A real bit of nostalgia

[Blackbird]

I was looking for something tonight and came across this old photo which I took in 1967 at a round of the British National Scrambles Championships (no such thing as MX then, you young 'uns :yes: )

The photo is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the lack of safety gear is staggering.... no armour at all and a rugby type jersey isn't going to do much good in a collision with another bike or the ground. The second noteworthy thing is that the rider is Don Rickman on one of his early Rickman Matisse-framed Triumphs which spawned a whole raft of off-road and track bikes, also engouraging a heap of other world-class British frame-builders; some of whom are still in business today. Note the straight-through pipes - gorgeous noise.

Aye, the riders had to be bloody tough then!

[98tls]

Awsome pic.....years ago when i was a young fella one of dads mates had a CCM motocross bike...cant remember the year though....would it have been roughly the same vintage...pretty rare i think over here.

[Motu]

That's a pretty early Rickman alright - no airbox and rear tailpiece,and the classic Rickman front guard is also missing.Those early bikes really were mongrels....their first bikes were TriBSA's,putting Triumph motors into swingarm BSA Goldstar frames.That's a pre unit Tiger 100 in that one.

I was really kicking myself on the first Rickman I missed out on.I saw the bike in the newspaper midweek,and when I rang found the bike was only about 1/2mile from home.I asked my mate if he wanted to come and have a look with me,but he said seeing as it's so close let's have some scoff first.We got there and saw the preunit T100 Rickman being wheeled out into a trailer.10 minutes earlier and it would of been mine.

Mine was a 1964,frame No 647 I think,and used the unit T100C - I think it was a better bike,smaller and lighter.It was a mongrel too - Velocette rear wheel,and I converted it to a conical Triumph...BSA bottom yoke for the Ceriani's,and some strange front wheel...ME I think,who made aftermarket stuff.I got a high guard on it in my avatar,low guards are crap in mud,real bad in clay.I cut the high Rickman pipes up and made the TT pipes,as the high pipes burned my legs.

My Cheney was more the real deal,the same unit T100C motor - but more substantial alloy yokes for the Ceriani's,the hubs were magnesium Rickman hubs,with lightweight high tensile rims....these were lighter than the thick Akronts.The front rim was a 20in - in 1968...it was Ivan Millers old bike.

I used to love watching the Rickmans race - there was one guy who won everything and spent the whole race either in the air,on the rear wheel or in a big slide.I was just so impressed I just had to have one of my own.

[98tls]

Motu...dont want to Basterdize this guys thread but were CCMs around in that era....?

[kro]

Awesome pic, back when men were men, and bikes jarred the very bones from your body, and ground cartilidge into a jelly-like paste.

[Motu]

Not really,CCM were making B50 powered MX bikes,and when BSA went under bought all their stock,or at least a whole heap.They put the motors in their own frame - trademarks being footpegs welded to the engine cases and removed barrel fins in a distinctive pattern.Barrel fins were often remove when running on alky as they run too cold,less fins gets a bit more heat into them.CCM were more a '70's bike,and I never saw one in the day,only a copy.Now you see them at classic meetings,imported I bet.They are still going with modern bikes and several owners later.....but CCM to me means a radical B50 with footpegs on the engine.

Eric Cheney is still making bikes,custom built to order as always...his son now though.And you can now get a Rickman Metisse MkIII kitset,just like the good old days - my Lotto bike.

[digsaw]

Arr the Rickmans, great bikes,here is one of me at Rotorua about 1967

[vroom]

Motu...dont want to Basterdize this guys thread but were CCMs around in that era....?

Allan Clews, CCM was around then making BSA specials. They were the ducks nuts back then.

[98tls]

Not really,CCM were making B50 powered MX bikes,and when BSA went under bought all their stock,or at least a whole heap.They put the motors in their own frame - trademarks being footpegs welded to the engine cases and removed barrel fins in a distinctive pattern.Barrel fins were often remove when running on alky as they run too cold,less fins gets a bit more heat into them.CCM were more a '70's bike,and I never saw one in the day,only a copy.Now you see them at classic meetings,imported I bet.They are still going with modern bikes and several owners later.....but CCM to me means a radical B50 with footpegs on the engine.

