Iceni CAM is a
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This is the home of the Iceni CAM Magazine - a free e-magazine about Cyclemotors, Autocycles, Mopeds ... and more. It was launched on 15th April 2007 and the most recent four issues can be downloaded here. (Copies of earlier back numbers are also available.) 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.
It's an e-magazine all about cyclemotors, autocycles and mopeds that carries road test & feature articles, rally reports, free adverts and other assorted information. Although we are an independent production, we have strong ties to East Anglian Cyclemotor Club and also to the New Zealand Cyclaid Register.
We are based in East Anglia, but are by no means 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 publish four times a year and the publication dates are synchronised with key events in the EACC calendar: the Radar Run, the Peninsularis Run, the Coprolite Run and the 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.
All the issues of CAM Magazine that we've produced have been 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 keeping Iceni CAM going.
Regular readers of the page will know that there's usually some sort of last minute panic before each magazine is published. For issue number twelve we had to panic in advance! If you look at our little teaser about what's going to be in issue number thirteen, you'll read about "the despatch of the IceniCAM International Expeditionary Research Team, to investigate reports of a living legend". The "Research Team" (aka: Danny) was away while the magazine was being editted. That meant that everything had to be ready before Danny boarded the plane for the Antipodes ... there'd be no opportunity to track down missing photos once he'd gone. Being that organised is usually beyond us ... but we managed it this time. As the magazine was finished it turned out that only one thing was missing - and that was just a photo for one of Danny's own adverts ... don't tell him, he might not notice.
The Lido main feature had been slowly trundling down the conveyor belt for some time, before the decision was finally made that its number was due to be counted.
The research file first started developing around late 2007, and it became clear, right from the beginning, that the background on Achilles was going to be pretty difficult since there was very little published information out there. Achilles research had to focus on tracking down mostly continental references, and various translations from Dutch and German were handled by Ben Teuben, Ronny Schmidt, and Lutz Friedrich.
The science fiction, futuristic styling of the Lido gave us the theme for the article presentation and its title - Back to the Future.
The first text draft was assembled over Easter of 2008, being one of several articles penned about this time. Along with the Atco Trainer presentation, and James Comet feature Fly Me, this was yet another product of the infamous 'Mauritius Batch'. A busted cartilage three days beforehand reduced the transit flights to a wheelchair to progress through the airport system, and time on the island limited to crutches. While not being up to chasing Dodos along the beaches, it certainly created plenty of time for writing, so what wasn't too good for the author, worked somewhat in favour of the IceniCAM readership.
Trying to track down and piece together the Achilles origins was a vague and slow process, and was one of the main hindrances to forward progress - the other problem was trying to find Lidos! They're not a particularly common moped, and surviving examples often seem in poor condition and incomplete. The side panels and engine cover are frequently missing, which wouldn't have been particularly suitable for presentation of our article, since these parts characterise the whole ethos of the design.
Presentation of the text followed a markedly different slant, tracking the Lido trail through its history with two different companies, beginning with Achilles in Bohemia, through to the Norman Cycle Company at Ashford in Kent.
We did locate a couple of Achilles Lidos, but neither in suitable condition to include in this article... maybe some other time as a mini-feature. Then Mick Spacey magically started turning up a series of Norman Lidos as if they were a common find in his patch of the Thetford forest! Having access to test feature Mick's first blue & white 3K Lido was the breakthrough to get the article progressing, followed by his maroon & cream Super Lido. While this second machine generally looked in presentable condition, with correct and original finish, it was missing the original side panels and engine cover, and the motor proved incapable of road test.
The photoshoot was accomplished by borrowing a set of panels from another dismantled Super Lido belonging to Martin Gates, and so at least we managed to bag a good set of pictures from this temporary assembly of all the correct parts.
We'd known the late 'unofficial' 3K model of Kevin Grimwade for some time, so this bike became the third photoshoot to complete all the pictures for the feature.
This just left us wanting another Super Lido to complete the road test element, and again, Mick turned up yet another Super Lido, which was sold on to Josh Ward, and subsequently made roadworthy - the last piece of our jigsaw. Being refinished in unofficial red & white colour scheme eliminated this bike from inclusion in the article pictures, but finally provided a suitably running Sachs engined example for the road test element, so that completed the full set, and the article was finally on.
Sorting out the complexity and chronology of Norman's respective moped models took a considerable amount of research, the confusing detail of which probably explaining why nobody's really presented this as such a complete entity before. Though this information may not prove everyone's most appealing reading, its publication was included for a useful point of reference.
