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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 West Anglian 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.
The first eight issues of CAM magazine 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.
Now issue number nine is available.
Since we've been working our way through different autocycle articles for a while, it was only a matter of time before the Raynal number came up. They were a particularly important manufacturer, since theirs was the first production Villiers Junior engined machine - unfortunately for us, Raynal was also a rather daunting prospect since, like many of these lesser makes, very little has been written about them, so there wasn't much to start from.
The article would obviously feature the original vertical leaf sprung de Luxe, but it wasn't until Paul Nelmes got his rubber compression fork Francis-Barnett Powerbike 50, that the eccentric idea occurred that we had an opportunity to make it a wacky 'wobbly fork' feature!
How could anyone pass up such a chance?
Being a fairly mainstream manufacturer, F-B references were no problem at all, and the Powerbike 50 was tested and photoshot first, but the Raynal research was proving particularly difficult. Retired Raynal Marque Specialist, Keith Flood greatly assisted by providing access to all his material, but a great deal more would be required to present a worthy main feature. Despite being based upon a cycle background, trying to find any Raynal-branded bicycles would be pretty unlikely, since their own label only seemed to have gone for export. The Dunelt connection proved a worthy discovery that no other motor cycling encyclopaedia seems to have picked up, so once again we found ourselves entering the territory of previously unpublished material.
As elements of the feature were drafted up, it seemed as if the article wanted something to string the chronology together, almost like a narrator with a documentary. So it was the compère was added to thread together the text, and what was to become The Autocycle Roadshow grew around this flamboyant personality, while the article developed along the theatrical theme.
The Raynal photoshoot seemed to be calling for something a little special to fall in with the text, so it was that based upon the image of a seedy ringmaster; Ashley Stanbridge seemed ideal for the role and became the character of the compère.
Repeating a similar technique from Something Strange back in June 2005, the 'cover' pictures were taken in the dark, shooting upward into the night sky, with Ash and the bike positioned above on raised platforms - so the subjects stand out of a pure black background. To attain the clear backdrop, the whole set was erected in the middle of a country football field, and power from a petrol generator driving illumination from two quartz halogen floodlights; unlike the Cyc-Auto shoot, we didn't use any flash at all!
Comparison of pictures from 'Something Strange' and 'The
Autocycle Roadshow'
The article text seemed to be getting just about finished, when we received the further offer of a late 1940s' Raynal, and decided to split the 'Roadshow' into defined pre & post-war features, so it was a major re-write once again! It was probably just as well in the end that the feature did get split, as the final proof lay-up extended to five pages, and brought home the realisation of what a truly huge article it had become!
Complicating matters further, Priory Press Magazine snapped up the offer of a franchise version as Ipswich Transport Museum has one on display, so Raynal Exhibit is a derivative article also going out with that publication in two parts.
While the bad news is that our readers will have to wait a little while for the second half of the feature, since it doesn't fit in with the immediate forward programme - the good news is that the fabulous Autocycle Roadshow might find its way back again sometime for the other part of the story.
Since this was another of three super-features developing at the same time, they seemed to grow inextricably together in a linked sequence, from In the Trade, through Pandamonium, and culminating in the Raynal/Francis-Barnett article.
Though the Roadshow article sequence was another production epic, requiring five separate photoshoots, only the F-B element was shot in 35mm, the rest being digital. Costs in fuel and film only ran up to £45, which seems pretty reasonable for a feature on such a scale.
Regular IceniCAM supporter Les Gobbett of the Leicester Enthusiasts wanted to sponsor "the next autocycle article"!, so picks up the credit on what seems set to establish itself as the most comprehensive reference feature published on Raynal so far.
The support feature bike was kindly offered by Keith Glover up in Stoke, and despite the distance, you've got to take such opportunities, since machines such as this are most uncommon, but trying to uncover anything on Patria was simply research agony! There's practically nothing in the mainstream motor cycling encyclopaedia (as usual), so this was a major Time-Team excavation. It's often hard enough to unearth fresh material on the lesser British manufacturers, but obscure German producers enter a whole new league of difficulty! Collating and translating every grain of material from the most unlikely sources, and against all odds, The Golden Helmet finally presented an interesting tale, and surely has to stand as the single most comprehensive publication on Patria by anyone to date.
Though located some 200 miles from IceniCAM base, expenses were kept to a minimum in covering the road test and photoshoot by taking an extra day on a return drive back from North Wales, so film, processing, and fuel costs only ran about £20. Jeff Lacombe scores yet another credit for the Leicester Enthusiasts, who seem to be dominating this particular issue!
Second support feature The Missing Link comprises the second chapter in our ongoing Anzani trilogy. We'd been playing this trump card pretty close to our chest since incidentally coming across the previously unknown BAE Powerplus cyclemotor in general research on British Anzani. With so many cyclemotor fanatics out there, it was practically inconceivable that there could have been another British clip-on that none of these people even knew existed - but there it was!
