Peterborough Motorcycle Museum with Phil Aynsley
While I usually photograph bikes in a studio environment, sometimes it is nice to venture outside!
Several years ago I visited the Peterborough Motorcycle Museum in South Australia and while the majority of the shots I took were indeed taken on the backdrop I thought it would make for some nice images to take two of the bikes in the collection to a location a few kilometres out of town.
The bikes in question were of similar appearance so would ‘work’ together and I wanted a shot to show them in the countryside so as to give some idea of the museum’s remoteness.
Thankfully the collection’s owner, Ian Spooner, liked the idea so transporting the bikes was easily done. The weather also co-operated.
Very little is known about this France racer from 1927. The frame was built in Paris (and it and the oil tank bear a resemblance to those used for some Terrot models). A 350cc JAP motor is used. The bike was later displayed on an old workshop/factory wall. In 1942 it was taken to Germany by the Wehrmacht and then reappeared on the wall of an old brewery in Saxonia/Heliues, from where it was purchased & restored. It was later bought to Australia.
The Yvel’s was produced from 1921 until 1924 at 94 Rue Lauriston, Paris. Two models were built – one with a 250 JAP motor and the other (shown here) with a Villiers racing (not production) motor.
They were originally constructed to compete in the Grand Prix I’ACF of 1921 (in which the rider Vernise finished 9th and last in the 250 class, one hour & nine minutes behind the winner).
The two speed 2-stroke used 1:25 oil/petrol mixture and made 8.5hp. Top speed of 90kph.
