Family Motor Cycling History

I am gazing at a very old photograph   of a very old motorbike. Its taken round 1922 on the Walch to   Armidale road.Its a Douglas opposed twin motor with a  rectangular fuel tank, sweptback handlebars, and exposed  flywheel, a fairly primitive machine but it transported my   father Fred Williams round the northern NSW dirt  roads  in his job as a representative for Williams Bros Motors.

Now weather its genetic or not,I dont know but I took an   instant liking to riding on the back of Geoffrey's 500 CC   Tiger 100 twin motor bike when he drove through French's   Forest and down Tumble Down Dick,the acceleration of these   machines was very rapid from 30mph to 100 mph in 30   seconds,  The feeling of wind in the hair with   associated thoughts of freedom were very apparent . 

                 

This is 1948 , prior to regulations requiring motor Cycle riders to wear helmets       

                 

These machines were the fastest   500 cc stock motor cycle available. There was a faster stock bike, but it was 1000 cc V twin Vincent HRD ,capable of speeds  exceeding 120 mph.  The NSW Police selected Triumph Tiger 100 motor cycles for

 their Highway Patrols.

 At age 16 years and 10 months it was possible to sit for a   riders licence, this test was conducted in Hospital   Road, abreast of the Domaine by RTA officers. The test

 involved driving 50 meters down the road, making a U turn   without putting a foot on the ground, observed by the RTA officer standing in the middle of the road.

Most motorcycle riders would understand this required the rider to operate the hand clutch, change gear by foot controller ,one up and three down, apply the foot brake, and    give a right hand signal for turning. This is prior to   electric indicators blinking  direction changes, so one   hand had to come off the handlebars, where the accelerator   is located.Need I say more,    for a nervous   person the opportunity to dab a foot on the ground while   turning the handlebars, to prevent a fall, was just too

great. Needless to say I failed my test.

Eventually I secured my motorcycle licence at 17.Now all I   needed was a motor bike, and who better to help me than   father Fred.He negotiated a sale with Campbell street agents   Hazell & Moore, having worked in the area pre war,lent me   100 pounds and I rode home on a shiny new Tiger 100 motor  bike.