INCOMING!

REDDY FOR ANYTHING

Just to update you on the ‘Red Star’ which appeared in RC169. The little Beeza is running fine, the best it has ever done in my custodianship. I thought Rowena was a little cruel about the front brake; it does work, just not as fast as more modern ones and is as good as my B31. It also allows you time to contemplate where you want to end up… or should I say land!

I’d like to thank some of the people who have helped me with the BSA over the years. There’s Pete Webb from Fremington who re-sleeved the carb, Raysons who made the silencers, the North Devon Motorcycle Club ‘breakdown crew’ for their assistance (twice!). And everyone I’ve bored with the latest disaster.

Mike Dixon, member

JAWA DOWN UNDER

You might remember our Jawa Californian which appeared back in RC145. Recently, Charlotte and I have been spending some time in Queensland, and were lunching at an old mining town, Imbil. We bought what looked like an acceptable snack and settled down on a bench fashioned by pioneers to enjoy it. Just as I took the first bite of a breaded chicken burger stuffed with broccoli, the familiar drone of a two-stroke motorcycle pierced the air. Charlotte spat out the first bite of a deep fried vegetable dim sum and shouted; ‘It’s a Jawa!’

Sure enough a motorcyclist was turning in the road and accelerating in the opposite direction... on a Jawa Californian no less.

Abandoning the broccoli stuffed chicken breaded thing I took off in lukewarm pursuit, fearful that this chap might not have read my article on Jawa Californians in RC. He pulled over by a coffee shop a little further down the road, as I hot-footed behind him.

‘Ahhh ahhh ahhh,’ I said when I caught up. ‘It’s a Jawa Californian!’

‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I know it is.’

‘But have you read my article on Jawa Californians in RealClassic?’, I asked.

‘I have read that article,’ he said, ‘but I’m sure there was mention of a sequel – a road test.’

And indeed, like a fool, I had promised some follow up.

Gary found