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Vintage Iron at

Brit Jam 2007!

By BUD WILKINSON

      Cucumber sandwiches weren’t served. Fish and chips couldn’t be found. No bangers and mash, either. The fare at the snack stand was strictly all-American – hamburgers and cheeseburgers, thank you – which was fine because Brit Jam is really a democratic event for lovers of all brands of vintage motorcycles and not just the British makes.

     Put on by the British Iron Association of Connecticut, a club of British motorcycle enthusiasts, the annual Brit Jam classic motorcycle show was staged for the 21^st time on Sunday at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds in East Hampton. It attracted more than 1,200 bike owners who came to both compete for trophies in numerous categories and to simply gaze at exotic-sounding nameplates from motorcycling’s romantic past, and they left no scone unturned in doing so.

     While bikes from Japan, Italy, Germany, Russia and the U.S.A. could be found on the grounds, British iron did dominate the scene. On display and liberally sprinkled among the more commonplace Triumphs were Vincents, Ariels, BSAs, Nortons, Royal Enfields, Velocettes and even a Matchless or two.

     Dave Przekora brought his restored blue and shimmering chrome 1970 BSA Lightning up from Brookfield and had a “For Sale” on it. “I’m a nut. I do it for fun. I do it for the puzzle,” he said of putting an old bike back into shape. “It’s a disease.”

     He recently purchased two old Yamahas with the intention of making them road-worthy again and that’s why the 650cc BSA was up for sale. Having invested $9,000 in it, Przekora was hoping to get his money back. “This thing bumps around really good,” he said of what it’s like on the road.

     Nearby, Alex Gifford had his red 1957 Ariel Huntmaster on display. Gifford owns Branchville Motors, the Triumph and Moto Guzzi dealership in Ridgefield. He bought the rare Ariel in pieces a year ago for $4,500 and reassembled it. “I have no idea of how many came to America, but not many,” he said.

     Next to Gifford’s 650cc Huntmaster was another piece of Ariel history, a black 1956 Square Four with a 1,000cc engine.

     Not all of the bikes were antiques. Bike collector Dean Mojon of New Hartford, whom RIDE-CT wrote about on May 19 in a story about Triumph Hurricanes, trailered his burnt orange 2000 Triumph Sprint RS to Brit Jam and took home a trophy for Best British Motorcycle 1995

to present.

     Chatting with people as they admired the bikes and eavesdropping on conversations, it quickly became evident that most of the folks at Brit Jam were unlike many weekend brand snobs who buy high-priced machines to pose or to affect a lifestyle. These were serious, knowledgeable and dedicated riders, who get a thrill out of what’s gone before and who believe bikes are meant to be ridden.

     Peter Thiel of Prospect, who emceed the event, is a charter member of the British Iron Association of Connecticut and holds the membership No. 13. He owns eight bikes, five of them British, and has a 1981 Honda Gold Wing as his primary ride. Thiel maintains that it’s the people that make Brit Jam such a congenial event as friendships develop and flourish over the years.

     “That to me the amazing thing. It’s not the bikes,” said Thiel, noting that attendees range from high rollers to retirees. He also recalled Brit Jam’s modest origin with an attendance of probably 200. “It started as a small event at the Knights of Columbus in East Hartford.”

     Brit Jam later moved to Colchester but quickly outgrew the venue, necessitating a move to East Hampton last year. One reason for the growth has to be because the atmosphere is so inclusive. Not only are all brands welcome, so are all styles of bikes. There are even café racers, choppers and customs on display, and parts vendors who stock supplies for long-defunct bike lines.

     Among the least-ridden bikes at the show was Bob Richardson’s sparkling, all-original 1937 A.J.S. “I ride it about 10 to 15 miles a month to keep it running,” said Richardson, reporting that he never goes faster than 45 miles per hour.

     He picked up the 250cc A.J.S. in 1987 in England when he was in the military. “I found it over there. A guy had it in his shed,” reported Richardson, who came down from Mexico, Maine.

     What he paid for the A.J.S. is truly amazing – only $500. The bike took home two trophies at Brit Jam. One trophy was for the Best Vintage Bike; the other was the top prize for Best of Show. Wonder if he celebrated with a warm beer?

(Originally published August 25, 2007 in "The Republican-American")

The annual Brit Jam meet in East Hapmton attracts vintage motorcyclists from around Connecticut and beyond.

A 1937 A.J.S. motorcycle owned by Bob Richardson of Maine took home Best of Show honors at the 21st annual Brit Jam classic motorcycle show in August. Brit Jam offers bikers the opportunity to see many other long-gone badges.

(Photos by Bud Wilkinson)