Metropolis Motorcycles in Vauxhall, London has closed. Poor trade cited
Ardonagh (Carole Nash's parent company) buys Swinton Insurance
Harley-Davidson to establish new EV research facility in Silicon Valley, CA
Triumph "teases" new Street Twin & Street Scrambler. Launch on 2/10/18
German company introduces "secure" Bikebox 24. Prices from €3.490
Tasmania "to ban outlaw clothing". Proposed bill to match existing Oz laws
Ace Cafe Mark Wilsmore's bikes to sell at Stafford Sale 13th-14th Oct 2018
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Hiya All. Re the Tasmania story, I lived in Australia for nine years, and they have some very draconian laws down under. Came back to England, and it seems we're slowly going the same way. —Ed from Beds
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Free bowl of curry or chilli* Local ride outs, camping onsite and pub entertainment Okay, brief one here. The Hook & Hatchet Inn in Hucking, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1QT is looking to drum up some more business with a weekly Two Wheeled Tuesday event. The day, we're advised, kicks off at 12 midday with a local ride out around the local Kentish lanes before returning for refreshments—which includes a free bowl of curry or chilli and maybe a game of darts. There's some kind of fund raising thing going on too which will benefit the local air ambulance service (and we think that the aforementioned free curry or chilli is conditional with respect to a suitable donation). Additionally, the pub organises music nights, has onsite camping, and serves up various other forms of entertainment. 
We don't know the place or the publicans, but it sounds like a go-ahead establishment. So scoot down there and decide for yourself if it suits you. Message ends. * Terms & conditions apply www.hookandhatchetpub.co.uk
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£1,211,813 auction turnover One owner collection of British, Japanese, Italian & Spanish bikes The top selling lot at the Bonhams Alexandra Palace Sale on 23rd September 2018 was the above 1973 498cc MV Agusta, Lot 18. Sold for a whopping £126,500 (including premium), it was one of seven* MV's at the auction, all of which found new owners. Bonhams is claiming an overall turnover of £1,211,813 representing a 97 percent conversion rate. There were originally 69 bikes on offer from a single owner collection. But one machine was withdrawn thereby bringing the total down to 68. Thirty of the motorcycles were British, the remainder being Japanese, Italian and Spanish (in that order). 
Top sellers include Lot 53, an ex-James Guthrie, Joe Dunphy, Manx Grand Prix, Isle of Man TT 1961 Beart-Norton Manx 350cc Racing Motorcycle which sold for £51,750 (it was featured on Sump Classic Bike News December 2014—see image immediately above). 
Lot 49, a 1939 Ex-Harry Lamacraft Velocette 348cc KTT Mark VIII sold for £50,600 (image immediately above and immediately below). A TT racing bike, records show that this motorcycle was supplied by London Velocette agent L Stevens to a "Mr Lamacraft". That was 24th April 1939. That same year the bike was ridden by Lamacraft in the Isle of Man Junior which was won by Stanley Woods also piloting a Velocette (one of six in the top ten). Lamacraft was a finisher and came 19th. That's him in the picture. 
This "matching numbers bike" was one of 49 Mark VIII Velos sold before war broke out in September 1939. The model first appeared in 1938 at the London Motor Cycle Show to huge public acclaim. After the war, another 189 examples were manufactured until the production run came to an end in 1950. With its swinging arm suspension and Dowty Oleomatic rear suspension units, these four-speed, girder-forked 350cc Velocettes were seriously tough competition and acquitted themselves well both on and off the Island. Harry Lamacraft, we understand, joined the RAF soon after WW2 began and was killed in action (no details available). The bike was sold with a collection of period photographs and authentication documents. Other top/notable sellers include: Lot 15: 1978 750S MV Agusta America, £74,750 Lot 54: 1955 998cc Vincent Black Knight, £49,450 Lot 22: 1975 Laverda 750SFC Elettronica, £41,400Lot 55: 1949 499cc Vincent-HRD Meteor Series B, £28,175 Lot 11: 1972 903cc Kawasaki Z1, £28,175 Lot 62: 1965 Triumph 649cc TT Special, £13,225 
Lot 26: 1959 Lambretta TV 175 Series 1, £8,625 (image immediately above) Lot 39: c.1965 Greeves 250cc Challenger 24MX2, £6,325 
Lot 3: 1974 49cc Yamaha FS1-E, £5,175 (image immediately above) 
Lot 4: 1967 Honda CB125SS, £4,715 (image immediately above) Here's what Ben Walker, Director of Motorcycles at Bonhams has been quoted as saying: "We are very pleased with the results of this sale. We offered an incredibly impressive range of machinery, from vintage tourers to ultra-modern superbikes, and nearly every lot found a new owner.  "The variety of motorcycles on offer illustrates the sheer breadth of our department’s expertise, and the top prices realised indicate that the collectors’ market remains buoyant."
www.bonhams.com
* We're reading elsewhere that there were eight MV's at this sale, but we can find only seven on Bonhams' list.
