Welcome to the SNOC

Next Surrey Branch Meeting is on Tuesday 27th May

RECENT EVENT NEWS

Ardingly Classic Bike Show Sunday 30 March 2025

The Surrey Branch represented the NOC, at the Ardingly Classic Bike Show. The day started sunny and warm, and this continued for the rest of the day. The ride down to the show with Robert and Phil Tuck was a very rewarding experience.  We had 16 bikes assembled on our stand and on display. David Brown the power house of the SNOC was everywhere and ably assisted by Simon Smith, as well the rest of the branch members, who brings all our equipment, as without him, we would not have a stand to be able to display all our bikes. We had two no shows, and one of them was Chris Barraclough who had a very unfortunate incident, where by the front brake malfunctioned, and he was ejected from his Dominator. I had an email later from Chris who informed me as to why this had happened. The two bolts that hold the brake shoes pivot plate onto the brake plate had come loose, and the pivot plate itself had become detached, and therefore, made the front brake inoperable, and seize. This as well as other problems with his Dominator have now been rectified.

Julie Diplock and her team of willing helpers make her events, as they run so smoothly, and all the events that she organises are a joy to attend. The auto-jumble was huge, and I suspect getting bigger every time I attend. It may be that the weather was so good that more traders and show goers had decided to attend. We had, John Summerfield, John Hurst, and Andy Neal come along to support us all. I myself was very much engrossed in talking to our members about their bikes, and getting their personal stories, and the history of their relevant motorcycles. We had four members of the public come over to our stand, with positive affirmations wanting to join the NOC. They were directed to the relevant web sites, as they were very enthusiastic at wanting to join us and be part of our organization. There were also many owners of Norton’s who wanted help with their own bikes, and sought out those on our stand who had this specialised knowledge to be of assistance to them.

The show was packed with visitors, seeking that elusive spare part, as well as taking in the amazing displays of club stands, with, their line up of immaculately presented bikes, proudly watched over by their enthusiastic owners. The fire up paddock had many Brough Superiors starting up and run for the assembled crowds delight. The Brough Superior was the nominated bike of the show. John Summerfield was looking for parts for his 1951 ES2 that he is at present, restoring so that he will be able to ride it once more, this summer. This with the help and expertise of Robert Tuck who has been making this endeavour so much easier for him. The clutch on John’s bike being one of the problematical areas, that required sorting.

Our Chairman Paul Smith came along to support us, and he explained to us, that he had, had a fantastic day. Paul was looking particularly in good health after his very recent, illness treatment plan. Paul is now on the way to a good recovery. Paul brought along his Laverda Jota Three as his Commando has a problem with its master cylinder. Ken Rawlinson’s Atlas received a second place at this event, for the 1960’s class.

Simon Warren had on display his Francis Beart inspired Norton Manx and his Manx came first in the Competition Class. Simon went to the Kop Hill climb where he took his ex Ray Petty Manx to compete with. He had the owner of another Manx come over to talk to him to and inform him as to how good his Petty Manx was. He explained to Simon that a friend of his, whose father had passed away, was selling many Manx related parts. He took the phone number and contacted the seller to go and view the collection of Manx parts. Simon then contacted the seller, who had this large collection of Manx parts, and he bought, 14 wheels, three engines, and three frames, plus other items, and he paid £14000 for the lot. From this collection of parts, Simon was able to build a Francis Beart bike.

Peter Sparrowhawk brought along to display his 1965 ES400 Electra that he has owned for about two years. It has done just over 30,000 miles. The engine was rebuilt back in 1992. He bought the bike from the last owner who then lived in Worthing. He put it back on the road last year, and he explained that it will run all day long, between 60 and 70 mph. The only upgrades that he has done were to add a twin leading shoe front brake, and an electric rev-counter. This is a De-Lux model and it still has the original starter which is still being used to start it. It is missing the correct starter button, and the Electra does not have the correct indicators in place. An all new belt drive has replaced the original Norton primary fitted item, and this required many adjustments to get it working correctly. When it was time to leave, the Electra started on the button, and this dispelled the myth that the starter did not function, as it should have done.

