Ron

Barry have you asked Rory? Ron

I replied to your PM. Have you checked your inbox? Ron

I would want to first check the carb is built correctly. Have you got a 275 Carb fitted? A problem at mid revs could be wrong or damaged Needle jet or needle or throttle slide or all. The Amal book quotes a 7/8" 275A/2N with 120 main jet, a 106 needle jet, a 5/4 slide with the needle in the third groove from top. They will probably run better with a 276 carb if you have one but should run fine on the standard carb.Ron

My memory!!! Yep sorry for high-jacking the thread. I got carried away. Ron

I was with some of our Dutch friends in Carrantan this year. One was on a B31 that jambed in top gear. We started the bike up on the rear stand with wheel spinning. Then there was a lot of clutch slipping through the traffic in town, but made it easily the 45 miles back to camp. Ron

Blimey Guy! I think your boots are too big! Ron

I have seen these cam plates in brass rather than monkey metal. Not sure when/where they derived though. Ron

You could probably write a book Steve.

Yes I put Jan in touch with the VOC archivist. He is a mine of information. He actually told me the actual AA unit that my MDD was re directed to after it's cancellation to the French government. It's the only bike in my collection that I could mark accurately for sure. Unfortunately he only uses his computer for storing his archive, so correspondence is by snail mail only. Ron

Thanks Rik. Good old Wally!! I missed that by only glancing over it at the time. But then again I know I can rely on you for the numbers thing. And of course these Registration numbers will have been sold off by number plate dealers by now to, Frederick Terance Entwhistle or someone. I wonder if they were MDD's or MAF's? There is a rumour that 500 Velo's were torpedoed to the bottom of the Channel on their way to France. But I'm sure France was in the Grip of the Nazi's before the bikes were dispatched and subsequently reallocated to British units. Ron

I think so too Stefano! The MAF was ordered by the WO to be brought up to a more WD spec. With built in bash plate, panniers, pillion, air filter and blackout lights. I already have one of these Miller fag end rear lamps in readiness. (Very rare! They were only ever fitted to Fleas, MAF's and a few Miller equipped Matchless G3L's). Less than a 1000 MAF's were produced, before the WO cancelled all orders with Velocette and put them onto other war work. I guess Velo's were slow to produce, being more hand built, and there was a need for more front line machines that were familiar to mechanics and with a good spares back up. This picture and more info in 'British Forces Motorcycles 1925-45' or as we call it O&M. Ron

Because not much is happening here and just for interest sake I thought I would post some pictures of my Velocette MDD. (MAC WD). Fingers crossed! I am hoping to acquire the follow on model MAF next year to make a nice pair of stable mates. Ron

John, it matters not a jot to me and lots of others about Axis vehicles. After all it is all part of the history. However I have seen people getting upset about the presence of guys in German uniforms, especially the SS. A few years ago a group of Danish re-enactors arrived in St Mere Eglise on an NSU Kettenkrad and dressed as SS troops. Some French locals got into an argument with them and the police were called. There was no hesitation! These blokes were bundled into the back of a van and they and their Kettenkrad were taken outside of town with a promise of prosecution if they returned. Unbelievably they turned up the next day in the same attire at the military fair in the village of Ver Ville, but they were booed out of the village. They just refused to drop the SS image????? Ron

Yes John. The last bloke thought that he was eligible because his BMW was in Dutch markings. But the rules were, and are quite specific! All machines must be of Allied manufacture and presented in reasonably correct livery. In 2009 we also had to exclude a bloke who booked in and turned up for the Guinness run on a wartime Matchless that had been civilised and painted shiny red and chrome. As the pub landlord would say...."You have to have rules! Otherwise where would you be?" Ron

And I copied this Royal Corps of Signals marking, exactly as it is from an early war time picture. Ron

Ace Classics in London sell good reproduction rear stands. Give them a shout. Most of there stuff is postwar. But lots of Triumph parts remained unaltered from pre war period bikes. Ron

Chris all the information is on this forum in the first 4-5 sticky posts. http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3155626639&frmid=16&cmd=show But email shaef2014@gmail.com for an entry form. But please be aware that I will be closing entries at the end of this month, by which time I will have to produce final numbers to the camp site. Regards Ron

Hi again John. After re reading your last post, I think you may have misunderstood my comments. When I said you are free to bring your BM to Normandy.....I meant just that! After all, 'It's a free country'... But our tour and ride outs are strictly for Allied forces machines. It's all in the original booking on information. Ron

Yes Richard I wouldn't publish his contact details without first asking him. But my many meetings with him and his family over the last 25 years, indicate to me that he is more than happy to talk about MV's at any time, any place, anywhere!! He also does the best Tommy Cooper impression I've ever seen......Fez and all. Ron

That will be Alec Small then! Ron

John you are perfectly free to bring your German bike to Normandy. But our tour and Guinness world record run is strictly for Allied forces motorcycles. We did have a guy on a German outfit who turned up on the 65th Guinness run, who tacked himself on the end of the row of bikes and refused to budge. He risked jeopardising our event and we had to make it clear to the Guinness organisation that he wasn't included in our final number of 143 bikes. Regards Ron (main organiser 2014 DR tour)

I think it's a Polsten Gun. Ron

I've only ever cocked and fired mine a couple of times (with no projectile). It takes a lot of effort to cock the thing and the recoil can be very painful if you don't hug the But very tightly into your shoulder. As a matter of interest. Jeremy Clarkson's (from TV's Top Gear) Father in Law won a VC at Arnhem for attacking three German tanks with a PIAT and firing it from the hip!!! Ron

As a start reference for my Morris 8cwt, Tony let me take lots of pictures and measurements of the wireless set up in that Snipe when I was boating on the Thames back in about 1989. Afterwards he took me back to my boat in his Rolls Royce. Nice folk! Ron

Yes if you view his other items you will see he also makes 7/8" grips and 'Y' straps. Ron