Fashionable gear for 40's Weekend

First published October 2018

Some of you will know that we have a fabulous 1940's weekend here in Sheringham. The event was initially organised by the North Norfolk Railway and is still a mainstay event of their calendar, but in recent years '40's weekend has extended into the rest of the town.

Some 20,000 people visited Sheringham for this year's event, many of them turned out in 1940's costume. These YouTube videos give a good flavour of the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2JeqVro8eU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5nx0tCIU_g

And there is a display of vintage military and civilian vehicles at the main locations: Holt NNR Station, Weybourne NNR Station, Sheringham NNR station and in Sheringham itself.

There's always a few bikes to look at:

2015 Event - Ariel W/NG from the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum at North Walsham

2015 Event - Royal Enfield WD/CO

2016 Event - Matchless G3L

And here's another G3L, a visitor from London at the 2018 event:

There's a vehicle parade on the Saturday, and this year I was riding my 1942 W/NG. Not being at all well prepared, I had no period attire to wear and I wore my Barbour lookalike - originally designed in 1936 - but that was about it. The modern flip front helmet didn't help.

The bike looks OK, the rider is trying....

So for next year I have a new hat to wear. It's a period Slazenger helmet, from the 1950's in reality:

It must be a good one, look at those famous names:

It's actually my size...

I'm not going to win any fashion competitions though.

Does my nose look big in this?

I've got these brown leather gauntlets made by Lawson's of London, known by the previous owner to date to 1960 or earlier:

They are in great condition, sheepskin inside and very comfortable. Just the sort of thing I used to wear when I started riding in the '70's.

And here it is in use in 2019, with a dapper chap from the VMCC Anglian Section on a Guzzi 500S - from 1936:

Ariel W/NG at 1940's weekend

A couple of nice military bikes at the 1940's weekend in Sheringham last year.

Here's the Ariel W/NG from the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum:

And a visiting Royal Enfield WD/CO

A G3L pictured this year:

At the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum, I was lucky enough to be able to take some close up pictures of their W/NG:

0.303" period accessory

This bike is based on a frame that would have shipped from Selly Oak in the summer of 1944. Original aluminium cable strap:

Rubber cable sheath; no steering damper on this late machine.

Late 1941 engine.

Usual Ariel decompressor arrangement, and with rocker cover spring clips.

My favourite subject - curly copper fuel line.

Steel primary cover:

And again

Horn bracket, similar to mine:

And again:

Late footrests:

These are Ariel's tapered handlebars:

Original brake rod:

Another favourite subject - speedometer brackets:

Again:

The brake lever is straight:

Mine is cranked:

Here's Steve Carter's: