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The 'Terror'
Chris Nash sent in this picture of what looks like a well used Terrier race bike, nicknamed 'The Terror' on its fuel tank. He saw it many years ago at the Newark winter show and thinks the chap on the stall was from France. But did anyone else remember it? Did anyone actually buy it? Does anyone know anything about it? Well the mystery has been solved, and a big thank you to Derek from Tiger Cub and Terrier spares specialist, Greystone Enterprises. Derek was having a tidy up and found this information featured in Issue No. 2 (July 2012) of the now defunct Cub Mag. Here are pictures of the pages from the mag featuring 'The Terror' and here also is a full transcript of the words:
The Terror In an inclusive Q & A session with The Cub Mag, the Terrified Terrier Test Pilot tells how the baby racer came to reside north of the border. What is it? It's a 1953 Triumph Terrier racer (pause for reaction). No, honestly, according to the history we got with it, a guy in Kent bought it new with the sole intention of racing it and used to transport it to races on a Beeza outfit. It was bored out to 230cc, we think using cub head & barrel and amazingly it still has matching engine and frame numbers. It has a close ratio gear box, Dell'Orto racing carb, a front brake that actually stops you (don't know what the wheel is from), and it also has a non-standard tank that suits it really well I think, and a home made racing seat with streamlined hump and rear sets. Where did you get it? Stafford via Newark, via La France Via Stafford. Let me explain. Stafford, October 2011, our intention was to travel down from Scotland on the Thursday collect an Ifor Williams sheep trailer, stay with friends in Derbyshire, do Stafford on the Saturday and Sunday and travel back home on Tuesday. Well that was the plan but on the Saturday we were offered the use of Vanessa's (our friends in Derbyshire) Triumph 900cc Legend; it was a beautiful warm sunny day, a Triumph - not built at Meriden, but still a darn good bike and the Derbyshire countryside - no contest really - Stafford was relegated to Sunday only. You may well be thinking what has all that to do with buying the Terror? Well if we had gone on the Saturday instead of enjoying ourselves riding round Matlock and sunbathing at Crich Stand, we wouldn't have been in a rush to cover the whole show in one day, and when we saw the Terror we would have had time to talk to Denis, the Frenchman who was selling it. Luckily another friend Stu, saw the very same Denis with the terror for sale at Newark jumble. Stu knew we had thought hard about the Terror since Stafford, and spoke to Denis about getting his contact details. After many emails and several botched bank transfers to make the deposit (botched by the bank, not us!) we finally secured the bike and Denis agreed to meet us at the Stafford Show this April to complete the deal. Why did you get it? Simple really, to stop it being put into a museum or private collection, the men and women who worked in factories like Meriden made bikes out of lumps of steel to be ridden in all weathers, to get wet, to get muddy TO BE RIDDEN. |
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What have you done to it so far?
Due to the 'language barrier', we weren't able to hear the bike running at the show.
What have we done?! Finally got it running (this involved a lot of pushing by others as the Terror has no kick start), but the carb was leaking very badly due to a snapped idle jet. GBC stripped it down and cleaned it all up then rebuilt it with new gaskets and O-rings. Removal of the idle jet was tricky and was only achieved with much encouragement and instruction from Matt at Eurocarb, and believe it or not, the tool of choice was a cotton bud.
GBC also cleaned out the rust and crud from the petrol tank with old nuts and bolts in the tank followed by a good shake around then emptied out (about 4 times) and washed out with clean petrol. We fitted new fuel lines and in-line filters just to be sure. We've now got the V5C (registration document), and a number plate is on order.
What will you do with it?
keep it as near as we can original! Register it for the road and get a daytime MOT on it (it has no lights being a racer), then use it so it can be seen doing what it was built for.
Will have to get it running a bit better first! GBC
So on Saturday 28th April 2012 as well as launching the CUBMAG we became the new keepers of the Terror to protect and preserve for future generations to enjoy. You'll also be able to see it at shows on the CUBMAG stand.
Rumour has it the bike was raced from new to the early 1960s but we know nothing else about it. If anyone can fill in the gaps please get in touch with the CUBMAG.
Due to the 'language barrier', we weren't able to hear the bike running at the show.
What have we done?! Finally got it running (this involved a lot of pushing by others as the Terror has no kick start), but the carb was leaking very badly due to a snapped idle jet. GBC stripped it down and cleaned it all up then rebuilt it with new gaskets and O-rings. Removal of the idle jet was tricky and was only achieved with much encouragement and instruction from Matt at Eurocarb, and believe it or not, the tool of choice was a cotton bud.
GBC also cleaned out the rust and crud from the petrol tank with old nuts and bolts in the tank followed by a good shake around then emptied out (about 4 times) and washed out with clean petrol. We fitted new fuel lines and in-line filters just to be sure. We've now got the V5C (registration document), and a number plate is on order.
What will you do with it?
keep it as near as we can original! Register it for the road and get a daytime MOT on it (it has no lights being a racer), then use it so it can be seen doing what it was built for.
Will have to get it running a bit better first! GBC
So on Saturday 28th April 2012 as well as launching the CUBMAG we became the new keepers of the Terror to protect and preserve for future generations to enjoy. You'll also be able to see it at shows on the CUBMAG stand.
Rumour has it the bike was raced from new to the early 1960s but we know nothing else about it. If anyone can fill in the gaps please get in touch with the CUBMAG.
If the present owner is out there - please do get in touch: [email protected]
The great news is The Terror is still out there and is still in the possession of Gorgeous Biker Chick (GBC). Here's what she has to say:
"Hi Steve,
Apologies for the delay in responding, delighted to hear someone is doing something active in the Cub and Terrier world, hope you get response and activity from the Membership!
Just a quick mail today as I feel bad for not sending this sooner; we have custody of The Mighty Terror and have had it running a few times, never ridden it as a) no time since starting the Bike Bus and b) until recently, couldn't get it running very well due to a complete lack of knowledge in setting up Amal racing carbs!
Would love to take it out even for a photo or two for you but can't make any promises on a timescale."
All the best,
Kind regards Jacqui aka "GBC"
"Hi Steve,
Apologies for the delay in responding, delighted to hear someone is doing something active in the Cub and Terrier world, hope you get response and activity from the Membership!
Just a quick mail today as I feel bad for not sending this sooner; we have custody of The Mighty Terror and have had it running a few times, never ridden it as a) no time since starting the Bike Bus and b) until recently, couldn't get it running very well due to a complete lack of knowledge in setting up Amal racing carbs!
Would love to take it out even for a photo or two for you but can't make any promises on a timescale."
All the best,
Kind regards Jacqui aka "GBC"