Producing the Lido article proved such an epic project over a two-year period, it just had to go out as a main feature by the time it finally ran to the finishing tape. The effort does, however, seem worthwhile, now it should establish the most comprehensive reference work presented on the Lido.
The amount of running around involved in collecting and returning bikes for the various photoshoots and tests racked up the fuel bill, with the feature finally costing £45 to produce. Thanks to IceniCAM reader Errol Bristow from Watton, Norfolk, who scores the sponsorship credit.
Autocycle Alternative came about as Andrew Nahum dropped his dismantled Guzzino into the workshops for reconstruction and, when completed, we naturally asked about taking the opportunity to produce an article before it was returned. The research was collated during 2007, road tested over that Christmas, photoshoot taken in January 2008, then text file completed over the following couple of months. Though originally produced for IceniCAM, a franchised version of this article was suddenly called for publication in Gambalunga, magazine of the Moto-Guzzi Owners Club (GB). Having previously taken our Dingo article Old dog, new tricks in February 2009, their editor Peter Creech decided he wanted to follow this up with another of our articles in their next edition, so the feature went out with the Guzzi folks in April 2009, long before a slot appeared in our own programme. Gambalunga presented the article with a reprint of the original The Motor Cycle road test from 29th March 1951, which made an interesting comparison, since nearly sixty years later we found ourselves recording very similar observations!
The Gambalunga version was tailored and edited to suit their particular magazine style, so the IceniCAM publication now presents the feature in its complete and original format as intended.
Production costs were very low for Autocycle Alternative, just a few pounds for fuel, but a considerable amount of work had previously gone into reconstructing the bike to present the feature. Andrew Nahum now uses the machine for commuting in central London!
Sponsorship credit was collected by Robin Cowling of Suffolk Wheels.
Dave Watson turned up at Stonham Barns to ride the Nippi mobility trike at the Microcar Rally, and there was no hesitation that we'd just have to cover such an unusual machine. With the Raleigh Rackabout article going out in edition 11, the Nippi was ideal to continue the oddball theme of the third feature, so was pencilled straight into the programme as a fast-track article.
The Nippi seems to be one of those machines that attracts interest from everyone, wherever it goes, so proved part of the winning formula at Copdock Motor Cycle Show as the East Anglian Cyclemotor Club was awarded 'Best Club Stand', now the teams third win in six years! Following the show, Dave delivered the Nippi for road test and photoshoot, and it proved to be a really practical vehicle to ride. Several people came round and tried it up the road, and everyone liked the experience.
It was something of a novelty to have a machine that didn't need any fixing, tidying up, or even cleaning; that could be started so simply, worked properly, and drove so well. Luxury!
We also think this is probably the first time that the owner of a featured vehicle has sponsored presentation of the article. Dave didn't know much about the background of the Nippi, and figured getting IceniCAM to produce a feature was the easiest way to find out more about it.
Finally, just a few days before the magazine was due to be ready for printing, a package arrived in the post. It was a copy of a French magazine, Motocyclettiste number 37-38, that Colin Kirsch had sent us for the Information Service. One of the articles in it was a posthumously-published review of pétrolettes by Jérôme Chatouillot. In it was a picture that looked familiar ... it was the other side of the Anzani cyclemotor we showed you a year ago in Part One of our Anzani trilogy. So, a last minute addition appeared in the magazine and Anzani Again means that there are now four parts to our trilogy!
Much mystery and speculation has long surrounded the image captured on an old photograph taken on the Raleigh stand at the first New Zealand International Trade Fair, held in Wellington from August 22nd to September 9th 1961. Could anyone ever imagine this enigma drawing us to the far end of the Earth in search of a moped that doesn't officially exist?
This might sound like some Conan Doyle adventure fiction, but what if such an impossible machine may still survive on the other side of the globe?
Rumours about sightings of strange mopeds in the distant colonies proves grounds enough for the despatch of the IceniCAM International Expeditionary Research Team, to investigate reports of a living legend at - World's End.
The support feature:- Cruising up the Adriatic Sea, our liner breaches a chilling bank of fog on approach to dock at the port of Pésaro. Cold means we've slipped back in time once again, and find upon landing, our next adventure starting in the year 1911. So many interesting ephemeral machines have come out of Italy over the years, this could be practically anything... but it's Not an Egg!
Can the third slot continue to maintain its oddball theme for a little while longer? We think it might, as a few more unlikely machines still lie waiting to be discovered. Look in the dark corners of old sheds and garages... peer into the gloom and you just might make out another 3-wheeler lurking in the shadows.
