World Record

Soon after the Club Annual General Meeting was held in February 1972 the new committee laid plans to put the Leicester Phoenix Motorcycle Club on the records - quite literally.

First they had to lay the record straight, was there an existing record and who held it?

The following letter, from Social Secretary Keith Williams, has no date but was probably sent in late May 1972, possibly to Triumph Motorcycles (This letter does not mention that the attempt will be made on a Norton!)

 

 

LEICESTER PHOENIX
MOTORCYCLE CLUB

The Rocket Inn
Stephenson Drive
New Parks Estate
Leicester

K C Williams,
308 Victoria Park Road,
Leicester.
Dear Sirs, At the recent B M F rally two committee members approached one of your staff requesting information on the existing world non-stop motorcycling record, but we have as yet not heard from you. As we are now well under way with this project, having a machine and track on which to make the attempt, we are still unsure whether there is a record to beat or not. Our aim is not at speed or distance, but to keep the machine moving constantly, and this includes refuelling and changing riders , the vehicle will be kept moving constantly. I have seen a claim from Triumph saying that they rode 13 hours at Prague without stopping. This was about 1929. We would be grateful for any information over this attempt. We would prefer to keep this matter confidential until closer to the date of the attempt. Yours faithfully, K C Williams,
Soc.Sec.

A similar letter to the above, sent to Motor Cycle by Dave Smith received the following swift and encouraging response.

 

 

Specialist and Professional Press Ltd.

A member of IPC Business Press Limited
161-166 Fleet Street London EC4
Telephone 01-353 5011
Telegrams and Telex
Mocycles Iliffepres 25137 London
Motor Cycle
25 May 1972. D. B. Smith, Esq.,
14 Huntingdon Road,
Leicester.
Dear Mr. Smith, Many thanks for your letter of May 23, and I am very interested to learn of your club's idea of setting a non-stop record on a Norton. I know of no existing record for a machine continuing to move forward under its own power, though I believe engines have been kept running for long periods in various Maudes Trophy attempts. Presumably your riders will change over by walking alongside at a bottom-gear tick-over, and I suppose you could refuel in similar circumstances. Assuming no mechanical breakdown, or seizure from lack of oil, you should be able to keep going until the tyres are worn out. Do, please, let us know your plans as soon as they are concrete. Best Wishes
Yours sincerely
Vic Willoughby
Technical Editor.

Once assured that there was a prospect to create a record, Club Chairman Eric Tindall began to get things organised.

 

 

LEICESTER PHOENIX
MOTORCYCLE CLUB

The Rocket Inn
Stephenson Drive
New Parks Estate
Leicester

The Manager
Cadwell Park
Lincs
Dear Sir, During a recent committee meeting a motion was put forward and carried to look into the possibilities of attempting to set a new world record of NON STOP motorcycle riding by a team of four competent riders on a completely standard Norton Commando. Due to the difficulties which would be encountered attempting a record of this type on public roads it was decided to approach an organisation who have facilities for such an event to be held. This attempt is not aimed at high speed or distance within set time limits record but at the amount of time the motorcycle can be kept continuously moving in a forwrd motion under its own power. At the moment we are making preliminary enquiries to the Guinness Book of Records, Motor Cycle News, motorcycle magazine publications in general and the ACU. Our club is a member of the BMF. Could you please let us have relevant details and information with regards the possibility of hiring your circuit some time during this summer June-September. I would be most grateful. Yours faithfully E.Tindall
Chairman

 

 

CADWELL PARK

INTERNATIONAL  RACING  CIRCUIT

(Mansfield R.Wilkinson & Sons)

Managing Partner -
CHAS WILKINSON F.S.V.A.
The Old Manor House
Cadwell Park, Nr. Louth, Lincs.
Tel. Stenigot 248 & 651

Established 1934         Full Road Circuit, 2¼ miles
Racing Venue for Cars, Motorcycles, Stock Cars, Karts

CW/CP/VL/60
15th June, 1972
E. Tindall, Esq.,
Chairman,
Leicester Phoenix M.C.C.,
85 Uppingham Road,
LEICESTER
Dear Mr. Tindall, I thank you for your letter of 10th instant and note with interest your proposed record attempt. Could you give me any idea of the expected duration of this test? It may be possible to accommodate the event which would have to take palce between Monday morning anf Friday evening - an important point to consider would be the amount of noise through the night - I presume the machine would be propoerly silenced? I await your esteemed reply. Yours faithfully, Chas Wilkinson
MANAGING PARTNER.

