IN THE ARCANE rituals of black magic, only the most skilled practitioners can bring the dead back to life.
When retired precision toolmaker Mick Hughes wanted to unleash his artistic impulses, he knew his creation would have a traditional British twin engine as its thumping great heart.
The ‘magic’ would come in seamlessly blending a Triumph motor to modern components to create a harmonious whole – and to manage that, Mick would need to be some sort of wizard…
“It all started way back in 1957 when I was 13 years old,” he explains. “I joined the air cadets where Bob Kenworthy, an ex-Manx GP rider, was in charge.
He also ran the motorcycle display team. If we showed willing by cleaning the bikes, painting or sweeping up, then he would let us have a half-hour ride on one of the Bantams.
After my first ride, I was scared witless but I was hooked. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Read more in November’s edition of CBG
