Jones’s Jottings

Hello fellow AMCA European Chapter members and welcome to the 3rd edition of our Chapter newsletter. As a new kid, taking over newsletter editorial is not an easy task and I think you will all join me in congratulating Chapter President Steve Slocombe on his editorship and thank him for his generosity in producing the first two issues free of charge.

As you will have noticed, the newsletter has arrived with your AMCA quarterly magazine. Steve has negotiated a deal with the AMCA Board whereby he gets the magazine bulk mailed to his address and I send him the newsletters. He then takes advantage of a cheaper intra-European mailing rate, with the newsletter enclosed. The AMCA will rebate the saving on trans-Atlantic postage to us to finance the newsletter. I hope it works out. Being such a geographically large and diverse Chapter has its disadvantages in matters such as postage and dissemination of local and international news and once again, I hope you will all join me in thanking the AMCA Board for their co-operation by helping us in this way. Our only alternatives were to either seek sponsorship to finance the newsletter or to introduce a Chapter subscription. I plan to explore the possibility of sponsorship now that I have my first edition under my belt. What we really want to avoid is creating more bureaucracy because we’re all too busy enjoying our hobby of restoring and riding old motorcycles.

My plan at present is to write two issues a year, so the timing is crucial. The coming season’s events calendar has to be sent out early enough to allow you to choose in which ones you’d like to participate. Fitting into the AMCA magazine schedule means that the Euro events calendar issue has to be compiled ready to go out with the winter AMCA edition in December, so I will need local information at the latest in early October. I may leave it as late as possible and enclose the calendar as a loose-leaf insert to give us a little more time. Bear in mind in particular, that our friends outside Europe must have the opportunity to join in too. I’m not sure yet when the second issue should be. What do you suggest?

Editorially, I think it is important from the outset to lay down what I propose to be the magazine’s style. I think you will agree that this magazine must be the voice of us all, no matter where we come from or what make of machine, if any, we favour. Though I own a Harley VL, there will be no Milwaukee monopoly here, but I can only avoid it with your help, so send me plenty of news. I want stuff on Reading Standards rescued in Romania, Ace fours re-activated in Austria and Merkels made good in Macedonia. I’m interested in stuff on makes from Europe too. The biggest contribution we can make to the AMCA in general is our own local knowledge of the history of the motorcycle industry this side of the Atlantic. Let us put more into the AMCA than we expect to get out of it.

Being a Brit, you might be wary of a bias towards the products of my native land. Not a bit of it! Though I very much admire many British made machines, having lived outside the UK for some years I know something of what to us Rosbifs, are obscure makes such as the marvellous Nimbus from Denmark or the beautiful Adler from Germany along with many of the wonders from Italy. Stories on any make will be included, and don’t worry if you are not confident writing in English. Maybe one of your countrymen will help to translate your story. If you are a linguist, let me know and I will put together a list of names to help get stories into print. Otherwise, send it in anyway and I’ll do my best to decipher it. Who knows what fun we’ll have with your shaky English and my shaky translation?

Whilst on the subject of lists, I’d also like to compile one of marque and model specialists, an A to Z of who knows what about which motorcycle, wherever it was made in the world. I recall from my time in Norway, many friends who were major authorities on Zundapps or BSA twins for example. Let’s hear from all who are willing to share their knowledge. I’d like to venture at this point, with choking voice, that the list might also include Japanese makes. (Cough splutter). What do you think? Letters and comments on any subject to do with motorised two or three wheeled vehicles are welcome.

Finally, let’s have your ads. If you’re looking for parts, or project bikes, or if you have parts for sale or trade, let me know and I will put them in.

Cover photo: Inside the Milwaukee ‘shack’ as depicted at the Wieze show as featured in Jean-Paul’s report inside.