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£99 motoring camera gets a thumbs-up Easy to use, simple to set-up, reliable in operation Dashcams are divisive devices. Whilst thousands of drivers use them and feel better for their presence, thousands of others take a different view. Some guys and girls, for instance, believe that in the modern world, a dashcam is an essential independent witness to a driving incident or accident, meaning that when the crunch comes there won't be much argument about who was at fault, and who wasn't (although most accidents are contributory, note). Others, meanwhile, feel that dashcams effectively victimise the user, the thinking being that these devices fuel your natural (or unnatural) paranoia and force you onto the defensive, mentally speaking, thereby taking away whatever enjoyment you might otherwise have had. Moreover, a dashcam can turn around and bite the user if and when an accident happens and the cops seize the device and find evidence of some of the dodgy stuff you've been up to over the past few minutes or so. [More...] The frontman for the band Chas & Dave has died He was 74 You might be forgiven for thinking that this guy did little else with his professional life aside from sit in a pub, drinking beer, hammering a piano and singing corny cockney themed ditties whilst fronting the cheesy London pop duo Chas & Dave. That's certainly how we first viewed him. Downmarket. Not to be taken too seriously. Good for a laugh. But we were wrong because Charles "Chas" Hodges was in fact a highly accomplished musician (piano, banjo, guitar, ukuelele) and a shrewd and sophisticated songwriter; a man who backed some of the biggest names in pop and rock music. We're referring to Roy Wood, Phil Lynott, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mike Berry, Cliff Bennett, Albert Lee and Ritchie Blackmore. Chas & Dave even opened for the likes of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin and from all accounts did a good job of warming up the "room" for the forthcoming rock gods. Born in North London, a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan and a keen gardener, Hodges' early musical career was working as a session musician for legendary record producer Joe Meek (Johnny Remember Me; Telstar, Just Like Eddie). Following a spell with the British rock group Heads Hands & Feet (which broke up in 1973), Hodges developed the idea of a two-piece combo working the London pub gig circuit and addressing the highs and lows of ordinary folk, notably cockneys. As with Ray Davies of the Kinks, Paul Weller of the Jam, and any number of British punk bands, the notion of singing in a US accent was anathema for Hodges. He wanted an English sound that was better suited to British idioms, and he soon found a kindred spirit in bassman Dave Peacock. What followed was their "rockney" style of music; a grass roots mix of rock, pop, pub singalong with a touch of the old time music hall thrown in—and plenty of contemporary social comment. Their rise seemed meteoric. But as is the norm with overnight successes, it was actually years of hard work playing night after night for a growing local audience and then reaching out across the country and the world to spread their musical message, such as it was. Notable success came in 1979 with the song Gertcha which hit number 20 in the UK chart. In 1980 Rabbit made it to number eight. In 1982 Ain't No Pleasing You reached number two. Album-wise, One Fing 'n' Anuvver was released in 1975, but failed to chart. Rockney followed in 1977 but also failed to chart. Ditto for Don't Give a Monkey's. Of the succeeding 13 albums, Street Party in 1995 ranked highest and made it to number 3. . But Chas & Dave wasn't really about massive chart success. These guys were always more comfortable on smaller stages with their tongue-in-cheek beer and sawdust music for the common man—and we don't mean that in any disparaging way. They spotted a niche which suited their tastes, and (like Deep Purple and Zeppelin) they became masters of that niche. In 1983 Chas & Dave enjoyed a short-lived variety show that featured artists such as Eric Burdon, Lulu, Linda Lewis, Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, Clarence "Frogman" Henry and Lonnie Donegan. But once again, it was the wrong platform and looked contrived and stilted. After that, it was back to where they wanted to be which was gigging, touring, writing new songs, and enjoying the celebrity that rightly found them out. And Hodges, of course, also found plenty to do in his much loved garden. 
