Beschreibung:

This Norton International was previously owned and raced by Denis Jenkinson -‘Jenks’ - renowned Continental Correspondent of Motor Sport magazine, contributor to countless motorcycle journals and passenger to Eric Oliver throughout the latter’s first World Championship-winning season of 1949. It would appear that this machine has been exhibited at the Brooklands Museum, as it is accompanied by a display board bearing the text: ‘This Norton International model is to racing specification and is a typical 1935 example as raced at Brooklands by an amateur Clubman, particularly on the Mountain Circuit and the Campbell Circuit. It would have been equally at home on the Outer Circuit, but a more suitable “flat-on-the-tank” riding position would have been adopted, with lowered handlebars, footrests mover further back, and a lighter front wheel without a brake. Thus being transformed into a typical “outer-circuit bike”. As displayed it is in all-round racing trim and could actually be used on the public road. Loaned by Denis Jenkinson.’ Whether or not the bike does have Brooklands history is not known. This ‘Inter’ was first registered on 1st April 1940, presumably having been used exclusively for competition purposes prior to WW2. The accompanying substantial file of history includes an old-style continuation logbook (issued 10th January 1944) recording Raymond John Petty as owner at that time (presumably Ray Petty, the famous tuner/entrant and Norton specialist). It started life as a Model 40 with 350cc engine, the current 490cc unit having been fitted, it is believed, in the 1950s. (Accompanying documentation records that engine number ‘29062’ was despatched on 13th March 1950 to Parkinson’s of Wakefield for their customer W Jowett of Ilkley, Yorkshire). Denis Jenkinson certainly owned the machine by the late 1940s, as evidenced by the aforementioned logbook and a photocopy picture of him racing it at Cadwell Park on 28th September 1947. This picture is annotated on the reverse: ‘Flat out on Bottom Straight, Cadwell Senior Championship – Unlimited. Heat 5. I finished 3rd behind Les Graham (500 Matchless) and Herbert Addie (350 Velo) ahead of Dent, Dear, Clarke and Whelan.’ Another accompanying photograph depicts Jenks push-starting the Norton at the VSCC’s Weston Super Mare sprint circa 1990. Mr Stephens acquired the machine in November 1998, the sales receipt recording that it was purchased from one ‘L Wilkins’. Also included in the sale are various instruction manuals/parts lists; assorted old tax discs; six expired MoTs (most recent issued June 2005); copy old V5 showing Denis Jenkinson as registered keeper; old V5 recording its registration to Mr Stephens on 28th November 1998 and Denis Jenkinson as previous recorded keeper; and current Swansea V5C registration document. Not used for the past two years, the machine will require re-commissioning before further use.