Rudge Whitworth Motorcycles Ulster Grand Prix 1936
These lovely and potent machines could develop some 40 bhp at 6,000 rpm and were known to be capable of a genuine 100 mph.
One fact overlooked by many seasoned observers is that the lovely 8 inch front and rear brakes work extremely well in fact better than larger sized brake areas of some other bike brands.
This lovely Rudge came to Nelson from the Norm and Lynda Maddock collection north of Auckland. Norm and Lynda are staunch supporters of the NZ Vintage and Classic scene and the NZCMRR Race scene. Norm used to run the Road Trial at Pukekohe and Lynda is well known for her efforts on the race track with their Rudges and AJS race bikes. In later years they have been known to put young aspiring riders on their Vintage race machinery, it was through this experience that the NZ Classics team meet Scout Fletcher at Pukekohe in 2011.
This Rudge has a nice pedigree of well-respected NZ owners. It was thought to have been sold new in NZ through a Christchurch dealer in 1936 however modern records show it registration in NZ in 1969 to one Robert Burns (better known as Bob Burns the holder of the world land speed record for sidecar motorbikes in 1954 setting a speed of 163.06 mph on a 1000cc Alcohol burning Vincent Black Lightning). Bob Burns then on sold it to Mauri Wear another well-known Christchurch motorcyclist in the Vintage and Classic field who in the latter part of his bike career specialised in Classic Trials. Winston Balfour from CHCH was the next owner (nothing known about this gent) and it then it went to The Maddock collection.
This bike represents a very accurate 1936 Rudge Ulster and its renovation is in keeping with the period. (Commissioned but not ridden very far by the NZ Classic Motorcycles team).