Following the death of Dave Peacock's wife in 2009 there came the announcement that it was all over for the band. But music will generally find a way, and old habits and associations have their own momentum, hence a reunion in mid 2011 for a final tour. That led to a number of follow up appearances. However, in 2017 health issues for Chas Hodges began to intrude, and the duo wound down professionally. And yesterday, 22nd September 2018, we got the news that Hodges had died.
We were never the world's biggest Chas & Dave fans. But we've tuned into their music numerous times over the years, we've enjoyed  pretty much everything we've heard, and we've revised our opinion of these guys. In hindsight, it's clear that Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock were simply great performers who slipped noisily into the hearts and minds of the British people (in particular) and rightfully earned their place at the microphone.
Chas Hodges was 74. He's survived by his three children and Joan, his wife of 52 years. www.chashodges.co.uk www.chasndave.com
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Hi Sump, glad to see that you posted this. I've seen Chas & Dave play many, many times. Very entertaining duo and much underrated musically. Chas will be missed.—TriBsa Jack, London
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The classic two-stroke era: 1955 - 1978 Author: Brian Long We have to confess our ignorance here. Suzuki two-strokes are not our strong suit. We remember them well enough during the sixties and seventies, mind. And in our time we've ridden one or two. But none of us here in Sumpland has never been initiated into the two-stroke fraternity, Suzuki riding or otherwise. So we've approached this book in the full glare of our aforementioned ignorance. Nevertheless, we know a thing or two about books having written a few, and having designed a few, and having read more than one. And this volume looks like it's going to broadly satisfy both softcore and hardcore two-stroke Suzukistas. The author is Brian Long. We don't know him, or know of him. But he confesses that his first love with regard to Suzuki products are actually Suzuki cars. That said, his motorcycle interest has apparently been slow cooking for years, and more recently it's boiled over into ownership and restoration, and he's since drawn in a lot of slack. Based in Japan, Long has clearly expended a huge amount of effort researching the material, decoding it, collating it and re-presenting it in a logical and incisive manner. The years covered are 1955 to 1978. The book is divided into six chapters, plus an introduction, acknowledgement and index. The photographic quality is good, but never exceptional. The writing is direct and straight to the point. There's no flowery prose here, nor does there need to be. Instead, there are facts, technical insights, model exposures and acres of publicity information. However, much of the reproduced publicity material is in Japanese—which is fine if you've already built a UK-centric library of Suzuki two-stroke books or relevant sales literature and want to expand your understanding with Japanese source material. However, it's a little frustrating if this is the first volume in your collection—unless you can read Japanese. But even then, the reproduced brochures are generally too small to study in detail. Meanwhile, there's plenty of insight into Suzuki's two-stroke racing years with something to say about Barry Sheene, one of the greatest Suzuki pilots of them all. But we don't have much knowledge of the motorcycle competition scene either (least of all from Suzuki's vantage point) in order to pass further comment on the accuracy of the information. Actually, we can't comment either on the accuracy of the rest of the material. But having read a couple of chapters, and having dipped in here and there, we're satisfied that Long is a fact fiend and genuinely cares about the detail. 
Design-wise, there's nothing much to get excited about. The caption font is too large for our taste (and the formatting is klunky in places). The body text is also too large—and there's not much air (white space) on the page. We would prefer a little more breathing room and we'd happily sacrifice a font point or two for that. But if you're interested in the source material, you probably won't much care about these considerations. And one more relatively minor point. The title, we feel, really ought to make it immediately clear that this is a two-stroke volume. Yes, it says that on the sub-heading. But ideally, buyers will want that up front when browsing a library or book shop. And search engines will pinpoint the book more easily. SUZUKI TWO-STROKE MOTORCYCLES The 1955 to 1978 classic era not SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES The Classic Two-stroke era 1955 to 1978 Beyond that, it's clearly a book aimed directly at Suzuki two-stroke fans. Here are the salient features as highlighted by Veloce Publishing:
• Definitive history of the two-stroke Suzukis
• Sales in all major markets covered in detail
• Written by a recognized author and historian
• Racing exploits covered year-by-year
• Written with the full co-operation of the factory
• Handy reference charts throughout
• Detailed production figures, including exports
• Unravels what is indeed a very convoluted story
• Contemporary photography to help owners with authenticity issues
• The author is an owner of vintage Suzukis
