Sam Hewitt

  • Bike-mad TV detectives are on the hunt for hidden treasures in the sheds of Britain

    Bike-mad TV detectives are on the hunt for hidden treasures in the sheds of Britain

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    A BIKE-MAD pair of TV engineering detectives are on the hunt for forgotten and hidden treasures tucked away in the sheds of Britain. Travel Channel presenters Henry Cole and Sam Lovegrove are about to film their next series which sees them rifling through the lock-ups and sheds of the UK. In previous series they’ve unearthed…

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  • The Classic TT: Isle of Man (August 27-29)

    The Classic TT: Isle of Man (August 27-29)

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    Words: John Watterson – Photographs: John Watterson, Peter Faragher, Louis Porter, Richard Radcliffe and Mike Quayle. John McGuinness won his first Classic TT after four years of trying, the day after he had his maiden fall on the Mountain Course. In his 20th year of racing on the 37.7-mile Snaefell circuit, John McGuinness slid off Roger Winfield’s…

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  • Irish Classic Scene

    Irish Classic Scene

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    When Killilane, traditionally the last race of the Irish season, was suddenly cancelled amid clouds of rancour and accusation, it fell to Armoy to provide a suitable finale to what has otherwise been an excellent classic road racing season. The picturesque north Antrim road circuit is no stranger to epic race battles and with all…

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  • Brilliant Brackley

    Brilliant Brackley

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    Words: Bruce Cox Photograph: Roger Cooper The Brackley Festival of Motorcycling is a genuinely unique event in that it is the only town on the British mainland that is closed off to allow racing motorcycles run at speed along its streets. Back in 2008, organiser Roger Charlesworth and his team somehow persuaded the good burghers…

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  • Letter: A Manx With History

    Letter: A Manx With History

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    Dear Malc The Mortons Archive photo (Classic Racer issue 181) of Rod Coleman on Douglas Quay shows my bike, which I have owned since 1995. Rod Coleman is shown being helped by fellow Kiwi NZ ACU Team Member Len Perry who also got a brand new Featherbed Manx. They had both been to the IoM…

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  • The 1974 500cc Italian Grand Prix: A gamble that didn’t pay off

    The 1974 500cc Italian Grand Prix: A gamble that didn’t pay off

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    Words and photographs: Jan Burgers A calculated gamble by Yamaha failed at the Italian Grand Prix. The mistake was in the estimation of the fuel consumption of the 500cc Yamaha four. Jan Burgers continues his journey with the Continental Circus. With only two laps to go during the 36-lap Imola race, the two-stroke Yamaha ran…

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  • And now for something completely different: The Eldee Velocette

    And now for something completely different: The Eldee Velocette

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    Words and photographs Chris Swallow Eagle-eyed observers visiting the Honda museum in Motegi, Japan, will notice soon after paying their yen there is a racing motorcycle devoid of the familiar winged Honda vector. The emblem is distinctly Italian and proudly informs that you are ogling over an ‘FB MÒNDIAL’: made 1957, Milan, by the Counts…

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  • 1971 revisited: The first ever Anglo-American match races

    1971 revisited: The first ever Anglo-American match races

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    Words: Bruce Cox – Pictures: Mortons Archive and Bruce Cox Collection In more than a decade and a half of racing, the Transatlantic Trophy Series introduced no fewer than seven American World Champions to British fans. Here, from one of the series creators, and told for the first time, is the full inside story on the…

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  • Honda 125 Series: A level playing field

    Honda 125 Series: A level playing field

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    Photographs: Mortons Archive and Russ Lee At the beginning of the 1977 road racing season, an all new championship was added to the road racing calendar – the Honda 125cc series. Phil Wain reflects on a game changer. The series was designed to produce close racing on an equal playing field, Honda wanted to get involved…

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  • Welcome

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    Another Classic TT has passed and a really great event it was once again, although sadly things all turned a bit sour after the controversial Classic Superbike Race. For me there were some great highlights, not least the popularity and success of the Classic Racer Lap of Honour, which, thankfully, passed off safely with everyone…

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