Again we have to thank Martin Osbourne at the British Anzani Archive for permission to reference source material and photographic copyright licence, without which, production of the article would not have been possible. Kevin Bayliss up in Fife, Scotland picks up sponsorship credit on this remarkable exposé.
With the publication of Hourglass in IceniCAM edition 4 back in January 2008, there were several passing thoughts, and a couple of unfinished drafts toward a Mopedland 5, but the most promising and original idea grew from that simple phrase "rose tinted spectacles", and the thought that, maybe, a wearer might be able to see some things that other people couldn't.
The developing concept hovered around for a year, until there was enough outline in mind to draft the story together, then in exactly the same manner as the preceding four Mopedland tales were created, the whole text was completely written in one marathon overnight seven hour session, finishing at 5:30 in the morning. Spectacles taps the imagination with its own unique twist and, in common with the other episodes, hurtles the reader through a string of images and emotions within just a few brief paragraphs.
True fans appear to be getting wise to the style of these stories and seem to spot them coming now, but say they still love to read through to the smile of the trick in the tale.
Spectacles had one final trick up the sleeve, as this became the first Mopedland tale with a 'Directors Cut'! One wouldn't have thought it was possible, but Andrew deserves all the credit for this inspired contribution of digital trickery. We were toying with a few other picture possibilities to go with the text, but nothing really seemed quite suitable, and the final idea only occurred after all the hard copy magazines were printed, though it's questionable whether the fine detail would have come out clearly enough in the printed version anyway ... it's oh so subtle, look closely at the pictures...
Lindsay Neill, EACC North of London Section, keen Moby and IceniCAM article enthusiast was tipped off that episode 5 had been written, and immediately stumped up sponsorship of the article to bring it forward to publication - such is the magic of Mopedland!
IceniCAM sets another milestone by presenting four in-house features for our 9th edition. While the Autocycle Roadshow main feature now sprawls across five pages, it's interesting to note that the three-page Patria support article in this magazine covers exactly the same space as the Last Flight of the Eagle main feature back in edition one. Once again pictures had to be kept trim for the printed magazine, so only the 'Directors Cut' versions in the Articles section allow the full potential of these features to be realised, and it's very hard to see any traditional club magazine being able to present anything on this scale within their limited formats.
Also noteworthy in this issue, is the inclusion of articles submitted from Canada and New Zealand, which starkly illustrates how far and wide readership of the free webzine is reaching. Considering the project only started a mere two years ago, launched in March 2007 as an Anglian regional on-line magazine production - and now seems to have become established as Iceni CAM International!
Just a few weeks ago we called in at VMCC HQ in Burton, and looking at the IceniCAM site, they were clearly impressed, but were absolutely confounded that we were giving the magazine away free on-line! The concept seemed so alien, they were completely stunned at how it could even be done! "How can you possibly finance it?" The answer being that it's a lot easier and cheaper to give IceniCAM away to all the enthusiasts who want to page into it, than the to have huge costs and effort involved in administering membership, printing and mailing for a traditional club magazine format - so why not let every one who's interested just have it for free? You could almost hear the penny dropping in the slot, but could you also feel a shudder as the operators of an old-style established club maybe caught a glimpse of a different possible future?
Traditional club based formats seem terribly restricted by their own membership-limited access, their costs, and self-imposed administrations - while IceniCAM can be enjoyed by enthusiasts all over the world, for free! We believe that the unique format of IceniCAM absolutely best achieves the goal of promoting interest in and enthusiasm for the use and preservation and restoration of all types of Cyclemotors, Autocycles, Mopeds, and other Motorised Bicycles - now where does that phrase seem familiar from?
Next - The Autocycle Roadshow concluded our three-article super-sequence, so from here, the main feature really does go off in a completely different direction. There's cyclemotors, autocycles, mopeds - and there's monkey!
The support article covers one of the greatest all time mopeds. Listed in Britain for over 22 years, it certainly had to be something really special to be sold over two decades - it was, and this was the Bronze Age.
The second support feature sees the third and final episode of our Anzani trilogy, now finishing with what was originally intended to be a single 'spoof' item follow-on to the Atco Trainer! At last we return to where we began - Lawnrider and Beyond.
