KENT FAMILY DISCOVERY…

KENT FAMILY DISCOVER A MOTORBIKE WITH LINKS TO THE RAF 617 DAMBUSTERS SQUADRON AND ASHFORD’S NORMAN CYCLE CLUB.

AMONG 21 MOTORBIKES HIDDEN UNDER BLANKETS FOR 30 YEARS IN A GARDEN SHED, GARAGE AND CELLAR WAS THIS 1938 NORMAN AUTOCYCLE.

A 1938 Norman Autocycle with links to the RAF Dambusters Squadron found by the family of Kent man who served in the Squadron, is estimated to sell for £500 to £1,000 in the H&H Classics auction on 30th July at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

The bike will be of interest to the Norman Cycles Club which is based in Ashford, Kent.

Fred Norman, owner of the motorcycle company that bore his name gave a Norman to Guy Gibson, leader of RAF 617/Dambusters Squadron and the late owner of lot 94 was also in 617 Squadron. The bike is from the first year of manufacture for this model.

Ashford is where the Norman motorcycle story all started and there is still a thriving enthusiasts club with original Norman family members involved.

The Kent based RAF mechanic who owned this autocycle managed to secrete no fewer than 21 motorbikes in his garage, garden shed and cellar including a BMW with Steib side-car, six 1950s Autocycles that the district nurse would have used around the villages, and his pride and joy – a Velocette Le Vogue motorbike.

Mark Bryan of H&H Classic Bike Department says: “The restored bikes have been properly laid-up on blocks to protect their wheels/tyres, some engines/gearboxes drained, spark leads disconnected. Even the unrestored projects were all carefully wrapped up to protect them from any further degradation and preserve them in their original condition.”