Excellent story Bill! Your dad must have been quite a wizard if he could put that motor together without a book!
I have never seen one in person but I sure admire the design. They are way too cool and I would love to ride one.
Thanks Aaron, I'm pretty proud of my Dad in a lot of ways. Being a mechanic is what my Granddad and my Dad did for years. My Granddad taught my Dad by having him build
his first motorcycle (an Indian, don't remember what model, probably a Scout) and my Dad did me the same way and had me build
my first motorcycle (a 1958 Jawa 125cc). I presume my Granddad did my Dad the same way my Dad did me. Dad handed me a
Parts Book and said, "It's upstairs, you just have to put it together!"
I just couldn't believe it. I thought when he said that he was going to give me a motorcycle, it would already be together and all I'd have to do is ride. I might add that the upstairs part of my Granddad's motorcycle shop was not very organized. Parts were everywhere! The only thing organized about it was that parts of each brand of motorcycle, were separated. I had to look all over the floor to find screws, nuts, bolts, engine parts, trans parts and such.
It truly
Was an experience and as I grew older, I appreciated it more and more. I was truly fortunate to have grown up in
that environment and only wish I could have been born sooner and could have been more involved and possibly have keep that motorcycle shop going when my Granddad died in Dec 68'.
Yeah, I'd like to ride one of those Ariels too. Largest British bike I've ever ridden was a Royal Enfield TT Interceptor and it was Awesome to me. Another one I'd like to ride is a mid 50's BSA Gold Star.