Barry Pay displayed his 1955 600cc 19R single. He explained that there were only 88 built and dispatched of this model. Barry explained that these 19R bikes were the last of the ridged framed bikes sold to the public by Norton. There was never any more built as all the rest of the ridged frames were built into the Model 18 for the RAC. It originally was dispatched to the Isle of Wight, with a sidecar until Barry bought it. It had come built from the factory with 18 inch wheels when all other 19R ridged framed bikes have 19 inch wheels. It has the optional extra Lycett dual seat which is sprung and which was an option when it was new, and dispatched. The rear mudguard is part Commando, and part Model 18. This was done as the rear mudguard had degraded so much, and was in dire need of replacement.

Another visitor was a Dennis Sherwood, who brought along his 1950 Model 7 Dominator. He explained that he has owned this bike now for about six years, and he has put on another wiring harness that he has admitted is not the correct one for that Model 7. He has only ever changed the oil, and added petrol as well as the normal maintenance items that have needed to be attended to. The former owner had lived in Coulsdon, South London. The bike he explained had, had a recall for the cylinder head by the factory, so this Model 7 may have been one of the very early bikes dispatched with the iron cylinder head that had, had the cast integrated inlet manifold. A hand written letter from the Bracebridge Street Norton factory came with the bike as well as other documentation. This explained how the original cylinder head was being returned, for the later bolt on inlet manifold type. When the cylinder head was returned, it was damaged by British Rail, in transit and it was replaced by Norton, but the cost of the damaged head was paid for by British Rail. The bike still has the original oil pressure gauge fitted, from new. The Dominator came with a huge history file, which documents the bikes previous owners’ history. Dennis also owned a Commando, that he had done over 70,000 miles on and he used it for dispatch riding. During the conversation, about bikes I came to realise that we had a mutual friend in one Derek Bennett, who I met at the Ardingly show many years ago. Derek thought that he had, a Matchless G15P but it could not have been, as there was only three made and they were all dispatched abroad, and one was listed as an AJS that was sent to Cuba. It was in fact a very early 1964 Norton N15CS export desert racer, but it had been transformed to look like a Matchless G15 Mk2. Dennis was related to Derek’s family as a cousin, so it really is such a small world.

The Surrey branch stand, attracted so many visitors, with our display of bikes, and we have a wealth of knowledgeable and enthusiastic members to be able answer so many of the questions that these members of the public had come over to ask us. There are also so many who recount their own, very memorable experiences of owning a Norton, who come over and talk to us about a shared passion, that we all have and that they also still possess. So once more the Surrey branch had a very successful day, and the day’s end came far too quickly for us. Can I therefore thank all our members that came, and gave their time expertise, and their help, as well the display of their bikes, and a very resounding thank you for all your efforts on behalf of the branch?

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Clubnights are on the fourth Tuesday each month from 7.30pm unless stated.

Location – The Stepping Stones pub at Westhumble, just across the A22 roundabout from Box Hill, just north of Dorking, Surrey.

The Stepping Stones, Westhumble Street, Westhumble, Dorking, RH5 6BS

The Late Mike Duffel and his 1953 Model 30 Manx Norton – R.I.P.

Welcome to the

Norton Owners Club’s Surrey Branch

Situated just a few miles away from the historic Brooklands Racetrack, where Bert Denly (pictured above) roared round the banking on his Model 18 Brooklands Special in 1925, we meet at The Stepping Stones, a great bike friendly pub at West Humble near Box Hill.

We organise rides out, quiz nights and visits to local places of interest.

Our members can offer a wealth of useful experience to help you with your Norton – old or new!

Come along to one of our club nights and see what we are up to and have a chat. New members or just interested in Nortons? Come along!

Or you can call or e-mail us at the address shown on the contact page.

You can be sure of a warm welcome whatever time of year!

If you’re interested in bikes and particularly the unapproachable Norton, on the page links on the left you’ll find plenty to whet your appetite and using the links on the right you will find our activities listed by dates.