The Search For The James 197cc

[keithroberts333]

Hi all! I'm new here and i'm hoping you guys can help me. My boss was 82 today and was telling me about his epic journey that he took in 1956 from England to NZ on a James 197cc motorcycle. The journey took about 6 months and started the rest of his life in this wonderful country. He sold the bike to a shop in I think Dunedin after ra short time, but now regrets it as it would be family treasure now.

So I was wondering if there was any chance that someone would help me find it (if it's still around).
I will get more details shortly.........All I know at the moment is that it was quite unique as it was a 4 speed and had reinforced back suspension,

I sincerely hope someone can shed some light on where to start the search.

[Grumph]

Ask Bill Veitch c/o McIver and Veitch, Dunedin.

A bike ridden out from the UK should be memorable. Bill would have been around in the trade at the time.

[jellywrestler]

Ask Bill Veitch c/o McIver and Veitch, Dunedin.

A bike ridden out from the UK should be memorable. Bill would have been around in the trade at the time.

Bills been around so long that when he was young the dead sea was still alive but very sick....

[Cloggy]

According to their website there is a 1955 James 197cc bike in the Wanaka National Toy and Transport museum. Could it be the one?

[Grumph]

According to their website there is a 1955 James 197cc bike in the Wanaka National Toy and Transport museum. Could it be the one?

While it's possible that's the one, If it was a 4 speed as the owner remembers, it may well have had a competition history in NZ.
4 speed lightweights were rare at the time. There's a niggling memory that one of Pauline Nankivel's roadrace 197's had a history something like this.
Bill may know.

[T.W.R]

While it's possible that's the one, If it was a 4 speed as the owner remembers, it may well have had a competition history in NZ.
4 speed lightweights were rare at the time. There's a niggling memory that one of Pauline Nankivel's roadrace 197's had a history something like this.
Bill may know.

Pauline married a fella noels and moved to Stuart Island. Shirley Robinson had the fancy James race bike ;)

[Grumph]

Pauline married a fella noels and moved to Stuart Island. Shirley Robinson had the fancy James race bike ;)

Pat Thackwell in ChCh finished up with the last of her James and restored it. Sold it to Hugh Anderson. I went round to see Pat looking for Villiers bits and he gave me the good race barrel. He thought it should stay in the SI. It's on my villiers spl still.

[T.W.R]

Pat Thackwell in ChCh finished up with the last of her James and restored it. Sold it to Hugh Anderson. I went round to see Pat looking for Villiers bits and he gave me the good race barrel. He thought it should stay in the SI. It's on my villiers spl still.

In the day both Pauline N & Shirley R were close family friends, Pauline was spoilt and didn't have to do much to get what she wanted; whereas Shirley had to graft for what she got.
On the track Shirley would ride circles around Pauline despite having lesser gear & backing, the James was a hand me down from one of her brothers which had done a lap or two of local circuits prior to Shirley getting it, it was a faster bike & more unusual than the bike Pauline had.
If I still had contact with him or even if hes still alive; I know someone who would be able to say exactly about the bike... Evan Norris coz it was either him or Eddie McCaan & Vic Rush that spun the spanners on it.

[Grumph]

In the day both Pauline N & Shirley R were close family friends, Pauline was spoilt and didn't have to do much to get what she wanted; whereas Shirley had to graft for what she got.
On the track Shirley would ride circles around Pauline despite having lesser gear & backing, the James was a hand me down from one of her brothers which had done a lap or two of local circuits prior to Shirley getting it, it was a faster bike & more unusual than the bike Pauline had.
If I still had contact with him or even if hes still alive; I know someone who would be able to say exactly about the bike... Evan Norris coz it was either him or Eddie McCaan & Vic Rush that spun the spanners on it.

Interesting. I've lost touch with Evan too - don't know if he's still alive. He was aware Pat Thackwell was restoring the James as when i took my bike to a Cust revival we talked about where the barrel had come from and he seemed to know all about it.

However, there's no saying if any of those racebikes were the one in question. Bill should be able to give some answers once he's thawed out post Brass Monkey.