Matchless G90 Super Clubman - FAO SRob

Matchless G90 Super Clubman - FAO SRob

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graham22

Original Poster:

3,297 posts

211 months

Sunday 9th October 2022
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Think I have the right person, SRob our resident classic bike expert.

Anyway, bit of a ramble, please bear with me.



My Grandad had bit of a rough time, born in 1918, mother died months after, didn't get on with his father and as a result was very close to his older brother John. Both of them on the Matchless in the above photo.

Both brothers were in the QVR, a motorcycle regiment. They were called to help defend Calais in 1939 to enable the BEF to evacuate. John got killed while fighting alongside grandad, grandad got captured and was a PoW in Stallag V11B.

Grandad did his 6 years as a PoW, the camp was abandoned in 1945 and Grandad was one of many on the Great March/Death March that winter. He handed over to the Russians and then flown home in the bomb chamber of a Lancaster Bomber.

We have Grandads notepad, upon his return he was reunited with my Nan and there are some fantastic notes about this in his diary.



There are 2 other entries, one is 'met with Dad, still no joy there'. The other is 'Fired up the Matchless, she looks lovely' - which brings me onto my request.

Grandad passed away a few years ago, most of this story we discovered since he died.

My dad, who is also John, is 75 next year and has arranged for a taxi ride in a Lancaster Bomber, it's a long shot but I would love to arrange for a 1937 Matchless G90 Super Clubman to be there for when he finishes, even a chance for him to ride it (he's very bike fit, FZ1 Fazer, Thruxton R and BSA A10 - 150mph on the Isle of Man in July, only complaint was having to hold down his tankbag with his elbows over 135!).



Sorry for the monologue but can anyone help, I'll try any Matchless owners clubs I can find but they seem to be focused towards the later AJS style jampot models.

Rushjob

1,950 posts

264 months

Sunday 9th October 2022
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I can't be of any help but can I say that I sincerely hope that you can successfully arrange it....... good luck!!

stang65

391 posts

143 months

Sunday 9th October 2022
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I'd guess your best bet in the UK is to try the VIntage Motorcycle Club (VMCC) as well as the AJS & Matchless OC.

Maybe try an email to the magazine editor, Peter Henshaw on editor@vmcc.net.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

srob

11,801 posts

244 months

Monday 10th October 2022
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Hello mate. A G90 is a pretty rare machine now, I think there are more G3 models about which is the 350cc.

Leave it with me, I certainly can't make any promises but will see if I can help. I'll make some enquiries thumbup

ETA:

Just spoke to my brother who's quite deeply involved in old bikes. He reckons he's only ever seen one G90 Super Clubman in all his years, and that's currently up for sale on Carandclassic: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1487813 although it's a race bike now.

He suggested it might be worth dropping the local to East Kirkby section of the AJS & Matchless owners club a line. They're known as the Jampot club and the local one to there is the Poachers Section.

Edited by srob on Monday 10th October 11:34

wuckfitracing

990 posts

149 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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Search Facebook for “Poachers AJS and Matchless owners Club. “

graham22

Original Poster:

3,297 posts

211 months

Friday 14th October 2022
quotequote all
srob said:
Hello mate. A G90 is a pretty rare machine now, I think there are more G3 models about which is the 350cc.

Leave it with me, I certainly can't make any promises but will see if I can help. I'll make some enquiries thumbup

ETA:

Just spoke to my brother who's quite deeply involved in old bikes. He reckons he's only ever seen one G90 Super Clubman in all his years, and that's currently up for sale on Carandclassic: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1487813 although it's a race bike now.

He suggested it might be worth dropping the local to East Kirkby section of the AJS & Matchless owners club a line. They're known as the Jampot club and the local one to there is the Poachers Section.

Edited by srob on Monday 10th October 11:34
Thanks Rob.

Dad did write to one of the classic bike mags about identifying the b8kes and the reply was that the G90 was a bit special in it's day. Ironic the one for sale is fairly local to us and used in hillclimbs which both me & dad competed in.

Thanks again, will let you know of any developments.