All that sounds about right (albeit from our ignorant POV, remember). The book dimensions are 250mm x 250mm. There are 160 pages with colour throughout. The covers are hard. And the ISBN is 978-1-787112-12-4. Veloce is asking £35. www.veloce.co.uk
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More cubic centimetres, more horses, more torque Introducing BMW's revolutionary ShiftCam concept The BMW GS series of motorcycles are modern classics. That's hardly news. But what is new are the freshly revealed R1250GS and R1250RT models that will be coming our way for the 2019 season. At a glance, you'll be forgiven for thinking that these are the same bikes, but different. And broadly speaking, you'll be right. But the difference is ... well, different, and it focuses around BMW's novel take on the variable valve timing concept with a system  that we haven't seen before. Check the link below for a closer look at the new boxer. It's not merely still a contender. it's the champ and looks unbeatable. Sump Motorcycle News 2019 BMW R1250GS
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▲ Dudley Sutton (left) and the late Colin Campbell at the Ace cafe in The Leather Boys (1964). The Smiths used scenes from this movie for the band's Girlfriend in a Coma music video. Norton riding co-star of The Leather Boys has died aged 85 He also famously appeared as Tinker Dill in Lovejoy He was almost always something of an offbeat, suspicious and slightly shady on-screen character. It wasn't just his looks—although that was the greater part of it. It was also in the way he carried himself. The heavy-lidded eyes. The way he delivered his lines. And the subtle sophistication in his voice. We're talking about actor Dudley Sutton who died yesterday, Saturday 15th September 2018. Most folk will probably remember him as Tinker Dill in the TV series Lovejoy which ran for 71 episodes between 1986 and 1994. More recently, TV viewers might remember him for the roles he played in EastEnders, Casualty, Father Brown, Emmerdale, and Doctors (not necessarily in that order). But hardcore biker movie fans and pretty much anyone who was a rocker in the 1960s—and can still remember being a sixties biker—will associate Sutton with the part of played in The Leather Boys (1964). 
Actress Rita Tushingham took first billing in this film. Dudley Sutton took second. And actor Colin Campbell (1937 – 2018) took third. The Leather Boys was a reasonably convincing "kitchen sink" drama (mostly without the sink) that revolved around the degenerating marriage between Tushingham (as Dot) and Campbell (as Reggie). Dot quickly discovers that the realities of working class life are not exactly what she signed up for when she said "I do", and matters are further complicated by Reggie's developing and suspicious relationship with Sutton (as Pete). We're not going to spoil the plot here, not that anyone would mind very much now, but there's a reason why Dudley Sutton's image on the film poster is inverted—and it's got nothing whatsoever to do with poor repro work. The Leather Boys was set in and around London. The Ace Cafe takes a prominent position along with The Tidal Basin Tavern in Canning Town, Harbut Road in Wandsworth, Kingston Cemetery, and (further afield) the Esplanade at Bognor Regis, West Sussex. But The Leather Boys wasn't Sutton's first movie outing. He was born in Surrey, was educated in Devon, served as a mechanic in the Royal Air Force, became a member of RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London, and joined the legendary Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop group. His inaugural on-screen appearance came in the 1958 movie, A Night to Remember. This tale, starring Kenneth More (correct spelling of "More") recounted the last days of the ill-fated (but well-fêted) RMS Titanic that went down in 1912. Dudley Sutton played a lookout who saw what was coming at them, but the producer never gave him a credit for his farsightedness. After a spell in theatre (to which he returned many times in later years), Sutton revisited to the screen in 1962 as Boy Lover in the movie Go to Blazes (not to be confused with the 1942 Will Hay propaganda film of the same name, but with a very different "plot").  Go to Blazes (1962) was a comedy about an inept bunch of English crooks who decide to use a fire engine as a robbery getaway vehicle. The movie was replete with familiar British character actors (Dave King, Robert Morley, Daniel Massey, Dennis Price, Norman Rossington, Maggie Smith, David Lodge, Arthur Lowe, and John Le Mesurier), but it's almost forgotten now.
That same year (1962), Sutton appeared in The Boys, a gritty-ish tale about four young men on an evening out in London town who are subsequently put on trial for the murder of a night watchman. Sutton played Stan Coulter and gave a pretty good account of himself in this still watchable courtroom drama—which is also an interesting insight into British youth and social mores at the dawn of the sixties. Over the next two decades, Dudley Sutton popped up in a variety of TV and movie productions including The Avengers, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), The Sweeney, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, The Prince and the Pauper, George & Mildred, Porridge, Orlando, and The Football Factory. In fact, if you wanted someone slightly menacing, manifestly dubious and/or mysterious, you simply called Dudley Sutton's agent and filled the part. 
