82 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIAOUT’N’ABOUT
Althoughit was a wet start to my day in Peel
during TT week, there were plenty of indoor
attractions to explore. The Leece Museum is a
municipal museum devoted to local Peel history and
is located in the narrow but long three-level old Court
House building. Story has it that in 2015 the curator
Roy Baker asked long time TT race sponsor and
motorcycle collector, Wobbly Bob Taylor, if he could
lend a motorcycle or some memorabilia to the
museum for TT week. He brought along his Slippery
Sam Replica. Wobbly looked into the cave in the
museum basement and asked Roy what was down
there. Roy said that it was the court house prison cell
called the ‘Black Hole’. Wobbly suggested that it
would be a great museum for motorbikes and so it
has been furnished with a collection of motorcycles
ever since. The ‘Black Hole’ is really a tunnel with the
walls and ceiling forming a large arch. With a narrow
central board walk and a row of motorcycles down
each side it is cosy to say the least. On the flat wallon the far end is a painting in wonderful perspective
of the TT circuit looking from Creg Ny Baa up the hill
to Kate’s cottage. In the painting, the tarmac is widest
at the bottom where a painted floor mat continues it
on complete with the white centreline and synthetic
grass each side. Two BSAs are parked on the mat
looking like they are on the circuit having just raced
down the hill. You are welcome to sit on these bikes
for that “I’ve raced the TT Classic” photo.
The Museum is free to enter with donation
buckets placed around the site for contributions.
The collection is ever changing as most are from
Wobbly Bob and other owners who support the
display by providing machines from their collections.
Most motorcycles have a story board. There are also
tributes to brave souls who once rode the display
bike, and sadly some of them are no longer with us.
I include a little on my favourite machines: –
The Triumph triple-labelled Slippery Sam needs a
mention. Famous for its many victories including
five straight years (1971 to 1975) in the 750cc class
at the TT, it got its name from a not so gloriousoccurrence. During the 1970 Bol d’Or 24 hour race
an oil leak blanketed both riders with a layer of
nature’s ancient fossil remains. No one named Sam
was riding but there is no doubt where the slippery
came from. They still managed to finish the race in
5th and as slippery as the situation was, the name
stuck and the words ‘Slippery Sam’ were later
included on the motorcycle livery. Wobbly built the
replica with a high degree of authenticity and you
are welcome to sit on it while urged for a donation.
Some of Wobbly’s other displayed bikes included a
1937 Matchless G90 Super Clubman, an early 40’s
M20 BSA inscribed with ‘Bloody Sore Arse’ on the
fuel tank, a Triumph Tiger 100 Compy, a pre-unit
Triumph powered Norton featherbed (Triton) and a
1929 500cc Rudge Whitworth racer which he rode on
a commemorative lap at the TT centenary in 2010.
Barnes Race bikes included a 1997 Honda RS125
and Yamaha R6 (co-sponsored by Wobbly Bob’s
business Atherstone Accident Repair Centre) all in
striking metallic orange. A few Team Collins and
Russell Kawasaki Race bikes were displayed. Des
unfortunately passed away at the beginning of 2017
but has left an amazing legacy. He was really a sailor
but got involved in supporting motorcycle riders from- He loved the sport and, along with his
business partner Percy Wilson, supported no fewer
than 54 riders. They tuned to a sole Kawasaki outfit
from 1995 and in 2011 Dessie formed Team Collins
and Russell (TCR) with Ronnie Russell who Dessie
sponsored as a racer many years before.
The 1966 Kawasaki 250 A1R, two cylinder two
stroke and a 1972/3 Kawasaki H2R 750 triple were
imported from New Zealand and restored by Dessie.
The latter had (now local Queenslander) Kork
Ballington’s name on the screen. Kork was given this
bike to ride a few laps at the 2013 TT Classic.
Upstairs was a group of black bikes all sporting
girder forks. Along with Wobbly Bob’s G9 and Rudge
Whitworth there was a 1935 Velocette MOV 250
owned by Jim Blankhard. It’s placard stated that it
was the precursor to the Velocette Mac and was the
Leece
Museum
Gaven Dall’Ostowasted not a
moment during his trip to the
2017 Isle of Man TT. As well as
taking in the races on the occasions
when the track was dry enough to
permit them to take place, Gaven
sought out all sorts of museums
and other Manx attractions...ISLE OF MAN
ABOVE Unique perspective of a painted TT backdrop featuring Kate’s Cottage, and a couple of BSAs.
BELOW Early British girder fork motorcycles.