Signing off
Two decades ago, I began writing occasional technical features, including the development of ignition systems and the build of ‘Tightwad,’ the Excelsior trials machine, as one-off and short series features for The Classic MotorCycle.
Tightwad, especially, stimulated lots of interest and – almost unbelievably – 20 years later, still does. Most comments have been positive, although one or two have pointed out my economy approach wasn’t in keeping with the name of our magazine. Possibly true, but the plan to build a usable trials machine for less than £250 was achieved and in fact many of the dodges employed were to be found on the period machines of some leading riders.
Many have asked since – ‘What happened to Tightwad?’ Well, I rode it in over 25 classic and pre-65 trials in the period up to 2010. The late Don Smith (ex-Greeves, Montesa and Fantic) advised with the building, did much of the welding and gained valuable inches in ground clearance. And once I started competing with it, he gave me equally valuable training lessons, often beginning with: “Why the bloody hell did you do that?”
On its minus side, Tightwad has only a 150cc engine, but it was the bike I dreamed of riding when, aged eight or nine, I watched local riders paddle through mud, out of pits and over rotting trees as they competed across local land, so the little engine was for keeps.
During my brief novice career with Tightwad we won two trophies, third best in the club’s novice championship which improved
