BSA Gold Star
For the last three years (yes you read that right) I've been trying to sort through the thousands of photos and documents in the family collection. I've not actually finished yet, as I'm not sure quite how best to deal with some of it. Thankfully, a Government related archive body has agreed to take some of the historical stuff related to my Grandad. I was having a 'final push' on documenting his papers yesterday and for the first time ever, I came across this shot. That's my Grandad on the pillion seat of what I assume is a BSA DBD34 café racer - but as ever I'm happy to be corrected if it isn't.
What is he doing there? The honest answer is I don't know for sure because there aren't any notes on the back of the photo. But here is my guess - I have met (many, many years ago) the gentleman 'riding' the Goldie who is clearly a mayor. My Grandad was a keen advocate of road safety and was on the committee of a major UK road safety organisation - in his spare time. I think the road sign "Halt at major road ahead" is another clue to the road safety aspect. The guy on the right looks to me as though he might be the owner of the Gold Star with his leather jacket on - looking nervous in case Harold kicks the bike over and he and my Grandad disappear over the horizon on his 'pride and joy'.
I was really thrilled to find this as an avid fan of 'café racers' - in fact I've got 185 photos of them in my Flickr 'café racers' album. I built one myself back in the 1970s.
I sent this photo to my friend John, yesterday, who did a bit of research behind the scenes on the DVLA vehicle check website using the registration number LRJ 31.
It was first registered in April 1957
The BSA hasn't been taxed since the late 1980s but the reg number still applies to the bike - i.e. it hasn't been sold for thousands of pounds to be put on another vehicle.
I know that there is quite an active British Motorcycle contingent on Flickr - wouldn't it be brilliant if we could find out where it is now and who owns the BSA? Or even better, get a photo of it now. Its probably in a private collection or in a museum if it hasn't been used on a British road in 33 years or so.
If only my Grandad had had the foresight (and money) to buy the Gold Star... :-)
BSA Gold Star
For the last three years (yes you read that right) I've been trying to sort through the thousands of photos and documents in the family collection. I've not actually finished yet, as I'm not sure quite how best to deal with some of it. Thankfully, a Government related archive body has agreed to take some of the historical stuff related to my Grandad. I was having a 'final push' on documenting his papers yesterday and for the first time ever, I came across this shot. That's my Grandad on the pillion seat of what I assume is a BSA DBD34 café racer - but as ever I'm happy to be corrected if it isn't.
What is he doing there? The honest answer is I don't know for sure because there aren't any notes on the back of the photo. But here is my guess - I have met (many, many years ago) the gentleman 'riding' the Goldie who is clearly a mayor. My Grandad was a keen advocate of road safety and was on the committee of a major UK road safety organisation - in his spare time. I think the road sign "Halt at major road ahead" is another clue to the road safety aspect. The guy on the right looks to me as though he might be the owner of the Gold Star with his leather jacket on - looking nervous in case Harold kicks the bike over and he and my Grandad disappear over the horizon on his 'pride and joy'.
I was really thrilled to find this as an avid fan of 'café racers' - in fact I've got 185 photos of them in my Flickr 'café racers' album. I built one myself back in the 1970s.
I sent this photo to my friend John, yesterday, who did a bit of research behind the scenes on the DVLA vehicle check website using the registration number LRJ 31.
It was first registered in April 1957
The BSA hasn't been taxed since the late 1980s but the reg number still applies to the bike - i.e. it hasn't been sold for thousands of pounds to be put on another vehicle.
I know that there is quite an active British Motorcycle contingent on Flickr - wouldn't it be brilliant if we could find out where it is now and who owns the BSA? Or even better, get a photo of it now. Its probably in a private collection or in a museum if it hasn't been used on a British road in 33 years or so.
If only my Grandad had had the foresight (and money) to buy the Gold Star... :-)