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."