This is the home of the Iceni CAM Magazine - a free e-magazine all about Cyclemotors, Autocycles & Mopeds. It was launched on 15th April 2007 and the first four issues can be downloaded here. (For non-computerised folks, printed copies are available at 99p per edition; we can accommodate mail order too at £1.50 per single edition or £6 for a year's subscription.)
Its an e-magazine all about cyclemotors, autocycles and mopeds that carries road test & feature articles, rally reports, free adverts and other assorted information. An independent production, it has strong ties to East Anglian Cyclemotor Club and also to the NACC sections in the area: Suffolk Section, Essex Chapter and Cambridgeshire Section.
Although it is based in East Anglia, it is not limited to that area. Much that appears in the magazine is of universal appeal. We welcome contributions, whereever they are from, and are also happy to help to publicise any events for cyclemotors, autocycles and mopeds.
We aim to publish four times annually and the publication dates will be synchronised to key events in the local calendar: the NACC Radar Run, the Peninsularis Run, Copdock Motor Cycle Show and the NACC Mince Pie Run. It's purely an enthusiast production, and all produced on a tiny budget. Nevertheless, we think you'll be pretty impressed The free downloadable version will be posted on this website on the same day as the printed version goes on sale.
The first four issues of CAM magazine were very well received. Thank you all for your comments; they are much appreciated. Several of you have also made donations, which has helped enormously in getting Iceni CAM going.
Now issue number five is available. It's the biggest one we've produced so far so we hope you enjoy it as much - or even more than - the previous four issues.
All the things you'd expect in a magazine for enthusiasts: event report, notices of events, advertisements... In addition each issue will contain a major article about a particular machine.
Started back in July 2005 as a road test and photoshoot, the New Hudson article was originally intended for another magazine as a stand alone feature on the 2F 'restyled' model. Then just to confuse things, only two months later, along comes the JDL New Hudson! With both of these 'bagged and tagged', what to do then? Publish as separate road tests, or get hold of an early type NH-2F and produce a comprehensive marque feature? Neither it seemed, as the series became interrupted by political wrangling, then 18 months becalmed, drifting in the doldrums, before the fresh breeze of IceniCAM filled the sails again. Following issue 2, IceniCAM received the offer of two superb NH-2F models to bridge the gap, which completely changed the picture, and we were increasingly looking at the prospect of a monster mega-feature not really seen since those popular desperado's appeared in The James Gang of October 2004.
With the two remaining Hudsons in for test on the same day, this meant we'd had three photoshoots spaced over two years, so couldn't co-ordinate anything for group pictures, but figured the bikes were so good they'd speak for themselves. The Smith's Arm title was simply taken from the New Hudson logo, but there was a lot of thrashing about with the text to beat the disjointed elements of the article into shape. Unhappy with the original intro, it's hard to put a finger on where the 'time-penny' idea actually came from; it just developed one morning, and stunned our proof readers, so that was well in! To complete the package we just felt it needed a genuine 1903 penny, the significance of the date being the year that New Hudson was founded.
In another unusual twist, you can bid to buy our original 1903 penny as featured in the New Hudson article, since we're going to be auctioning it off in the "Market" section over the next 3 months. Just e-mail us your bid and we'll post up the running, which closes the week before IceniCAM 6 goes for print, and we'll notify the result in the next edition. All proceeds go straight to IceniCAM funds, and we'll also credit an article to the winner.
The Smith's Arm" cost £40 to generate (£35 film, developing, prints & CDs, and £5 fuel). We much appreciate Mike Daborn bringing his 2F up from Sussex for the road test and photoshoot, gratefully saving us a lot of running around. Les Gobbett again collects the sponsorship credit for The Leicester Enthusiasts on this second successive feature article, since as well as an interest in Raleigh mopeds, he also happens to have recently restored a New Hudson 2F and was keen to see this article appear too!
It seemed to take no time at all before phone calls, letters, and e-mails came flooding in about the NH article; and thanks for all the positive feedback. It's always a surprise how many people pick up these new editions so keenly, and nice to know they're being so well received.