▲ The main cast of Lovejoy. L to R: Chris Jury, (the late) Malcolm Tierney, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton, and Ian McShane. Ian La Frenais's 1986 production of Lovejoy saw Sutton playing second fiddle as barker/tout to Ian McShane's titular role and in doing so enjoyed a significant on-screen presence, albeit one that (typically) became a little stale with its predictable repetition. This light-hearted contemporary prime-time tale of a roguish antique dealer (Lovejoy) operating from the more quainter leafy and stately haunts of the county of Suffolk has since become something of a British classic and has travelled the world scooping up fresh audiences—and didn't do anything to hurt Ian McShane's later celebrity.  Interestingly, during his career Sutton has played a lot of "boys", starting with the movie The Leather Boys, and then the character Boy Lover in the aforementioned Go to Blazes. Then he appeared in the movie The Boys, and then (in a Sweeney episode) he played Golden Boy.
Later still, to add fuel to a questionable fire, Sutton can be found on YouTube lamenting the demise of the gentlemen's public lavatories of London. But does any of this really add up to anything? We don't know, and we don't much care. We're happy to accept Dudley Sutton simply for the characters he played on screen and the decades of quality entertainment he gave us. And he's right. These day it's tricky finding a decent public convenience in British capital—and elsewhere in the realm come to that. Dudley Sutton married four times and fathered one child. The most recent acting outing that we can find for him was in 2015 in the movie Tin set in 1895 in a Cornish mining village; a tale of a swindling bank and the damaged caused to a small rural community. A year ago Dudley Sutton's health began seriously deteriorating and he knew that he was enjoying (for want of a better word) the last few scenes in the production of his life. As an example of a genuinely quaint, offbeat, intelligent, urbane and charming English gentleman, you can bring the curtain down behind Dudley Sutton and tell the other hopefuls that the part has been cast. He was 85.
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New black or military green casual padded shirt List price £99 Everyone knows that when you sally forth on a motorcycle, you really ought to be wearing a crash helmet, heavyweight jacket, protective jeans, boots and gloves. Etc. But realistically, there are occasions when it's either too hot for all that palaver, or it just takes too much time to gear up—especially if you're just nipping down the road for a pint of milk. And then there are other moments when you just feel like throwing a little (but not too much) caution to the wind and prefer to travel light. And cool. Most of us have been there at some time, and that's what we like about this Kickback Shirt from Oxford Products. It nicely fills the gap between riding with only a T-shirt on your upper body, and riding in an armoured trenchcoat. This shirt feels very well made. That's the first thing that struck us. Being the cynics we are, we were expecting something thinner, lighter and more flimsy. Or, alternately, a piece of shaped cardboard bulked out like a straight jacket. But that wasn't the case. This Kickback is very comfortable and reassuring, doesn't billow in all the wrong places, and gives you the kind of hug you used to get when you were young and pretty and desirable. 
The main fabric, we're advised, is heavyweight cotton. It's lined with 100% DuPont ™ Kevlar®. There's hidden "structure stitching" and "nylon bonded coat threads", but most of that techy stuff goes right over our heads. Suffice to say that it ain't likely to fall apart any time soon. We gave ours a pretty severe beating, and there was no surrender. The outer fasteners are press studs and feel like decent enough quality. There's a YKK zip on the end of each sleeve to keep the wind out, and there are press studs at the wrist too for extra comfort. Meanwhile, those cuffs have soft edges and are pretty snug (for us anyway). So if you've got abnormally large hands or unusually thick wrists, you might be struggling a little. Check that aspect carefully. Other features include two outer pockets, with two more tucked away inside. You won't want to (or be able to) stuff those pockets with too much junk. But you can accommodate an average size smartphone or wallet without spoiling the look (if that matters to you). And there's a handy belt loop down below to keep the shirt snug. 
