Norton News 201A - Flipbook - Page 35
who had a career job and was crazy about British
motorcycles, l rode my bikes to work because l didn't own a
car, my motorcycle was my life and now everything had
changed. I was accused of having a chip on my shoulder
when really it was them. At that time l had a Dunstall Atlas,
not a genuine Dunstall but it looked the part and l had learned
to ride it as if l was living a charmed life which could be ended
any day, l hand painted ' Jap Masher ' on both sides of the
fairing, l would park it next to all the Jap bikes and walk in the
bar wearing my black leathers and long red hair, there were
a few of us, but not enough to push back the tide of green
slime.
In the end l ventured further out and connected with
people that were similar to me, we still congregated in the old
way and talked the talk, we were better mechanics than the
Jap crowd, their bikes were reliable but they took trained
mechanics to repair them, l would think nothing of taking off
the chain case on the side of the road and wash the clutch
plates in gas from the petrol tank.
The bottom line is that being put in a situation like that
can unknowingly imprint things on your mind forever,
motorcycles were my reason, l know there are many other
things in life, but this is my personal experience of the 1970's
British motorcycle scene, told by someone that lived it.
That is my story for the 200th- 201st issue of the
magazine of a great motorcycle club, full of genuine decent
people that share a common interest, long may it reign.
Keep your oil clean and change regularly and
remember,
It's better too burn out than fade away!
Number 201
32
Norton News
