Unfortunately, it might have offered some clues to the bike’s history, as the engine is a rare 250 JAP racing model – one of very few known survivors.
It was in remarkably good condition. Ray put it into a 1934 Triumph Tiger 70 frame, which is somewhere near contemporary with the engine. A four-speed Burman gearbox and clutch took care of the transmission. The petrol tank is Triumph, but cleverly modified to look period correct. The seat was an autojumble find, the mudguard pad came from Wassell. DEP at Maidstone made the one-off exhaust, the Brooklands exhaust was an indulgence. Nice to think it might even be authentic – but who knows?
The red-background race number plates came about from an entry for the recent Belgian Classic TT, at Gedinne in the Ardennes. In spite of a hectic journey to get to the meeting, appalling weather and track conditions kept bike (and rider) in the van.