This shirt isn't waterproof, and it doesn't pretend to be. But Oxford tells us that it does have a water resistant coating to help keep you dry through a mild shower. Twice we put that to the test, and it lived up to expectations. There's no armour supplied. But there is provision for elbow, shoulder and back protection. That said, it's worth reiterating the general thickness of this shirt. That aspect might not be so obvious when you wear it loose. But tuck it into those pegged jeans, or cargo trousers, or purpose-built riding jeans and you'll feel the pinch. So ideally, you'll want looser leg wear to accommodate it. Even in its basic form, it'll help soften any blow. But like we said, this shirt really suits a more casual, loose approach, and that's how we'll be testing it further (and will report any deficits). There are another four fabric designs in the Kickback range, all of them boasting real or contrived tartans. However, we like the plain and simple black shirt (which wrongly looks slightly blueish here) and we like the military green shirt (which is actually more like khaki). Sizes are S to 5XL. The shirts are machine washable, by the way. So wash 'em at 40 degrees centigrade. But don't tumble dry. Just let the shirts air-dry away from bright sunlight.  Overall, we genuinely like this Kickback shirt, and when it wears out we'll probably go and buy one if we can't blag another for review. The list price is £99.99, and we think that's more than fair. We can imagine this shirt lasting many years and will no doubt offer reasonable protection in a relatively minor spill. Try one, and there's a good chance you'll buy one. www.oxfordproducts.com
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Visiting Brussels? LEZ registration now required for all vehicles, inc foreign
2018 Classic TT "a washout". Fewer IOM Steam Packet bikes and visitors
New BMW self-riding GS [We'd be happier with a self-fixing example-Ed]
Two new 2019 Kawasakis. Ninja 125 & Z125. 14.8bhp liquid-cooled singles
Inventor Fred Spaven to ride electric RE Bullet. Land's End - John O'Groats
Bristol Big Bike Theft Awareness Ride on Sunday, September 16, 2018
2019 Moto Guzzi V85TT 850cc, 80bhp adventure "enduro" bike revealed
Bike Stop free Biker Down course. Saturday 20th Oct 2018. 10am - 1pm
Motorcycle Action Group claims Birmingham CAZ bike charge exemption
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853cc Bobber variant on the way 54bhp @ 3,000rpm We've never been overly impressed with the original Moto Guzzi 853cc Bobber launched in late 2015, and we're not crazy about this new Sport version, either. Just seems like too little, too late and generally it doesn't convince us as much more than a token offering. But we've penned a few choice words on the bike on our Motorcycle News pages. Check the link below and see if you share our views. 2019 V9 Moto Guzzi Bobber Sport
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▲ Burt Reynolds is more closely associated with Harley-Davidson, but during his high school years he's been quoted as saying that he owned an Indian Scout—which his father used to sabotage to prevent him riding. Star of Deliverance and Smokey and the Bandit has died aged 82 He was actor, producer, director ... and an occasional biker For us here at Sump, the John Boorman movie Deliverance (1972), was Burt Reynolds' greatest acting moment. It was certainly the point where the cinema world (as opposed to the TV world) began to take him seriously. But most folk will associate Reynolds more closely with popcorn films such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), The Cannonball Run (1981) and possibly the sleazy piece of celluloid entitled Boogie Nights (1997). Either way, his was a compelling presence on the screen, an actor who generally kept our attention, gave good value for money and played the role he was supposed to play whether dramatic, ironic, comedic or sordid. Burt Reynolds was born either in Waycross, Georgia or Lansing, Michigan depending on which account you favour—and Reynolds himself has been quoted as highlighting both locales. 
▲ Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight (the "Midnight Cowboy") in John Boorman's Deliverance (1972). The movie is remembered largely for the famous "Duelling Banjos" scene, and for the moment when actor Ned Beaty (as Bobby) is raped by the hillbillies. But as with Lord of the Flies, the theme revolves around how society can, in the right/wrong circumstances break down with devastating consequences. A movie landmark. He came from mixed ancestry which included Dutch, English, Scots and Irish—and some biographers record that he also claimed a few drops of Cherokee Native American blood. But was that simply to add credibility to two memorable acting roles such as John Hawk in the US TV series Hawk (1966–67) in which he played an Iroquois detective working in New York City, and/or Navajo Joe (1966), the spaghetti western directed by Sergio Corbucci? Either way, he looked fairly convincing in both parts and earned some acting plaudits which added to the developing Burt Reynolds mystique. Acting wasn't his first career choice, however. As a high school graduate he had played American football and looked forward to turning professional. But a (typical) knee injury followed by injuries in a serious car crash put paid to that notion. What followed was a sidelong shift into acting (mostly on New York's Broadway) underpinned by a series of everyday jobs including waiter, dishwasher, truck driver and door security. In the late 1950s he took a number of small television roles. His first real break came with the US TV western series Riverboat (1959–61) in which Reynolds co-starred with Darren McGavin. It's said that Reynolds was chosen because of his (evident) similarity to Marlon Brando. Regardless, he lost the part midway through the series following personal conflict with McGavin and was replaced by Noah Beery Jr, aka "Jim Rockford's dad". More TV appearances followed, and in 1961 Reynolds took a role in Angel Baby, an unmemorable production that nevertheless pushed Reynolds into Armoured Command (1961). Then it was back to Broadway for a spell. Other US TV series roles included Naked City, Ripcord, Everglades, Route 66, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, Flipper, Branded, FBI and 12 O'Clock High. In fact, you could sit in front of your TV set for a couple of months or more and watch Burt Reynolds pop up each day in a different old favourite. His last TV role (voice over) was in 2012 in Archer, an animated US production featuring a bunch of half-assed secret agents. The show regularly invited guest stars to caricature themselves, and Reynolds happily took the bait and kept his flame alive. 