For Reed Revolution, we'd had our eye on this machine for a while, so when the 51V came in for some work, we took the opportunity to cover it with a feature. Owner Steve Eastall isn't a moped enthusiast or anything like that, he just uses the bike for everyday transport, reliably taking him to work in all weathers - which is exactly as intended, not swanning around occasional sunny Sunday rallies. The Motobécane has to work hard for its keep too, since there are some significant hills on its regular route, and the rider is a strapping chap, more than twice the weight of the bike itself! This mini-feature was ridiculously cheap to produce, just £4.50p for film, developing, prints & CD, though that hardly reflects the huge amount of work put in rebuilding the bike to return it to a representative standard for roadtest and photoshoot. Moby enthusiast Lindsay Neill scores the sponsorship credit for the East Anglian Cyclemotor Club - North of London branch.
We've not given much away in the magazine about what's coming for edition 6, but you might find it's a different set of cryptic clues on the website!
We're pleased that IceniCAM is now well established, created by our belief in what we do, but driven by you, the true enthusiasts, who believe in what we do too.
Travel time with IceniCAM as our intensive researches reveal more previously unpublished material. Join the IceniCAM crusade to feature, roadtest and report the most obscure and exotic Cyclemotors, Autocycles and Mopeds.
Well, there's this Website... we've put a lot of useful information here, and we're alwas adding to it. We have a directory of useful people to know. Information on local events: route sheets, maps, etc, are here as downloadable documents and, after each run, we put photos of the event on this website. There's also a market place where you can buy and sell mopeds, autocycles, cyclemotors and other related items
As each edition of the magazine is published, we add to our collection of articles. From Edition 3 of the magazine, we introduced another evolution. Previously, features in the articles section had reflected what appeared in the magazine, but you may now discover a bit of extra content has crept into some items as they've transferred to the website - you might call it "The Directors Cut". The problem with printed magazines is editing everything to fit page sizes and space, and there can sometimes be bits you'd like to include, but they have to be left out to fit the available space. The web articles don't need to be constrained by the same limitations so, although the text will remain the same, the 'Directors Cut' graphic in the header indicates the item carries extra pictures and bits that didn't make it to the magazine.
We have also started up an Information Service - if you want to know more about your moped, we can help.
Iceni CAM Magazine is committed to celebrating all that's good about the Cyclemotor, Moped and Autocycle scene in our area; researching toward the advancement of the pool of knowledge about cyclemotors, autocycles, old mopeds, and other oddities; and the publication of original material.
Though the Iceni Magazine is only about a year old, the production team has been working together for several years, generating articles for other publications. We are a declared non-profit making production, though we still need to fund everything somehow to keep the show on the road.
The magazine is free on line, and the nominal price of supplying hard copies to non-computerised folks is pitched only to cover printing and postage. All advertising is free since we believe that the few people left out there providing parts & service for these obsolete machines do so as a hobby and an interest. This involves far more effort than reward, and they should be appreciated for the assistance they provide.
Overheads involve operation of the website, and particularly the generation of features. Articles like 'Last Flight of the Eagle' can cost as little as £20 to complete, while others have cost up to £150 to generate, eg: Top Cat on the Leopard Bobby.
How long does it take to research, produce, and get these feature articles to press? Well, up to two years of preparatory research in some cases, where little is known about the machine or its makers, and where nothing has been published before. Then, collating all the information and interviews, drafting and re-drafting the text, travel and photoshoots typically account for up to 40 to 50 hours to deliver the package to editing.
There are many examples where these articles have become the definitive reference material for previously unpublished machines like Mercury Mercette & Hermes, Leopard Bobby, Ostler Mini-Auto, Dunkley Whippet & Popular, Stella Minibike, Ambassador Moped, Elswick Hopper Lynx, and many others.
We're committed to continuing to produce these articles, because we believe it needs to be done, and we've got a proven track record for achieving it. Nobody else has done it in 50 odd years, so if we don't do it - who will?
