The Classic MotorCycle – September 2019

Below:Brilliantly

bustlingcourtyard;

themuseumenjoyed

abumperday.

SAMMY

MILLER

MUSEUM

Crammed full of

inte restingmachines

–morethan400 in

total–the museum

is ope ndailyfrom

10am.TheSammy

Miller Museum isat

Bashley,New Milton,

HampshireB25 5SZ

Tel01425 620777 or

http://www.sammymiller.

co.uk

A fittingcelebration

The Rickman Enthusiasts’ Day,held at the SammyMiller Museum on June 23,

brought an eclecticrangeofmachinery and people together.

Wordsand photographs:JAMESROBINSON

on andDerekRickman, motocrossroyalty
and innovativemanufacturers ofmany
products,wereonhand towitnesswhat
wasthe biggestattendance in nineyears at theSammy
Miller Museum foraday celebratingthe products that
theymade.And,fittingly,standingand lookingfromthe
museum,int he rightdirection, itwaspossible tosee
wheretheir old premiseswere,too.
Thebrothers not onlyhad theirbusinessnearby,
theyalsogrewupinNew Milton, wheretheir father
Ernie,aformerSouthampton Speedway rider,had
acar servicingand repair centre. Derekwas born in
1933,Donin1935.Though Ernie diedtragicallyyoung
in 1948, theboys’mother,Marjorie,kept the family
businessgoing.
At ayoung age, both brotherswere ridinginoff-road
competition–and winning. Butbythe end of the 1950s,
they’drecognised that the ubiquitousBSAGold Star was
nearingthe end of its days andbespoke machineswere
the feature. Enter thefirst RickmanMetisse.
During the 1960s,thereweremanyRickman
motorcyclesbuilt,for allmanner of uses–but

motocrosswas the bread andbutter,with tarmaccircuit

racingand road riders alsocatered for.Manyofthese

machin es were congregated in the forecourt of the

Miller Museum.

Mr Miller himselfwasinonthe act too,wheelingout

aTriumph-poweredroad Metisse and alsoaRickman

Zundapp, the latter with only 17 miles on theclock

from new.

Trophieswere awarde dinseven categories,with Don

and Derekcarryingout the presentinghonours.With

morethan80examples of themachines theybuilt and

inspired in attendance,it’sreckonedtobethe largest

gatheringofRickmanwares.

Peoplehadtravelledtoo,with California-based John

Crainmanagingtocombineattendancewith abusiness

trip toMoscow,while DavidBruce droveall theway

down fromJohn O’Groats.

Donand Derek’schosen charities,HampshireAir

Ambulance andOakhaven Hospice,benefitedtothe

tune ofa£1000 donation.

Theevent is alreadyscheduledfor nextyear –soput

June 21, 2020 inyour diaries.

ii n|n Enthusiasts’ Day