I was ferreting around West Yorkshire, when I ended up next
to the Emley Moor radio mast. When I see that mast it means only one thing, I
must go and call on an old friend who is in the vicinity.
When I think of Velocette ‘Specials’, bikes made in
Yorkshire spring to mind. When you think of Yorkshire Velocettes, the name
Swallow also springs to mind. If you combine Yorkshire, Velocettes and Swallows
you end up with some interesting machines indeed.
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| Alec's badge of honour |
The Swallow name is synonymous with Velocette, due to Ken
Swallow being a Velocette dealer for many years in Station Road, Golcar. It was
one of Ken’s son’s Alec that I went to visit.
As the van was parked on the main Kirkburton road, I
immediately heard a single cylinder fire into life. Knowing this could only be
Alec, I had to run to his house before he disappeared off on something tasty.
It was indeed Alec who had just finished sorting a Velo for
a customer of his and was about to ride off to Leeds to deliver it. Seeing as
we had called, Alec was quite happy to delay the trip so we could spend half an
hour or so in the shed.
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| The Velo Alec had just finished rebuilding for a customer |
If you asked Alec how he spends his time, he would probably
say “pottering”. Now if Alec’s time is spent pottering, it is the sort of
pottering I approve of!
Every time I visit Alec he seems to have been up to
something new. Alec ‘s engineering work is not in the style of many – i.e. open
up the cheque book and pay for a collection of parts. Alec is a man after my
own heart – he enjoys building specials, and he does it himself. After all this
is Yorkshire.
It was only a quick trip to see Alec, so I only got chance for
a brief natter and to take a few photos of what he’s been up to. To quote Alec,
“it’s not one for the purists” – and that is what makes it far more
interesting!
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| Always something exciting to see - Alec's new SOHC Velo |
The basis for the engine is a trusty Venom, but it is fair
to say it looks a little different. When you consider that Alec has re-vamped
the valve train and converted the engine to a SOHC setup, it is quite remarkable
that the engine still looks so similar to a standard Venom. It is a neat setup
that Alec has come up with and is pleasing on the eye. The camshaft is driven
by a chain running from the original cam gear in the timing case, which still
provides the required 2:1 reduction. This means that an equal number of teeth
can be used on the drive sprockets, which in turn allows the chain-wheel in the
head to be of a small diameter. This makes for a light and attractive looking top-end.
You might notice that ‘mk3’ is stamped
on the cam chain cover – and for good reason. Alec has built two over-head-cam
Venoms before – one a DOHC and one a SOHC.
You see what I mean
about Alec liking to do things himself?
These earlier
machines were built during Alec’s racing days in the 1960/70’s. It was not just
special engines that were made during this period, as he also built his own
frames (including a spine frame for a Velo based upon the Loch Ness monster)
and built his own fibreglass fairings, tanks etc.
It is not just this new mk3 SOHC Venom engine that Alec has
been working on. He has fitted the engine in a standard Velocette frame, which
he has had to modify to accommodate. I was really impressed to see that Alec
had made all the moulds and then done the fibreglass work for the tank, seat
and oil tank on this bike. You will also see the interesting brake on the front
of the machine. This is another leftover from Alec’s racing days, which uses a
hydraulic conversion brake plate in a Norton hub.
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| A very neat looking machine |
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| Alec's very nice hydraulic brake conversion |
So that was my short trip to see one of the characters of
the Yorkshire Velocette Mafia. It was only a fleeting visit to Alec’s so I have
only kept this post short. But next time I am up I will go into a few other Velo
specials that Alec has made over the years.
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| Alec even made the tanks, seat and mudguard for his new special |