The start of a new year seems like a suitable time to whet your appetite for what's ahead with an update of machines with developing articles for future features: Ariel 3, Ariel Pixie, Atco Trainer minicar, Avanti Super City, Busy Bee cyclemotor, Cyc-Auto (Wallington Butt), Cyc-Auto (Villiers), Dot ViVi, Douglas/Vespa Vespino Tourist Rally, Dunkley S65, Dunkley Whippet Super Sports, Elswick-Hopper VAP MIRA test prototype, Francis-Barnett Powerbike 50, Garelli Como, Gilera Sport 50, Hercules Her-cu-motor, Honda Chaley, Honda Dax, Honda P50 ohc, Honda PC50 ohv, James Comet, James Trade Carrier Autocycle, Kerry Capitano, Kriedler Florett, Levules Trade Carrier Autocycle, Moto Guzzi Dingo, Norman Trade Carrier Autocycle, Norman Lido, Piaggio Ape, Phillips Panda, Powell Joybike, Raynal Autocycle, SIM minibike, Solifer Speed, Solo 726, Sun Autocycle, Sun Motorette, Suzuki Street Magic, Tailwind cyclemotor, Vespa Bravo, Vincent Firefly, Yamaha Chappy.
The working list changes all the time as articles are completed and published, and further new machines become added - so as you see, there's certainly no shortage of material.
Readers have probably noticed a number of the articles collecting sponsorship credits, and we're very grateful of the donations people have made toward IceniCAM, which certainly assures we're going forward into another year. We don't need a lot of money since IceniCAM is a declared non-profit making organisation, and operates on a shoestring (and we'd like to keep it that way) - run by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
It's easy to sponsor an article by either picking a machine from the forward list, and we'll attach your credit to it, or simply making a donation. There is no fixed amount, it's entirely up to you, and however large or small, we're grateful for any contribution to keep the show on the road.
If a vehicle you're interested in seeing an article about isn't in the list, then let us know and we'll see about trying to add it in the programme, but we do need access to examples - perhaps you have a machine you'd like to offer for a feature?
See the Contact Page for how to: Subscribe to the magazine - Make a donation - Sponsor an article - Enter a free advert - Submit an article yourself - Write a letter to us - Propose a machine for feature - Offer your machine for test feature - ...
The latest line announced by Mopedland is genuine leather, old-style toolbags suitable for fitting to cyclemotor, autocycle, moped, and cycle saddles with 4" mounting centres. They're big enough to hold a spark plug spanner, spare plugs, pliers, small screwdriver, cycle spanner, etc. Available in black or dark brown at £25 each. Special sizes and bag designs can be accommodated to order and bags can also be embossed with a names or logos. See the Mopedland site for more information.
It looks as if another tyre supplier is taking the opportunity of moving into the gap in the moped tyre market left by Michelin's departure. Robin Cowling of Suffolk Wheels sends the information that Continental are now posting up a range of Conti moped sizes in KKs10 tread pattern.
| Code | Size | List price (inc vat) |
|---|---|---|
| 01 27 400 | 2×16 M/C 20B | £18.63 |
| 01 27 600 | 2.25×16 M/C 38B | £19.74 |
| 01 27 800 | 2.5×16 M/C 42B | £21.62 |
| 02 44 200 | 2×17 M/C 22B | £16.83 |
| 01 28 800 | 2.25×17 M/C 39B | £20.60 |
| 01 30 000 | 2×19 M/C 24B | £16.82 |
| 01 30 400 | 2.25×19 M/C 41B | £20.60 |
| 01 36 300 | 2×22 M/C 26B | £24.35 |
Riding his Kerry Capitano 3-speed at The Radar Run, Carl Harper was spotted with one of these new 2×19 Continentals on the back, and reported it rode fine. Maybe he should be trying one at the other end, since the old Michelins tend to let go up the front end on these machines!
This page was updated on 29 June 2008