B.S.A Factory

The B.S.A factory employed over 40,00 people at it's height. These Youtube videos show what life was like at the B.S.A factory in 1958. How many British employers would bother organising a sports day like this, let alone pay people for the day off work? It is understandable why most B.S.A employees would stay at the factory for the duration of their working lives, and one can also understand why the factory was sorely missed when it closed and then was demolished in 1978.

The Mighty B.S.A. Bantam, Was It More Of An Eagle?

 Bsa Bantam D1 125cc,

Image found at: http://images.westendclassics.co.uk/stock/bantam.JPG

The B.S.A Bantam was the first bike owned by many lads and lasses in the 50's 60's and 70's. Production started on the 24th June 1948 of the D1 model. The Bantam underwent a few model changes as the years went by, 125cc, 150cc and finally 175cc.

BSA Bantam 150cc

Image found at:http://www.cheffins.co.uk/assets/catalogues/lots/239/1015.jpg

My favourite, the BSA Bantam B175, this one from 1971

Image found at:http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/bsa-bantam-b175.jpg

As a classic bike I think it has a lot going for it. Cheap to run (100mpg approx), plenty of parts available, and as reliable as other bikes of the era. It will plod around at a comfortable 50mph, the 175 will do 65mph at a push. It is such a shame they stopped making them. there is no accurate figure for how many Bantams were built, but it is estimated at around 500,000. 

                                                      Image found at: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YWin-ojFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg

I just read a really good book about the Bantam by Owen Wright. Full of interesting facts and figures, it also is chocablock full of good photos and adverts. There are even first hand accounts of some extraordinary journeys, such as that of Brenda Collins who travelled from Canada to Mexico on a Bantam in 1952 covering more than 10,000 miles.

This lad on Youtube made an excellent video of his Bantam, even now it attracts riders of all ages.

Swainby Classic Car & Vehicle Show Sunday 26th August 2012

Today we paid a visit to the Classic car & vehicle Show at Swainby, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire. It was only £4 for two of us, a bargain. I was really looking forward to it as I had heard that there was a large contingent of BSA bantams present. I am interested in buying one so I was hoping for a chat with an owner, but they were either ignoring me or too busy too talk to me. Nevermind. Apart from that we enjoyed our look round some excellent examples of lovely vintage vehicles.

Real Radio Legends Where Are They Now?

Micky Horswill, Malcolm MacDonald and Bernie Slavern all dropped from real Radio phone in show The Legends.This has caused an outcry amongst fans, me I liked to listen to them at work. It was bad enough losing Gary Rowell and Chris Coopland with the match commentaries but this is the final straw. I call upon all the general public -BOYCOTT REAL RADIO.

Have a read of this:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/07/24/three-legends-axed-from-real-radio-phone-in-show-72703-31460453/


In the meantime where are they now?