Gary Britton has got the Ariel bug and after buying one thought with a spare engine he would build another

You know our Gary has kept us entertained with his superb, and different, BSA builds over the past few years, but now he has got the Ariel bug, and after buying one, after selling a couple of the BSA to fund it, along with a spare engine and gearbox. He decided to not leave these items sat has spares, but build them into another bike…

Gary asked me if I knew where he could buy a frame, rather than build one himself like I suggested, knowing that most people that used to build replica Ariel frames now had stopped making them even John Bartram.

I said the only builders of Ariel frames that I now knew was CCC run by Darren Cooper from Derby, but these had told me there would be a six week time scale for a build….

Gary: Right then Charlie the game is on. I talked to Darren at CCC and he is going to build me a frame. It may take some time he say's. I have some REH forks and rockshock units for the rear. I talked with Pete Kirby and he say’s he can make me one of his belt drive clutch systems. Alan Whitton hubs on order, again may take some time (this virus has buggered everything up). Wheels I’ll build myself and a mate is going to make me a petrol tank. I see this as a "simple (if expensive) bolt together job", but you and I know it does not work like that. I don't know much about the motor or gearbox so I might have to pick your brains.

So the game was on to build Ariel two. My Brother had been talking to Darren about a frame and he said they also made electronic magnetos, we are always liking something different. So is Gary by the look of things (well we knew that), anyway Ariel Two has ended up with one of these ignition units fitted to it,

You can see from picture three that Pete Kirby came up with the clutch and belt drive for Gary too. When I spoke to Pete he said the only real problem was getting the right belt length for the Ariel as you had to use a belt size listed and there was not that much leeway between sizes.

Our old friend Alan Whitton had a bad year last year with family, and friends, but it looks like he has come good for Gary with the supply of the hubs…

Your mate did a good job on the alloy tank too Gary, again a bit different to the norm…

The plot probably started with purchasing the REH forks, and Rock-Shocks, you could not leave them lent against a wall, or in a draw could you. You just had to build a bike to use them… And like Gary said with no trials to compete in during this Pandemic, rather than sitting about, better to use the time to build another bike and with the same attitude as my brother hey Gary, “Sod the expense it is only money”…

Gary had a good ride in his class coming second to our old friend Jon Griffin aboard his Greeves.. results below...

Under 300cc. Tommy Kinsman Jnr 250 BSA 0, Steve Hand 185 BSA 5, Tony Bradley 185 BSA 7, Neil Clarke 250 DOT 12, Steve Grinter 250 Royal Enfield 12.

Over 300cc. Shane Stalker 500 Triumph 1, Barry Barthorpe 350 Ariel 2, Barry Stephens 350 BSA 3, Tony Henbest 370 Triumph 11, Bob Hill 500 Ariel 23.

Specials, James Godman 260 Cub 2, Mark Evans 250 BSA 30.

B ROUTE

Under 300cc. Ian Thompson 250 Greeves 2, Jay Britton 250 BSA 8, Dean Whitty 250 Greeves 10, Dave Passey 250 Drayton Villiers 11, Martin Kemp 250 Greeves 14.

Over 300cc. Jon Griffin 325 Greeves 2, Gary Britton 350 Ariel 5, Geoff Cornes 500 Matchless 10, Mark Vining 350 Trifield 16.

Rigid over 300cc, Sean Donaghy 500 Triumph 4, Jon Cull 350 AJS 5, Ian Hayward 350 AJS 14, Alan Wear 350 Triumph 30.

Specials, Mike Jarrett 350 BSA 6, Karen Clarke 185 BSA 10, David Gollicker 240 Cub 11, Chris Wrigley 230 Cub 11.

C ROUTE

Under 300cc. Robin Hoare 250 Francis Barnett 3, Neil Thomas 200 Cub 11, Paul Knight 200 Cub 11, Simon Hatcliffe 250 Burian 18.

Over 300cc. Graham Jones 350 Ariel 0, Trevor Newell 450 Royal Enfield 3, John Cross 350 Royal Enfield 7.

Rigid over 300cc, Brian Ayres 350 BSA 1.

Here is young Jon Smith aboard the Ariel Number One at the Somerton Classic's British Bike Trial..

Visitor Counter: