Hayes Country Fair at The Warren
Surrey Norton Owners Club line up
Ken Rawlinson and his beautiful Atlas
We had so much fun we think we’ll be back at the Warren in 2023!
Phil and Robert Tuck with Phil’s very late Atlas
Phil Hannam and Kevin Dudding and the SNOC section line up of bikes
The Surrey Branch Stand made its first appearance at the Hayes Country Fair on the 12th June 2022 and was well received and very popular.
Here are some photos to tell the story.
See full write up below!
Surrey Section at the Hayes Village Fair on Sunday 12.06.2022
The Surrey section represented the NOC and we had a display of bikes at the Hayes Village Fair which was held at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club The Warren in Coney Hall in Bromley. This event is held every year, and I had approached The Warren to see if we could have a stand at one of the events that are held annually in the grounds of their club on their football and cricket fields. As I am a member of the Warren, I was sent a contact list of events to see if we could and would be able to be part of one of these events.
I contacted Pam Anderson, who was organising the HVF and she was very delighted for us to attend and display our Nortons. She also explained to me that the Jaguar car owners club would also be attending on the Sunday of the HVF. We had eight bikes on display, and our display attracted so many of those who went to the fair. There were so many of the visitors to our display that told us that their fathers, brother, or that they had them selves owned a Norton. Many repeated which we have all heard so many times before, that they should never have sold it. As they say, hindsight is 20/20 vision.
The Surrey section members that came along and displayed their bikes were
Phil Hannam 1962 Manxman 650
Howard Robinson 1974 M2A Commando Interstate
Phil Tuck 1967 Norton Atlas
Robert Tuck father of Phil 1960 600cc 99 Dominator Deluxe in Red
Kevin Dudding 1973 Commando 850 red Roadster
Ken Rawlinson 1965 Norton Atlas
Henry Dulat 1961 600cc 99 Dominator
Anthony Curzon 1968 P11A Ranger 750
I have decided to try to tell the story behind the bikes on display from our members.
Kevin Dudding’s 1973 850 Commando Roadster, was re-imported from the USA. It still has all the very original paintwork, as well as the original gearbox oil seals. It was imported by a previous owner, and it has new pistons in the front brake calliper. There is the later Commando MK3 front engine mounting, so Kevin does not have to worry about shims, any more. The rear he would like to have done, but that is an engine out task, so may be left for a later time. He took the cylinder head off and had that all redone, because of an on going oil leak. The bike looked amazing and sparkled in red in that hot Sunday sunshine.
Howard Robinson’s bought his 1974 M2A Commando Interstate from the Brough Superior dealer, and seller of classic bikes Anthony Godin in Kent. The bike was originally exported to Spain, so it may have gone to Challenge Motors to be sold to its first owners. It has been restored by Howard, with all new control cables, as well as the fitting of a Tri-Spark electronic ignition with a single twin coil to power the ignition. The Commando still utilises the Smiths Kilo Speedo that was issued with the bike when it was exported to Spain. Howard has added a pair of the later Amal Premier concentric carburettors, and added a halogen headlamp. It was originally painted red, but it is now painted in black. A stunning looking bike.
Phil Tuck’s 1967 Norton Atlas is a very late model of the Atlas, and Phil bought it 30 years ago. It was effectively a non runner or hardly running when he bought it, via Ace Classic in Hither Green. It had many of Paul Dunstall parts fitted to it, as well so many of the bikes parts chrome plated. This included the oil tank, and battery box, and the previous owner had added Paul Dunstall rear sets to the bike. The parts added were all proper and correct Paul Dunstall items. The engine now has a single carburettor, conversion and it utilises a Boyer Mk3 electronic ignition system, installed in the later type ignition mushroom housing, behind the cylinders. The handlebars have mountings that were constructed by Demon Tweaks, so the handles bars are about an inch higher. This gives Phil a better riding position for him. His dad Robert has carried out a lot of work on the bike. The cylinder head has been refurbished, and the front and rear brake linings have all been replaced. The Atlas has the original mudguards that it came with, so these must have been factory fitted at Plumstead. Phil at one time had used his Atlas to go to and from his place of work on.
Henry Dulat arrived later in the day on his 600 99 Dominator, and he came in via the boundary road at the back of the Warren. How he managed to get in mystified us all.
Ken Rawlinson our secretary has had a banner made by one of his neighbours to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Norton Atlas. The first Atlas prototype was dispatched to the Berliner Motor Corporation in New Jersey, New York, USA in 1961. The Surrey section will be going to put together a stand at a later show to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Norton Atlas. This may be at the Ardingly classic bike show in October2022. We shall be raising this banner at all the events that we will be attending this year.
The HVF event was a very hot Sunday, so we all took refuge under our gazebo. This was brought along by Oscar Frieslaar, and Graham Holcombe, from Ken’s house along with some chairs and tables, as Simon Smith who normally does this for us, had only just come out of hospital. Phil Hannam also brought along many chairs for us to all sit on. The organisers gave to us some cards so that we could go and get a complementary cup of tea or coffee. The event was very well run and organised, and I have asked Pam if we could be part of this event for next year, and she has readily agreed.
One of the members from the Jaguar Owners Club, the owner of an SS Jaguar, asked us if we would like to come along to one of his charity events. This will be for the St Christopher Hospice that this event is raising funds for. This will be held at Coolings Garden Centre, at Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14, 7NN. This will be on Saturday, 6 August 2022 from 11am to 3pm. This event is going to be held in the front meadow at the garden centre. All members of the NOC are very welcome to come and join our display, on the day.
Anthony Curzon Press Officer SNOC
