A stop gap blog of some of DQ's archival photos.......

Its time for another blog, I've been otherwise occupied in preparing for printing the latest Aust. Velo OC magazine and, well admit it DQ you're just too lazy to complete the research of some items in the pipeline......

So bear with me, with this offering of photos of no particular theme from my collection and apologies if the odd one has been featured before.... acknowledgements to S.R. Keig Ltd, Fox Photos and Morton's Motorcycle Media who own the copyright on several photographs....

Left click on images to enlarge...

This Mk.7 KTT, photographed 23.01.1947, owned by Bill O'Rourke, features a Rex McCandless conversion to a swing arm rear suspension....

Taken in 1954 following their victory in both the 250cc, 350cc and unlimited class with a 250cc BMW and a 600cc BMW in the first 24hour race held at the Mt.Druitt circuit on the western outskirts of Sydney. L-R...Wal Hawtry, Jack Humphries, Don Bain, Don Flynn, Jack Forest, Len Roberts.The 250 won its class by 54 laps and the 350cc class by 19 laps....Don Bain was involved with the machine's preparation as well as riding it, and I recall he told me scrutineering was not of the standard for originality of later years........

Brookland banking under repair during the winter layoff, 22.11.1935.

A pic scanned from a book on the R75 BMW...shows an outfit bogged to the axles in mud on the Eastern Front in 1941.......

H. Tyrell Smith aboard the Excelsior 4 valve, IOM TT 1936....

I originally had this photo above as the mechanical marvel Excelsior, hover and email in June 2012 corrected me...

".....Your photo of Tyrell Smith does not show him on an Excelsior Mechanical Marvel, these were 1933/34 bikes and pushrod, christened Mechanical Marvel because they went from the drawing board to win the TT. Tyrell was still riding Rudge in 1933/4 and did not ride for Excelsior till slightly later.

  Tyrell is in fact on one of the later works overhead camshaft 4 valve racing bikes made by Excelsior. if you need any further info, I have done a book called Excelsior the Racing Years , there are loads of period shots showing both types of bike and riders.

 I hope this helps .All the best regards, Paul." 

Ulster GP, probably 1959...MZ.

Smiths IOM raceshop, or rather tent...likely 1947 or 1948 .

Bathurst, NSW 1978, Tony Hatton aboard my ( then) Carey engined MAC in a Smiths frame ( copy of an English Beasley frame).....