Recently Bodger made a trip back to the home country due a passing on in the family.
While there, it was decided to use the opportunity to pay a visit to the Birmingham area or as called in the Midlands, Brum, the ports of call being the National Motorcycle Museum in the Solihull area and to Small Heath.
First to Solihull and the National Motorcycle Museum of NMM.
This is a very impressive collection of British made motorcycles from the start of the last century to up into the 80s-90s. There are makes were in existence for a few years and makes that lasted for decades.
Here's a few examples(unfortunately no notes were made of what was what, so it's quiz time):
After spending a while there at the NMM, and getting a copy of Rupert Ratios newest book on BSA Singles, covering all the other stuff, it was time to venture off to Small Heath to see where Bodgers two fine examples of British motorcycling came from.
First it should be mentioned that an attempt was made to go there prior to the NMM in the morning but after getting slightly lost due (nearly in Meriden at that other makes place of manufacture)to not having a map and doing something rather silly such as relying on memory of looking at a map, it was decided to ask directions at the NMM.
Got going in the right direction and after 10-20 minutes of driving, was beginning to wonder if had missed it completely. When the signs for Birmingham City center were seen as well as for Birmingham City FC stadium came to view, it was decided that something was wrong.
So after going around a roundabout and heading back in the opposite direction, things came back to normal while a sign for Small heath Industrial area came into view. After making a right turn this came into view
And then a left at this one
Bodger had arrived!!!!
However, due to local city government and other reasons, the following was no longer in existence
What was there were small warehouses and businesses.
However, there was a small remnant of the great works left that now manufactures BSA guns, air rifles and rifle scopes
After getting back in the local area, a stop was made at the place of employment of Bodgers bestest friend of over 40 years, Willum. However there was sad news there as he had passed on back in December from the Big C it appears. RIP mate.
After spending a while there at the NMM, and getting a copy of Rupert Ratios newest book on BSA Singles, covering all the other stuff, it was time to venture off to Small Heath to see where Bodgers two fine examples of British motorcycling came from.
First it should be mentioned that an attempt was made to go there prior to the NMM in the morning but after getting slightly lost due (nearly in Meriden at that other makes place of manufacture)to not having a map and doing something rather silly such as relying on memory of looking at a map, it was decided to ask directions at the NMM.
Got going in the right direction and after 10-20 minutes of driving, was beginning to wonder if had missed it completely. When the signs for Birmingham City center were seen as well as for Birmingham City FC stadium came to view, it was decided that something was wrong.
So after going around a roundabout and heading back in the opposite direction, things came back to normal while a sign for Small heath Industrial area came into view. After making a right turn this came into view
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