To flush this apparition out into the light, we're going to need a plan... No, not Plan A, not the Ariel 3, that's far too mainstream, something much more unusual than that! Our next feature comes right from the opposite end of the alphabet, this is... Plan Z.
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
We have a discussion forum on Google Groups - you can get to that from our Contacts page or the box at the top of this page.
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 also have 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 CAM Magazine is only a couple of years 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?
To whet your appetite for what's ahead, here's an updated list of machines with developing articles for future features: AJW Collie, Ariel 3, Ariel Pixie, Avanti Super City, Bown 98 1F, Busy Bee cyclemotor, Coventry Eagle Trade Auto-Ette, Cyc-Auto (Wallington Butt), Cyc-Auto (Villiers), Dot ViVi, Dunkley S65, Dunkley Whippet Super Sports, Elswick-Hopper VAP MIRA test prototype, Excelsior Consort, Excelsior G2 autocycle, Garelli Como, Garelli Eureka, Garelli Katia, Gilera RS50, Hercules Corvette, Hercules Her-cu-motor, Honda Chaly, Honda Dax 70, Honda P50 ohc, Honda PC50 ohc, Honda SS50, Huzhou Daixi Zhenhua, Kerry Capitano, Koolgachet E-cycle, Lohmann cyclemotor, Mercury Grey Streak, Morini Corsarino, Motobi Persaro, Motom 60S, Norman Nippy Mk2, NVT Ranger, Phillips P36X motorised cycle, Phillips Gadabout, Powell Joybike, Rabeneick Binetta, Solifer Speed, Sun Autocycle, Sun Hornet, Sun Motorette, Tailwind cyclemotor, Vincent Firefly, Zorplan Shopper.
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 for 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 - ...
Today (23rd February) a mystery package came through the IceniCAM letterbox. No indication of who sent it or why. It contained copies of correspondence between Frank Brzeski and the committee of the National Autocycle and Cyclemotor Club Ltd, along with an article by Frank with the title "The Loneliness of the Cyclemotorist". This article was written to be published in Buzzing but the NACC Ltd committee refused to print it - hence the correspondence.
It seems to us that there are two issues involved here. Firstly, the content of the article itself, which is a thoughtful and well-written piece about the sorts of machines that the NACC Ltd should be encouraging. It's the kind of subject that often comes up for discussion in many clubs - and normal clubs seem to have no problem with their members discussing this subject.
Secondly, there's the issue of the NACC Ltd's refusal to publish it, which has far more to do with the turmoil still raging within the club ... and it's probably best if we keep well clear of that subject.
Frank has put the article on some of his eBay listings, so you can read it there.
To our anonymous informant: if you sent us that for our own amusement, then many thanks. If you were hoping we'd publish it all, then sorry, we can't do that unless Frank himself gives us permission.
Honda PC50 sprocketsHonda stopped supplying front sprockets for the Honda PC50 some time go and the stocks held by the main Honda parts suppliers in the UK have run out. ChainMail has stepped into the breach by producing a batch of these sprockets. These are made from super-hard metal and should last longer than the originals!
News from Stuart Hall, VéloSoleE marque enthusiast with the NACC:
I have just received information from Jean Maurice Duhaut - the president of the Solex Club Spirales - the Solex Club of Calais. On the 19th December, 26 member of the SCS are coming to Britain with their Solexes and support vehicle on a "Solex raid". Their intention is to ride from Dover to Canterbury for lunch, and then back to Dover again (approx 18 miles each way).
Please see the original messages from Mr Duhaut below this message.
He has invited myself and other Solex enthusiasts to join them for the ride. Both myself and fellow Velosolex enthusiast Peter Jones definitely intend to join them for the ride.
They will arrive and return by P&O ferry. They arrive at 9:25 local time and the rendezvous point is the entrance to the P&O ferry port. They intend to return to Dover at 4:30pm to catch the 5:30 ferry home.
I have been asked to encourage any other Solexistes with a running and roadworthy Solex who might like to join them for the ride to please do so. So, if you would like to participate in this SCS event please rendezvous at the exit to the P&O ferry terminal at 9:15am at the latest on Saturday 19 December. Hope to see you there.
if you intend to rendezvous, so we know who to expect. Wrap up warm - bring helmet & fuel etc!
Kind regards,
Stuart.
