Round Up

ROUND UP

JOE PARKHURST

INFLATION, being what it is, has reached the motorcycle at last. I'm speaking of old motorcycles at the moment, but the new ones aren’t escaping it, either. I can well remember the big British 500s and 650s back when I started riding in the late 40s that cost only $650 or so. But, when I see what has been happening to the price of classic and antique bikes, I cry. I’ve grown used to seeing older and more stylish automobiles increasing in value at incredible leaps and bounds. Like $19,000 for a 1909 Napier, $125,000 for Hitler or some other Nazi’s Mercedes.

The famous Harrah Automobile Collection in Reno is the place to see the most magnificent collection of vehicles in the world, including some really incredible bikes, all of which are restored to perfection. Their present state far exceeds that of when they were brand new, in many instances. The Harrah collection held an auction of “surplus vehicles” in March of this year, and the prices paid for several cars and bikes that were totally original and unrestored to total basket cases just blew my mind. A few years ago I ended up with an old Cushman motorscooter in a poor trade of several bikes. I had to throw it in the trash. But Harrah got $100 for a 1947 that was complete, but wouldn’t run. A 1912 Diana, minus engine, tires, controls and a lot more, went for $100. A 1909 Excelsior, one of three, unrestored, reasonably complete, sold for $550, not nearly as staggering as the $750 paid for a 1912 in no better condition. A 1920 7-A Twin was a steal at $400.

Harley-Davidsons were well represented—a 1911 in “good original condition,” $1000; 1919 in “very good original condition, a rare model,” set the buyer back $1650; a “fair” 1930 Indian Scout went for $475. Whoever Marsh Metz was escapes me, but they made a bike in 1909, which in “rough condition,” went for $500. A 1917 Thor, I remember hearing about them, frame with fenders, sold for $150. All I can say at this point is that I, and a lot of friends of mine, were nuts to unload

some of the old goodies we owned. If you want my advice, keep that old whatzzis, it just might be worth something, someday!

BSA/TRIUMPH/NORTON/VILLIERS?

BSA/Triumph in England went on the blocks after several years of deep financial troubles, and Manganese Bronze, the parent company of Norton/Villiers was the only one of two offers received by the British Government to take the total operation over and bring them back into the black. Steyer, Daimler, Puch, in Austria, was the other, but they withdrew later.

The proposal made by Dennis Poore, chairman of Manganese Bronze, was approved by the Ministry for Trade and Industry and under British law must be accepted or rejected by the BSA stockholders, a task that should be completed by now. Both Norton/Villiers and BSA/ Triumph in the USA have issued statements to their dealers and the press saying that no changes are anticipated in either dealer or distributor arrangements through the 1974 model year of their respective machines.

In essence, Poore offered to form a new company, to be called Norton/ Villiers/Triumph, with a capital issue of 10.25 million Pounds, about $25,625,000, with approximately 4 million Pounds ($10,000,00), to be equity, owned 50 percent each by N.V.T. and the present BSA shareholders. BSA’s non-motorcycling interests, primarily a metal working firm, would be sold to Manganese Bronze, adding to their presently expansive facilities in similar ownings. A great deal of other financial manuevering would occur, and the total sum involved is around twenty million Pounds, a whopping 50 million bucks, if my little desk calculator is correct. Dennis Poore would thus become the absolute King of the British motorcycle industry, a title he richly deserves if he can pull it off. Norton is the healthiest member of the British motorcycle industry and it was Dennis Poore who made it work.

I well remember the old Matchless and Norton companies from my visits to England in the early ’60s. They were one of the first to go under and were taken over by Poore, who consolidated their manufacturing facilities, eliminated tons of dead wood, redesigned the entire operation, created new and more salable bikes, moved them out of the industrial ghettos of East London into the country at Andover and near Wolverhampton, where the first Manganese Bronze firm, Villiers, was located, reorganized their world wide distribution system, and generally put them back on their feet and brought them to their position of leadership of the British industry.

I first met Poore when he came to this country to carefully examine our market. He asked advice of everyone he felt capable of giving it. I was one of the chosen few. He moves like a whirlwind, never stopping, not even slowing down I would imagine that has lost a fev admirers, and has been accused of being ruthless. I know that man as an excellent businessman. His thirst to learn is incredible. He is greatly respected by his staff, and somewhat feared. But, he has done what many considered impossible. The vast changes that have occurred in the motorcycle market in the last ten years are almost unbelievable to those of us who were a part of it. Matchless is gone, so is Velocette, Royal Enfield, Ariel, Vincent, Francis Barnett, Dot and many, many more.

Bert Greeves still builds his marvelous machines, but they have faded in the light of the onslaught of the European motocross makers and today are a relatively small element in our huge industry. That leaves BSA, Triumph, Norton/Villiers. Depending upon hov the BSA stockholder react, though, would guess that since their stock dropped to virtually nothing when the initial announcements regarding possible nationalization by the Government were made, they will accept Poore’s offer. It will be a fascinating move. Though I will be one among many who will mourn the passing of yet another grand old British name, it is better than having it disappear altogether.

What's gotten into Jim Pomeroy? Among the many really good American motocross riders he has always done well, but as of this writing h» is running second in World Championship points. He won the Spanish GP and was the leading contender for championship. His fourth in the Italian 250cc event dropped him to a strong second behind Germany's Adolph Weil on a Maico. Perhaps equally amazing is that he is riding a Bul taco. At the same time Trans-A MA motocross champion Brad Lackey finished 7th in the 500cc French Grand Prix. These boys are certainly working fast at making up for the lack of American stature in International Motocross. For more details on the Spanish GP, see Racing Review in this issue.