My final selection for my very first article was found at the Red Marley Hill Climb in 2015 in the shadow of the Malvern hills. I’m always partial to a JAP motor and to find one on a Matchless frame made it a definite subject for the sketchbook.
This Matchless JAP is campaigned by Andy Smith throughout the year in classic scrambles events. The JAP engine has an Wellworthy barrel which was developed for long track racing as it cools better due to the alloy and extra fins. Apparently these engines were the brainchild of a speedway rider named Victor Martin and so are known as Martin JAPs. An interesting reversion as the early Matchless machines made by the Collier brothers were fitted with proprietery JAP motors. I will leave the final words to the owner of this fine machine.
"I built the bike myself from Matchless cycle parts (donated by my brother Richard) and including an AMC gearbox and some competition mods of my own, about three years ago in an effort to go a bit quicker than the 350 AJS scrambler I also race. I have at least succeeded in achieving that!"
Andy Smith