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 a list of machines with developing articles for future features: AJW Collie, Ariel 3, Ariel Pixie, Avanti Super City, Busy Bee cyclemotor, Cyc-Auto (Wallington Butt), Cyc-Auto (Villiers), Dot ViVi, Dunkley S65, Dunkley Whippet Super Sports, Elswick-Hopper VAP MIRA test prototype, Excelsior G2 autocycle, Garelli Como, Garelli Katia, Gilera Sport 50, Hercules Her-cu-motor, Honda Chaley, Honda Dax, Honda P50 ohc, Honda PC50 ohv, Kerry Capitano, Lohmann cyclemotor, Motobécane AV89, Motobi Persaro, Moto-Guzzi Guzzino, Norman Lido, Norman Nippy Mk2, Phillips P36X motorised cycle, Phillips Gadabout, Powell Joybike, Rabeneick Binetta, Raynal Autocycle, SIM minibike, Solifer Speed, Solo 726, Sun Autocycle, Sun Motorette, Suzuki Street Magic, Tailwind cyclemotor, 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 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 - ...
On the weekend of 13 & 14 June, while many EACC members were enjoying their event at Horham, the club had a 'second front' at the Burford vehicle show. EACC member Mike Bagshall organised the stand, which was very busy on both days and attracted lots of interest. So much so, that the event organisers awarded it not only the 'Best Motor Cycle Stand' but also the 'Best Stand in Show', prizes.
Back in January, in our Review of the Year, we expressed our hope that changes in the NACC committee could herald an end to that club's troubles. Sadly, that hope has proved to be a forlorn one. The currrent committee looks set to keep trouble brewing for yet another year.
News has reached us that, at its meeting in April 2009, the NACC's committee decided to expel one of its two remaining founder members: Andrew Pattle. Andrew's membership had been suspended by the committee towards the end of 2007 and remained in suspense for nearly a year and a half while the committee dithered over making the final decision.
This leaves Andrew Roddham as the last founder member remaining in the club. The NACC's actions against Andrew Roddham have been even more bizarre. It appears that, at some time in 2008, the committee decided to suspend Andrew R's membership too ... but didn't tell anyone, not even Andrew himself! The first inkling Andrew had was when he did not receive his annual membership renewal. He sent the renewal fee in anyway and the NACC's Membership Secretary, Bob Jeffcoat, replied to say he could not renew because his membership had been suspended; the committee would decide whether to expel him at the April meeting. Andrew was neither given an explanation of why he had been suspended, nor given the chance to go to the meeting to defend himself. Presumably, the committee decided against expelling him because, following the committee meeting, Andrew was sent a new membership card. Again, without a word of explanation.
The action taken against both its founder members is undoubtedly related to the troubles that have dogged the NACC for over three years now. After Mark Daniels was expelled in August 2007, it was proved that the committee's charges against him were completely false; both the Andrews had been trying to get this dishonest expulsion reversed. However, we now hear that there is further dissatisfaction among NACC members - this time unrelated to all the previous trouble that their committee has caused. Unless the ordinary members can, somehow, regain control of their club, the NACC's future looks rather bleak. For the club to continue in decline at a time when enthusiasm for our machines is at an all-time high, is a strong indication that there is something seriously wrong in the way the club is being run.
Chainmail has imported a batch of new stock 26"×2"×1¾", 36 hole chrome plated rims to suit early autocycles and trade bikes, and is now listing these at £22 each. This rim size has been completely unavailable for a number of years now, since the last of the Van Schothorst stock dried up. The rims are completely plain of any marking, so the actual manufacturer is not indicated, but they are certainly of Chinese origin. The section profile appears more comparable to the original Dunlop, where the Van Schothorst form used to be a little more ridged in the centre. The welded joint, polishing, and chrome plating generally appears better than the quality typically observed on Italian Radaelli rims.
In terms of comparative gauge thickness, the original Dunlop rims were 18 gauge (0.048"). These Chinese rims are made from 1mm material, equivalent of 19 gauge (0.040"). The Van Schothorst rims used to be produced in 21 gauge (0.032"), which was only a light cycle gauge section, and not best suited to the powered application of autocycles. Wheel builders generally didn't like assembling the Van Schothorst rims, complaining they were too weak, and a number of riders reported a tendency to buckle in service. The thicker section of these Chinese rims suggests they should perform much better.
The pierced spoke hole size is 0.180" (the Van Schothorst rims were just the same in this aspect), which may require cleaning out slightly to build, since Suffolk Wheels report that the standard 12 gauge spoke nipple is 0.200" diameter. The pierced (cycle) valve hole size is 1/4" (0.250"), which will require opening up to 5/16" (0.312") for anyone wishing to fit Schrader valve inner tubes.
Robin Cowling at Suffolk Wheels (e-mail ) has access to these rims for any customers wanting wheels built, and Chainmail is also offering to distribute further stock in trade packs, so they may become available from other outlets.
Suffolk Wheels has just received a batch of Radaelli 2"×19" (23") 36 hole, Endrick pattern, new chrome rims, and they're now available at £28 each. Contact Robin Cowling, 16 Everton Crescent, Ipswich, IP1 6DB; tel 01473-745380; e-mail
With square section dimpled sides, these rims are particularly suitable for calliper braked machines like VéloSoleX, Raleigh RM6 Runabout, basic Mobylette models, etc. This style of rim has been unavailable for some time, and they are not listed anywhere else in the UK. We can comfirm this Endrick pattern stock is quite limited; once they've gone, it's not at all clear when a re-stock may be possible.