Eric Cheney is still making bikes,custom built to order as always...his son now though.And you can now get a Rickman Metisse MkIII kitset,just like the good old days - my Lotto bike. cheers for that...have never forgotten the one i saw as a kid...high pipe and sounded awsome...from what i know they had a bit of success way back..mind you i dont know that much about them but physically an awsome bike to look at.this one had a chrome plated frame...

[Motu]

Arr the Rickmans, great bikes,here is one of me at Rotorua about 1967

Wow,a Bultaco (Matador?) powered Rickman,(that front wheel looks small?)never saw one of those.....that I remember,so probably saw heaps.I once had a Zundapp 125 powered Rickman offered to me,I rode it and just could come to grips with it - I don't seem to be able to grasp 125 MX 2 strokes,I could never ride any of them.Repowered with an XR200 it would be ideal,but there were no XR200's back then.Rickman's were just so confidance inspiring - I never for once doubted I couldn't do the things I did on mine,even if they were impossible.I always wanted to be sideways,and that's what they did best - full lock feet up powerslides.

[98tls]

Bugger it...totally off topic but can anyone tell me what sort of bike Sammy miller rode ie trials bike

[Motu]

GOV132 - Ariel 500 HT5 single - the most famous trials bike of all time.Sammy developed GOV132 to an ultimate level....but Don Smith was doing very well on a Villiers powered DOT.Sammy must of seen the writting on the wall and went to Bultaco and developed the Sherpa T,and then the 2 stroke take over happened.Don Smith then went to Montesa and developed the Cota,Mick Andrews made the third Spanish trials bike for Ossa,but he was well after Sammy and Don Smith.The 3 of them then went to the Japanese - Sammy developed the TL250,Don Smith the KT250,and Mick Andrews the TY250.None were anywhere as good as the Spanish bikes.

[98tls]

GOV132 - Ariel 500 HT5 single - the most famous trials bike of all time.Sammy developed GOV132 to an ultimate level....but Don Smith was doing very well on a Villiers powered DOT.Sammy must of seen the writting on the wall and went to Bultaco and developed the Sherpa T,and then the 2 stroke take over happened.Don Smith then went to Montesa and developed the Cota,Mick Andrews made the third Spanish trials bike for Ossa,but he was well after Sammy and Don Smith.The 3 of them then went to the Japanese - Sammy developed the TL250,Don Smith the KT250,and Mick Andrews the TY250.None were anywhere as good as the Spanish bikes. MOTU....your a legend...dad had a TL250 and used to talk about sammy miller as though he was god....he kept that bike for years and in fact it ended up being a TL310...

[Edbear]

Aye, the riders had to be bloody tough then!


G'arn! We're jes as tuff t'day! (Now if I can only find that damn pea hiding under me mattress...!):yes:

[Blackbird]

Those early bikes really were mongrels....

Never a truer word:Punk: I think the word Matisse (or Metisse) is Spanish for mongrel.:yes:

[Motu]

French I thought - but they both make good wine....

[Blackbird]

French I thought - but they both make good wine....

Arrogant lot those French, should learn to speak English:laugh: :laugh:

[avgas]

Are Dunstall pipes still with us?

[Blackbird]

Are Dunstall pipes still with us?

You might be showing your age there:yes: . I don't care as I'm past redemption.

Got some nice photos of a fully customised Dunstall Commando somewhere.

Just to finish the Rickman saga, here are 2 gorgeous restorations. They both look stunning and I'd happily own both of them!

[SpankMe]

The photo is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the lack of safety gear is staggering.... no armour at all and a rugby type jersey isn't going to do much good in a collision with another bike or the ground.

I'm sure if you turned up in full armour gear in those days you would have been called a big girls blouse and laughed off the track.