S-22720-0-1

243Property of a deceased’s estatec.1916 Norton 490cc Model 8‘Brooklands Road Special’Registration no. SL 9817Frame no. 2034Engine no. 16-1315Having hitherto relied on proprietary engines, Norton introduced itsown in 1907. The long-stroke sidevalve single displaced 633cc andthe new model it powered became known as the ‘Big 4’. Smallercapacity versions followed and in 1911 the ‘500’ adopted the classic79x100mm bore and stroke dimensions that would characterise thehalf-litre (actually 490cc) Norton for the next 50 years. Norton’s newsidevalve was among the fastest in its class, being the first machineunder 500cc to be officially timed at over 70mph, which was somegoing for 1911. The following year Norton-mounted Jack Emersoneasily won the 150-mile Brooklands TT against a field of moreexperienced competitors (setting three long-distance records in theprocess) having ridden his machine down from Hull! Small wonderthat the slogan ‘Unapproachable’ began to be applied to the Nortonsingles at around this time. Tuner/rider D R O’Donovan’s work at theWeybridge track resulted in the introduction of tuned ‘Brooklands’models in 1913, and these highly developed sports versions continuedinto the 1920s.According to its manufacturer, the Brooklands Road Special was ‘forthose who desire exceptional power and speed for competition ina machine suitable for road work.’ The BRS engines were speciallyprepared by the factory, run-in on the track at Brooklands and ‘certifiedto have exceeded 70mph for a kilo.’A well-known figure in Vintage motorcycling circles, this BRS’s lateowner was a talented engineer and keen competitor in sprints andhill-climbs. He owned an diverse collection of machines, one of which- a Silk 700S - is Lot 284 in this sale. Paperwork on file appears toindicate that the Norton was repatriated from Australia in 1977. Afterpassing through the hands of two or three owners, the last of whomwas well-known ‘flat tank’ Norton collector Mick Cox, ‘SL 9817’ cameinto the present ownership in 1988. Its late owner used the machineregularly until shortly before his untimely death in 1994, following whichit was kept on display inside the house, the engine being turned overat regular intervals. Still carrying its last tax disc from 1994, the Nortonhas not been started since then and will require re-commissioning andbasic safety checks before returning to the road.Accompanying paperwork consists of three old-style V5 documents;a quantity of expired MoT certificates and tax discs; some cataloguephotocopies and miscellaneous papers.£13,000 - 18,000€18,000 - 25,00038 | the spring stafford saleBidders must satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lotprior to bidding. All lots are sold “as is/where is” with all defects and faults.