco or Montessa no good results were obtained. So unless you could afford good machines you were out of this branch of the sport.
To their credit the observed trials clubs decided to run a greybeards section and a few older members dragged out the old Villiers Specials just to have a ride. Eventually the sections became so tough that no riders on these old machines were able to complete the course. So although there is still a greybeards class, unless your machine is fairly up to date you”re only in the trial for a ride, which is probably what most motorcyclists care about anyway.
In the period 1945-1955 most people in road racing competed on road registrable motorcycles that were in various stages of tune. There were a handful of Manx Nortons, Gold Stars, 7R Ajays, competition AJS/Matchlesses, Triumphs and etc., and the hand built Velos. The most famous of these being the ELDEE Special built by the late Les Diener.
Road racing fell into a bit of a slump for a while but it was only temporary and this seems to be one section of our sport which has not been affected by the almighty dollar, mainly because of the introduction of Classic and Post-Classic classes etc. Not that I think that competing in these sections wouldn”t cost and arm and a leg anyway.
So, by reading this article you should be able to realise that each section of the sport of motorcycling has been taken over by people who have been perhaps able to afford or have been good enough riders to gain sponsorship to have superior motorcycles to ride, the lucky B ….. s!
Tom Davies, Life Member of the Atujara Motorcycle Club