Watsonian centenary rally August 2012

Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, 18-19th Aug 2012

Join Watsonian sidecars at Stoneleigh Park (formerly the National Agricultural Centre) for a rally to celebrate their 100th birthday.

Founded by TF Watson in 1912, Watsonian has survived two world wars, economic boom and bust and a devastating factory fire.  Today the company still makes Great British sidecars in the Heart of England, exporting across the globe.  Ironically, Japan is their biggest overseas market and Corofi, Watsonian's Japanese distributor, will be riding a couple of outfits to the rally.

Attractions at the Centenary Rally include a display of historic sidecars along with the company archives, driving skills test, prizes for Best in Show, celebrity guests, trade stands and an opportunity to test ride Royal Enfield motorcycles, which have been distributed by Watsonian since 1999.  (Please bring your license & riding gear).

On Saturday evening there will be entertainment with a live band and bar.

Tickets for the weekend cost £10 per person in advance.  Camping and self catering accommodation is available on site, as is the Stoneleigh Park Lodge guest house. Book your accommodation direct with Stoneleigh Park on 02476 690123 quoting event number 10348. 

Wizard Wheels exhibition 10Jan-11 March

"Wizard Wheels: the Watsonian sidecar" is an exhibition at the Court Barn museum in Chipping Campden,one of the most pictureque villages in the Cotswoldsand just a couple of miles from the Watsonian factory.

The museum celebrates the talented artists, designers and craftspeople who worked in and around Chipping Campden and the north Cotswolds since the time of the Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th century.

“This is slightly different to our usual displays, but as the museum celebrates craft and design in the north Cotswold we thought it was an opportunity not to miss; celebrating something which is built only a few miles from the Museum" explains curator Sarah McCormick Healy. "There is also a connection with Michael Cardew, who founded Winchcombe potteries and is one of the nine lives we celebrate at the Museum. In the 1920s the potter Bernard Leach brought Michael Cardew to Broadway to meet Gordon Russell, the furniture designer. This visit led Michael Cardew to restart the potteries at Winchcombe. They travelled up from St Ives on a motorbike and sidecar”.

The exhibition runs from Tues 10 January – Sun 11 March 2012; For information on admission charges, Group Visits, location, parking and contact details go to  http://www.courtbarn.org.uk/visitors

Watsonian's historic support for rugged ladies

Seventy five years ago two British women rode a Panther/Watsonian sidecar outfit (pulling a Watsonian trailer) across the Sahara, through equatorial Africa and South to the Cape, a feat that no man had dared to even attempt.  Here’s the AMA’s account of their story, and the incredible account of Theresa Wallach’s lifetime on two wheels.  No wonder she was inducted into their Motorcycle Hall of Fame.  There's some brilliant archive movie to watch too ...

Aviator gets centenary off to flying start

Watsonian sidecars celebrate their centenary in 2012 and to mark the occasion the British manufacturer has produced a special edition of its popular GP Manx.

Named the Aviator, in honour of RAF Moreton-in-Marsh which is located close to the factory, it is shown paired with a 500cc Royal Enfield Battlegreen motorcycle.  The distinctive octagonal nose shape, dating from the 1920's, is reminiscent of the nose cone seen on fighter aircraft so Watsonian removed the traditional aluminium beading featured on other models in the GP range and added the 'shark mouth' logo that was made famous by 112 Squadron RAF ("The Shark Squadron"). 

Its aeronautical appearance is further enhanced by the addition of the short screen, originally fitted to the modified Manx sidecars supplied for the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

At 85kg the fibreglass-bodied Aviator is one of the lightest sidecars in the GP range; it has a black steel perimeter frame, with a traditional 16” spoked wheel and leading link suspension.  Offering 1.35 metres of legroom and at 46 cm wide the cockpit will comfortably accommodate and adult and the seat tilts forward to reveal a 370 x 400 x 400 mm boot space. 

Prices for the Watsonian Aviator Manx start at £3995 (in plain black without decals) and a full factory fitting service, with tuition for novice drivers, is also available. 

Watsonian is planning a major event to mark its 100th birthday on the weekend of 18th - 19th August 2012.  For more information on this and the full range of sidecars contact Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907 or visit watsonian-squire.com.

