Motors & Me: Al Nolan
The two bikes I currently have on the road are a 1924 Scott Super Squirrel and a 1959 BSA C15.
I’ve always loved bikes - push bikes, road bikes, off road bikes. Anything with two wheels. The Scott has been in our family since 1952 and the BSA since 1980. They were both owned by my uncle John Nolan.
In the Scott is a water cooled 596cc twin cylinder two-stroke engine designed and built a long time before this type of engine reached the GP circuits. However by then exposed flywheels, hand gearchanges, advance/retard levers, air slides, oil drippers, one jet carbs etc. were well in the past.
I’m probably a petrol head / Sunday driver now - but any day will do.
My first bike was a Honda CD175. It was quickly followed by a Honda CB 400 Four which was love at first sight and also went from A to B and everywhere in between - including a European tour honeymoon.
I still have the 175 and the 400 - 4 and a CBR 400RR.
A dream drive would be a re-run of the honeymoon on the 400 - 4. I’m rebuilding it and hope to get it finished in less time than the Scott rebuild which took from 1969 until 2013.
The best passenger would be my wife. The Navigator.
The worst passenger would be a wife who couldn’t navigate!
There’s no need for one. The BSA tries to vibrate bits and pieces off so it’s best to listen out for escaping parts. Two strokes like to consume themselves, especially 80-year-old ones. So it’s ears open, fingers on the clutch lever and don’t forget that even cyclists have better brakes.
