The NLG Peugeot This magnificent machine built by North
London Garages still exists and resides in the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. Cleary built for one purpose, it was powered by a 944cc V-twin Peugeot engine and weighed 120Ib (54.5kg). The motorcycle was back at Brooklands in April 2008 when the Museum commemorated the centenary of the first motorcycle race at Brooklands. NLG went on to build a second even
Charlie Collier riding a 7-10hp Matchless on his way to breaking the Hour Record at Brooklands on 8 October, 1908. Harry Collier and H Martin can be seen by the side of the track.
Riding a Matchless 7hp powered by a V-twin JAP engine that had recently come ninth in the Isle of Man TT, Collier pushed off to reach a speed of 63.24mph on lap one and a highest speed of 72.89mph on lap four. He eventually set the first motorcycle hour record at Brooklands of 70 miles and 105yds in the hour. The result was later adjusted to 67 miles and 1655yds as Collier had been instructed to ride outside the 50ft track guideline when the ACU rules stated motorcycles should ride at the 10ft guideline. This adjustment was still enough to beat the previous record set in France by Italian rider Giuppone on a 12hp Peugeot. However, Charlie continued to protest that he had been treated unfairly.
The last motorcycle meeting of the year was in November. The Cambridge University Motorcycle Club was at the track for a private meeting consisting of five races and an impromptu Car vs Motor-bicycle race. It was noted that the handicapping was well calculated as no more than two seconds separated the first two riders in each event. The last race was the Car vs Motor-bicycle race involving the Club Secretary driving a 31.1hp Daimler against a 5hp Vindec. It is not known if this race was handicapped, but the car won by five seconds. On 22nd December, Major Lindsey-
Lloyd replaced Ernest de Rodakowski as Clerk of the Course and motorcyclists looked forward to a full programme of two-wheeled events for 1909.
more powerful motorcycle. This was a 20hp 90-degree V-twin 2700cc JAP-powered machine. It proved to be too much of a handful for Brooklands, managing a top speed of 84.247mph over a flying kilometre in 26.553 seconds. Although this was a new unlimited speed record for Brooklands, it was not recognised as a world record. A replica of this incredible machine was built by motorcycle restorer Parvel Malanik with the aim of beating Cook’s speed. In 2017, I was lucky enough to witness Malanik run the replica at the banked Montlhéry Circuit in France and reach a speed of 100mph. Parvel, seated precariously over the back wheel, appeared in the distance towards the top of the banked circuit. He powered past the pits, sounding more like a steam train than a motorcycle. There is a film about the NLG replica project including onboard footage on YouTube at:
www.bit.ly/bbnlg1
Official checking and congratulations for Charlie Collier for setting a new Hour Record. His initial distance of 70 miles and 105 yards was later adjusted to 67 miles and 1655 yards but still stood.
MAY - JUNE 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 43
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