Nous partons de Calais le 19/12 par le bateau P&O 8h55 heure locale française pour arrivée 9h25 heure locale anglaise. Nous reprenons le bateau pour 17h30 heure locale anglaise, et 1 heure avant pour l'embarquement soit 16h30 locale en gare. Si vous avez d'autres copains qui veulent venir nous rejoindre et nous montrer le chemin c'est OK. Pour se retrouver, le mieux c'est la sortie de la gare maritime. Nous sommes 26 Solex + 2 voitures avec 7 personnes. Voilà je pense vous avoir tout dit!
À bientôt et merci,
Jean-Maurice DUHAUT
Solex Club Spirales de Calais
SORN - We're sure that most of you are aware that, when you buy a bike that is subject to SORN, you have to declare SORN as soon as it becomes yours. Unlike a tax disc, any unexpired SORN does not transfer to a new owner. In its latest Newsletter, the FBHVC points out that you cannot do this on-line. You can't make an on-line SORN declaration in the same month as a change of ownership. When you send the V5 or V5C off for the change of ownership (or the V62 if you didn't get a V5 with the bike), send in a V890 as well to declare SORN.
Fizzy - We also noticed in the FBHVC newsletter that the Yamaha FS1E Owners Club has recently joined the Federation - well done, Fizzy owners!
You might remember that, in May this year, we added a gallery of Nick Ward's drawings to this Website. These were all from Nick's Classic Buying Guide series. Since then, we've been nagging at Nick to let us have some of his other pictures. After a really thorough search through a decade's worth of pictures, Nick has turned up with another dozen. These include several etching and aquatints, about which Nick says:
"A quick word about the etchings. They are some of my more 'serious' work (despite the subject matter) and are part of a set depicting all sorts of old motorcycles 'in their natural environments'. Other subjects include such exotic items as a BSA[*], Ariel VB, Norton Big 4 and a Rudge Special in a nettle patch. Some of the etchings are still available and further details can be found on Bircham Gallery's website - www.birchamgallery.co.uk."
[*] "Bantam, that is, none of your rubbish..."
We've re-hung the gallery with the new pictures mixed in among the ones that were already there. Take a look - the first room is as good a place to start as any.
Jim Switzer Has sent us details of a couple of websites that may be of intereest to IceniCAM readers:
Information on the Nassetti Il Pellegrino (Brunetta) 'help motors' - to us in the GB, clip-on motors - can be found at www.nassetti.nl/brunettaeng.html.
Issue 2 of Model Engine Builder (a Stateside model engineering magazine) includes an article by one Ron Colonna on building a ¼" scale model of a Whizzer motorcycle. The magazine site is at www.modelenginebuilder.com/issuetwo.htm.
We've joined the FBHVC as a trade supporter. The FBHVC - the Federation of British Historic Vehicle
Clubs - exists to uphold the freedom to use old vehicles on the
road. It does this by representing the interests of vehicle
owners to politicians, government officials and legislators both
in the UK and in Europe. Our colleagues, the East Anglian
Cyclemotor Club, are members of the FBHVC and we've also noticed that Pete Stratford Cyclemotor and Autocycle
Spares is a Trade Supporter too. As keeping these old
machines on the road is one of out fundamental aims here at
IceniCAM, it seemed only right that we should join too. For
more information about what the FBHVC
does, a countrywide calendar of historic vehicle events and a
directory of traders within the historc vehicle movement, have a
look at the FBHVC Website
News from the EACC is that it has two new sections: one in Wiltshire and one in Hertfordshire. As we are nearing the end of the rally season, the new Hertfordshire section is looking towards organising some runs in 2010. In Wiltshire, they are starting off with evening meetings on the last Wednesday of each month and will then think about some road runs in 2010. While this is obviously good news for the EACC, it is also good news - and what a pleasant change it is to have good news from this quarter - for the NACC too. It is the aim of both these sections to foster co-operation and friendship between the members of both clubs in their areas. As an example, the EACC Wiltshire meetings are at the same time and place as the NACC's North Wiltshire section meetings - in other words, a joint meeting for the members of both clubs. We congratulate the members of both clubs for their initiative.
In stark contrast, NACC members have recently received a copy of the club's annual accounts, which show that the club's finances have plummeted by more than £6,000. A surplus of over £2,500 last year has become a loss of over £3,500 this year. On the face of it, bad news for the NACC … or is it? The NACC has been spiralling into decline for several years but most of the effects of that have not been tangible to the majority of NACC members. Now we have a real, practical illustration of what the committee's playing with petty politics is doing to the club. Maybe this will bring home to the membership the damage that is being done to their club. If, more importantly, the members do something about it and call a halt to all their committee's trouble-making, then this loss may end up being a good thing for the club. After all, it's only money.
Older news stories are available in our News Archive
This page was updated on 12 March 2010