Engine Punk

Magma's engine was unique Magma is actually one of the series of Tarkus trikes built by Jake Challenger and comes between the original DKW and Citroen powered one that inspired Kermit and the BMW 3 cylinder radial engined device to be sold at auction by Bonhams at Stafford on 29th April. Stainless Citroen GS wheel trims match the stainless Brooklands can I saw Magma at the Stafford Microcar Rallyin 1994 when that was for sale. I had a quick word with the owner and have subsequently realised this was the only (but first) time I've actually met Jake Challenger although we've since corresponded quite a bit over the years. I was mightily intrigued by Magma and only found out later that it was really one of Jake's Tarkus series. If you look carefully you can just make out the tank for the dry sump system That spectacular engine is a one-off consisting of the barrels and heads from two Weslake 500 speedway engines on a special one-off crankcase. The barrels...

Phil's wife it was who painted on those eyes I would like to say exactly when I first clapped eyes on Kermit - for it was indeed a momentous occasion - but I can be no more specific than Easter 1984 or Easter 1985. Or maybe Easter 1986. I can't honestly remember. The venue is in no doubt, though - Tregrehan Hillclimb near St Austell in Cornwall On that occasion there were bikes, cars and three-wheelers at the same event, which featured a very muddy paddock. The three-wheeler classes consisted of traditional asymmetrical sidecar outfits and symmetrical home made creations, often a triangluar frame extending backwards from the front subframe of some front-wheel-drive saloon, typically a Mini. Kermit as built was a stubby little fellow. It's now a lot sleeker to allow me to get in it. One of them was so obviously different in concept from the others and conspicuously supercharged that it held my interest as it came to the start line. This I subsequently came to k...

Well, Wiscombe came up trumps. It was even better than I expected and I ran into a number of old friends. The weather was spectacularly good with Vintage Things as far as the eye could see and I made the most of the relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the paddock. Conditions for racing were ideal and good times were had by all, even those of us not competing. I went up with Pete Low the famous ex-Army Armstrong despatch bike expert. Er, that's the bike that's ex-army not Reverend Low. We bumped into Mike Luff and Peter Chitty of the Citroen Specials Club. Later, Pete Low also got recognised by Rodney, another Citroen Specialist - I said he was famous (Pete not Rodney. If Rodney was more famous I could remember his surname. He's undoubtedly much more memorable by those who know him better. Sorry Rodders) Rodney was also there with his Lomax and as happens when fellow enthusiasts meet we compared notes and admired each other's mechanical contrivances at the end of ...