Movie-wise, the list of appearance is huge, largely being overshadowed by Burt Reynolds' more popular films (Smokey, Cannonball, etc). But overall, he took roles in almost 100 movies, his final appearance being in Defining Moments (2018) which is yet to be released. Actually, he had signed up to appear in Quentin Tarantino's latest film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), but Reynolds died before his scenes could be filmed. His personal life was replete with sensational, scandalous and merely newsworthy relationships with women such as Dinah Shore, Sally Fields, Judy Carne, and Loni Anderson—the latter two of which he also married. In his private life, Reynolds established numerous commercial ventures (with mixed fortunes), was heavily involved in NASCAR racing, suffered various and serious health problems—one of them as result of accidentally being hit in the face by a metal chair during filming. That led to him becoming addicted to pain-killers, a habit which he later broke. 
There's so much more to Burt Reynolds including bankruptcy and his "shocking" nude centrefold appearance in a 1972 issue of Cosmopolitan—which happened shortly before Deliverance was set for cinema release (read into that what you will). There was also the films he directed; his brief singing interlude with Dolly Parton; his co-authorship of a children's book; his numerous high-profile friendships; the tales of his womanising shenanigans, and the whole living, breathing, headline-grabbing Burt Reynolds experience. In short, he was simply excellent at being Burt Reynolds, and more than once he commented on that fact. He was 82 when he died, and from all accounts he lived every single one of those years right up to the red line. Burton Leon Reynolds is survived by Quinton, the son he adopted together with ex-wife Loni Anderson, and a very large number of women who, we hear, also knew him pretty well. He's also survived by millions of fans worldwide, and in a low-key way we count ourselves among them.
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Sunday 9th September 2018 is the day Southbourne, Hampshire is the place Well we just checked the weather forecast, and it looks as if this coming Sunday, 9th September 2018, is going to be warm and dry—if a little cloudy—down in Hampshire, England. And that's good news for Comet Classics which is holding an Open Day & Coffee Morning and is inviting along anyone with an interest in old bikes, old petrol pumps, and classic motorcycle ephemera. 
Doors open at 10am. We're advised that up to 100 bikes with be present (and possibly correct), with a few clubs and even the odd celebrity in attendance (and we use the word "odd" advisedly). There's no charge to drop in, and it will be over when it's over. Comet Classics can be found at: Unit 6 Clovelly Business Park, Clovelly Road, Southbourne Industrial Estate, PO10 8PE. You'll find this locale a few miles east of Havant, and a couple of miles north of Hayling Island. Tip: While you're down there, go check out the cool art deco houses on the island—if you're into that kinda stuff, of course. You might have to hunt around a little. But they're there. The contact is Ray on: 07540 776 888. www.cometclassics.co.uk
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9th November 2018 is the auction date So far 48 motorcycle lots are listed H&H Auctions reckon that it's rare to see a Sun Wasp scooter (image immediately above and below) in this prime condition. And we agree. In fact, we can't remember when we last saw one this sorted. The bike is just one of the lots going under the hammer at the firm's sale on Friday 9th November 2018 at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull B92 0EJ. Sun Motorcycles grew from the very fertile soil of the 19th century bicycle industry. It was based in Aston, Birmingham. The origins can be traced to 1885 and James Parkes & Sons. This company made brass fittings and carbon lamps for the lighting industry—hence the later "Sun" name—but soon moved into the bicycle components market which one was of the hot tickets of the day. The following year (1886), the Sun Cycle Fittings Company was founded and the first complete bicycles were manufactured. By 1911, the company moved into motorcycle production, but continued its outstanding interests in cycles and fittings. 