Suffolk Wheels also holds a stock of Radaelli 2"×19" (23") 36 hole, Westwood pattern new chrome rims at £26 each, which are also not listed anywhere else.
Following on from the announcement of leather tool bags in April 2008, selections for the cyclist and cyclemotorist have now been expanded with introduction of a new range of Triangle Bags.
Like the saddlebags, these are made from 1/8" thick genuine
leather, in black or brown, and available in three
specifications:
Style - Large Cyclemotor 8½"×7"×2", £35
each.
Style - Large Cycle (narrow)
8½"×7"×1½", £30 each.
Style - Small Cycle (narrow)
7"×5½"×1½", £25 each.
Large sizes accommodate folding plugspanner and space for more substantial tools for the cyclemotorist, while narrow width options thoughtfully allow clearance for three-speed gear cable route on cycles.
Several styles of suitable plug spanner are also offered to complement the bags, including specialist Cyclemaster pattern. See the Saddle-Bags site for further details.
Triangle Bags are quite an old-fashioned carrier that largely faded from popularity after the war. Though there are a number of similarly arranged modern equivalents, these haven't been available in traditional style and materials for some considerable time.
Despite giving the magazine away for free on the Web, we seem to have accumulated a bit of money in the IceniCAM funds - well over £50 in fact. These fabulous riches were burning a hole in our pocket so we had a look around for something to spend them on.
Nick Ward's drawing of a Clark Scamp in More Devilry proved popular with our readers, so we went back to Nick to say "Can we have some more, please?" Nick agreed and, as a result, we now have a Nick Ward Gallery. We put a dozen pictures there to start with ... and now we've added another 3½. What's the half? If you look at the fourth gallery page, you'll see the three new pictures and a gap for one more. Nick has asked us to wait until mid-July before we show that one to you.
2009 is the Mobylette's diamond jubilee and to celebrate, the Motobécane Club de France (MCF) is staging an event at Saint Quentin on 30th and 31st May. The weekend is packed with events and, being French, substantial meals. It's open to all but you must book in advance to take part. The cost varies depending on which of the weekend's events you want to take part in and whether you are an MCF member or not. So, rather than try and reproduce it all here, we recommend that you go to the MCF's web site at www.motobecane-club-de-france.org. Bookings have to be in by the end of April.
Several autocycles, cyclemotors and mopeds will sold by auction later this month. They are part of the collection of the late Brian Ayre and form part of a 3-day sale on 30th April to 2nd May. Day 1 of the sale will be held at The Corn Exchange Chambers, Queen Street, Market Rasen. Days 2 and 3 will be at Ingledene, Gallamore Lane, Middle Rasen, Lincs, LN8 3UB. The bikes will be sold on day 2. The lots include: a Cymota, a Cyclemaster, a 2F New Hudson autocycle, a JDL New Hudson autocycle, an Ariel 3, an NSU Quickly (with buff log book), a Norman Nippy, a Demm Dove, a Raleigh Wisp, a Her-Cu-Motor, a Raleigh Automatic, a Puch moped, a Tomos moped and two Motobécane mopeds.
More information and a downloadable catalogue are available from the auctioneers: Perkins & George Mawer.
The first weekend of March was an action-packed one here at IceniCAM HQ with both the Vehikel autojumble in Utrecht and the East Anglian Cyclemotor Club West Anglian Spring Run on the calendar. The original plan was to go to Vehikel on Saturday, then straight from Utrecht to Bedford. Stena Line scuppered that plan by not running an overnight boat on Saturday night. Fortunately, the jumble is a three-day event, so we moved our trip forward to Friday and still attended both events. We've put up four pages of photographs of our 'staff outing' to Vehikel. Not only did we go to the jumble, but we managed to fit in a visit to a moped scrapyard too. As a result of our trip, we've added some new contacts for Solex spares and Puch spares to our directory. We also found out about some more books and acquired some more documents for the Information Service. Saturday was not much of a rest day - for a start there were all those photos to be sorted and uploaded. We're gaining a bit of a reputation for getting pictures posted on the evening following an event - Vehikel is the first time we've had out photos on the Web a day before the event finished.
Sunday was the first time the EACC had had a run in March and their efforts were rewarded when 28 riders turned up. For some club members, this was the first chance to take their winter restoration projects to an event, for others it was the opportunity to see what new items the regular autojumblers had got into stock in the last few months, for everyone it was a chance to sample the bacon rolls that are a special feature of the 'West Anglian' events. It was a fine, sunny day (except when it rained!) and we've posted up a page of photographs of this event.
Older news stories are available in our News Archive
This page was updated on 1 July 2009