Sidecar stories - Dennis and his Monza

We recently received some fabulous photos from Dennis, showing his BSA Shooting Star with Monza, taken in 1968.  This is the story behind the picture;

"My then girlfriend and I had a disagreement and she went back home to Newcastle County Down. Eventually I found out where she had gone, then headed off in the combo to Liverpool to catch the Belfast ferry. Got there too late for the crane to lift the bike on, so I dis-assembled it drove the bike up the gang-plank and paid five shillings (a lot of money in 1964) to a 'wharfie' to help me carry the sidecar on board.  Then I  re-bolted it together and fastened it solidly to the deck. Went and got myself a drink and a roll, then climbed into the sidecar pulled a blanket over my head and slept the whole way. Then I and the other half went touring.

I think I was the first person to ever have a fairly fat tyre on the rear end of a road going combo.  I had tuned the Shooting Star and fitted spitfire cams and I needed a wider tyre to do a bit of drifting around the country bends of Staffordshire. Later in London I was around a friend's place who had a scrap yard and I helped him dismantle an old Austin Ruby.  Then I noticed that the wheels were the same size and that the 420 tire would fit the Beeza and it did.  Made a distinct change from the 325 normally fitted. The girl loved the sidecar and was always leaning out of it when we went around left-handers. Magic.

88 mph flat out down the new M1. Not bad for a 500cc."

Manx to the Manx

Product testing for British sidecar manufacturer Watsonian Squire is a family affair. Sales Director Ben Matthews has just returned from the Isle of Man, where he spent several days riding the company's latest GP Manx demonstrator outfit around the island's roads accompanied by his son Troy (12) in the chair.

Their trip coincided with the Manx Grand Prix, after which the sidecar is named; painted in distinctive light blue “Wizard” colour scheme, created to celebrate the appearance of Watsonian sidecars in the blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the outfit attracted considerable attention wherever it went.

"I've been nagging my dad for the last few years to take me to the Isle of Man, so when he told me we were going to the Manx GP I was so excited!" comments Troy.

“Testing the outfits is certainly a fun part of the job” Ben admits. “But there's also a serious side to it, because a significant proportion of our customers are motorcyclists who want to include their family in their hobby. So it's important to test the outfits from the passenger's view.”

Troy certainly enjoyed the experience; "I love riding in the sidecar - it's so much fun, and it's a great way to explore the Isle of Man. I can't wait to go back next year".

Styled to replicate the traditional octagonal nose shape dating from the 1920's, the fibreglass Manx retains the aluminium beading originally used to hold the wooden body panels together. Prices for the Watsonian GP Manx start at £3995 and a full factory fitting service, with tuition for novice drivers, is also available. For more information on sidecars contact Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907.

Wizard time with Avon Tyres at Castle Combe

Watsonian sidecars were delighted to be supporting fellow British manufacturer Avon Tyres when they attended a unique Castle Combe race event held on September 3rd to honour the Wiltshire track’s 60th anniversary.  Avon borrowed a Watsonian Manx sidecar and Royal Enfield classic combination in the Wizard colour scheme produced to celebrate the company's products featuring in Harry Potter and the Deatly Hallows.

The circuit was originally opened in the summer of 1950, making it one of the oldest and established circuits in the UK, and held its first dedicated motorcycle race in 1951.  To honour this 60th anniversary the circuit hosted a very special race meeting – the Fowlers Pro-Bike National.  This 60th anniversary coincides with Avon Tyres’ own 100th anniversary of manufacturing motorcycle tyres and located just 12 miles away from Avon Tyres in Melksham, both companies have a long and close relationship. Castle Combe has been used constantly in the development of Avon Tyres over the last 60 years and recently Avon Tyres unearthed rare film footage of the firm testing Geoff Duke’s Manx Norton racer on Avon tyres.

Today, Avon Tyres is the only UK-based manufacturer of road-going motorcycle tyres and their latest range of road tyres covers every category of motorcycles from adventure sport to power cruisers and sports bikes.  Over the last century, famous motorcycling names such as Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene have raced and won on Avon Tyres.

Joining Avon Tyres at the event were be a host of bike race stars including Carl Fogarty, Michael Rutter and his father Tony, Martin Jessop and Mike Hailwood’s son David Hailwood, all taking part in a one-off ‘star parade’ on the circuit after which they will be on hand to sign autographs for fans. Four-time World Superbike champion Fogarty knows the circuit well, having taken the first 100mph average lap of the circuit back in 1989.

Avon’s Global Motorcycle Sales Manager Graham Matcham said, “We had a very busy day and the Watsonian Wizard was no doubt a star attraction within the collection of bikes we assembled.  Hanging on for dear life in the sidecar is my close colleague Pete McNally Product designer and manager for the Avon motorcycle range. He is absolutely delighted that his product Roadrider features on such an iconic motorcycle sidecar".