Over the next five decades Sun Cycles designed and built a range of bikes from mopeds to roadsters to scooters. Proprietary engines were obtained from JAP and Villiers. Other (typical) suppliers included Webb (forks), Armstrong (forks) and Lucas (electrics). The machines were all fairly conventional in design, but well built and fit for purpose. Notable models include (in no particular order) the Cyclone, the Tourist, the Overlander, the Hornet, the Challenger, and the Geni. Engine configurations were sidevalve, OHV and two stroke. The Parkes family owned and ran the company until 1961 when they sold the business and rights to Raleigh, which promptly dropped the Sun name. This Wasp scooter is said to be in running condition and features an electric starter. The estimate is £3,000 - £4,000, which isn't unrealistic. But naturally, this lot is more likely to suit the collector—and that market is steadily shrinking as advancing years claims more and more of the old enthusiasts. Other interesting bikes at this sale include: 
▲ 1958 247cc Moto Guzzi Lodola Regolorita. Never seen one in the wild, but from where we're sitting this quarter litre Italian off-roader looks pretty coolisimo. Two-valves, four-strokes, 68mm x 68mm, 17hp @ 7,500rpm, 24mm Dell'Orto carburettor, 18-inch front wheel, 17-inch rear wheel and a top speed of around 80mph. These are the basic numbers for this rare piece of dirt-dishing kit that, we hear, was featured in a 1991 issue of Classic Bike magazine. The estimate is £4,500 - £5,000. 
▲ 1953 MV Agusta Pullman. H&H tried to sell this bike at its July 2018 NMM sale, but no buyer came forward. The estimate was £4,500 - £5,000. That's since been re-estimated at £2,000 - £3,000. We still love the look of this motorcycle, but it doesn't quite fit our current requirements. However, at three grand, it's gotta be tempting someone. 
▲ 1974 Triumph T150. H&H also offered this triple at the July 2018 NMM Sale, but it didn't sell. The earlier £10,000 - £12,000 estimate has been dropped to £8,000 - £10,000, and the bidding starts at £4,000. Check the description carefully if you're seriously interested. The bike was a Category C insurance write-off, but there could be a bargain here. Clearly, the bike wants to be gone. Tip: Sorted Triumph Tridents will make your beard black again, and you won't been needing that Viagra after a long ride. 
▲ 1913 Precision. This 499cc V-twin is well known in the Pioneer motorcycles circle. It's been a regular entrant on the annual Pioneer Run, and its now being offered with a dating certificate and a comprehensive history file (sadly, it sounds like someone just won't be needing this bike anymore, if you follow our depressing drift). It looks to be all original, but has been fitted with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear hub. Over the last few years this motorcycle has been unused, so it's no doubt begging to get back out on the road. The estimate is £7,000 - £9,000. Precision (later Beardmore Precision) was founded by Frank E Baker in 1906. Bicycles were the firm's initial product. By 1910 the first motorcycle engines were built, and complete bikes came along in 1912. This was a great company, both in terms of size and products—notable a huge range of proprietary engines that other manufacturers employed. The company is almost forgotten now. But this bike could turn out to be quite a revelation.  Meanwhile, if you're looking to sell a bike, H&H would like to hear from you asap. Lot numbers have yet to be assigned to this sale, and there are only 48 motorcycles presently listed. But we expect that to pick up over the coming weeks.
We've checked through the other lots, and we see a lot of pre-war stuff there, much of it carrying pretty conservative estimates. Will keep you posted. www.handh.co.uk UPDATE: We had earlier wrongly said that Sun produced a Dayton and Panther model. This was totally incorrect. In fact, Sun Motorcycles shared some bodywork with Dayton and Panther. Apologies for the confusion.
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Reminder: Saturday 27th October 2018, 5th Museum Live Event at the NEC
Bonhams has been sold to private equity group, Epiris (undisclosed price)
NASA employee wins Indian Scout Bobber build comp. $10K prize
"Pavement road signs needed for careless texting pedestrians"—TRL
Average UK petrol up 13p since July. Now £1.30 per litre. Four year high
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Niche American V4 sports-tourer manufacturer has run out of road Customers have been informally notified The headline pretty much says it all for most of us, and there's not a lot more detail at present, anyway. But what we do know is reported on Sump's Motorcycle News pages. Follow the link if you're so minded. Shame that another bike manufacturer has gone. Motus Motorcycles is bust
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