 

 

At about this time Eric moved home from Uppingham Road to Essex Road. Things were about to get even busier!

 

 

LEICESTER PHOENIX
MOTORCYCLE CLUB

The Rocket Inn
Stephenson Drive
New Parks Estate
Leicester

The Manager
Cadwell Park Motor Racing Circuit
Near Louth
Lincolnshire.
Dear Sir, In reply to your recent offer of letting the Phoenix Motorcycle Club use your circuit for their forthcoming NON STOP record attempt, could you inform us if the Thursday and Friday of either of the last two weeks in September would be suitable as you previously stated week days would be more convenient to you. Also could you extend to us the use of the petrol pumps. We estimate in excess of 25-30 gallons of fuel being used. Yours faithfully E Tindall

 

 

CADWELL PARK

INTERNATIONAL  RACING  CIRCUIT

(Mansfield R.Wilkinson & Sons)

Managing Partner -
CHAS WILKINSON F.S.V.A.
The Old Manor House
Cadwell Park, Nr. Louth, Lincs.
Tel. Stenigot 248 & 651

Established 1934         Full Road Circuit, 2¼ miles
Racing Venue for Cars, Motorcycles, Stock Cars, Karts

CP/PAH/60
2nd August, 1972
E. Tindall, Esq.,
Chairman,
Leicester Phoenix M.C.C.,
108 Essex Road,
LEICESTER
Dear Sir, Your letter of 30th July is acknowledged in Mr. Wilkinson's absence from office. We expect him back during the early part of next week and will place your letter before him for his early attention. Yours faithfully P A Hinsley (Miss)
Secretary to Mr C Wilkinson.

 

 

Meanwhile Dave Smith was still searching for information on existing records.

 

 

LEICESTER PHOENIX
MOTORCYCLE CLUB

The Rocket Inn
Stephenson Drive
New Parks Estate
Leicester

11th August 1972

Auto-Cycle Union
31 Belgrave Square
London SW1

Dear Sirs

The Leicester Phoenix Motorcycle Club, of which I am the secretary will be staging an attept at setting up a world record for keeping a motorcycle in continuous forward motion under its own power later this year, and out committtee is wondering if you could help us over two points.

The first of them is do you know of any previous record? We have tried the motorcycle press, who knew of nothing except memory of a claim in Triumph Motorcycles' advertising in the late 20s, when a record of 13 hours was mentioned. Also we have contacted the Guinness Book of Records who again drew a blank.

I might add that our plan is to drive a Norton Commando around Cadwell Park circuit for 24 hours without a halt. We plan to refuel and change riders on the move.

Our second problem is that of verifying the record, if our attempt is successful. The attempt will be held mid week, probably starting around midday Wednesday or Thursday and will be one of the last two weeks in September.

Our reply from the Guinness Book of Records suggested we obtain an impartial scrutineer, and we were wondering if the ACU could provide us with such a person.

If you can help us, would you favour us with a reply giving any costs. If not, perhaps you could offer an alternative method of verifying our claim.

Yours faithfully

David B Smith
Secretary: Leicester Phoenix

 

The response from Ken Shierson of the ACU is reproduced here without comment.

 

AUTO-CYCLE UNION

Founded in 1903 as a Branch of the Royal Automobile Club

31 Belgrave Square, London. SW1X 8QQ

Telephone 01-235 7636 Telegrams 'AUTOCYCLE, LONDON. S.W.1.

KES/BD
21 August 1972 D. B. Smith Esq.,
Leicester Phoenix MCC,
14 Huntingdon Road,
LEICESTER
Dear Sir, Thank you for your letter of 11 August enquiring about the possibility of establishing a record for a 24 hour non-stop run. Firstly let me say that there can be no question of a record being recognised for this purpose; the only way this can be acknowledge is by a certified test. This was in fact done in the 1920's when an Ariel was run for 5000 miles non-stop. The organisation of a certified test for such a purpose would be extremely expensive. You will appreciate that the Union would have to be assured that a machine was under constant observation during the period of its attempted task and the cost would probably exceed £200. I am really wondering what you hope to achieve apart from having this performance recorded in the Guinness Book of Records! The ordinary motorcyclist would confidently expect any machine to run non-stop for 24 hours and what it would prove is doubtful. If you do wish to pursue this, perhaps you would let me know and I will be pleased to go into it further with you. Yours faithfully K.E. Shierson
Secretary

President: The Most Hon.The Marquess Camden, D.L., J.P. Secretary: K. E. Shierson :