1912 Continued
THE HISTORY of the
MIDDLESBROUGH & DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB
PART 1
13 of 24
Catering arrangements were very bad and it was exceedingly difficult to get a
meal anywhere.
Brilliant weather favoured the Hill Climb competition at Castleton. The results
were decided on A.C.U. formula and were as follows:
1. Lightweights not exceeding 1401bs - J,Nivens, 2¾ Enfield.
2. Touring single cylinder machines, - H.S.Moon, 2¾ New Hudson.
3. Twin cylinder machines - H,Beckworth, 2¾ Douglas.
4. Variable gear and free engine machines - 1. P,Williams, 3½ Triumph.
2. J.Gilchrist, 3½ Zenith Gradua.
5. Open to any machine – 1. J. Dale, 3½ Triumph. 2. E. Goult,
3½ h.p. Rudge.
A photograph of Mr Moon shows him wearing the famous cap with a peak
at the back made for motorcyclists (?). There is a similar photograph of C.W.Smith
of Darlington with his 3½ hp. Smith Precision who made fastest time of the day.
May 1
st
. Yearby Village was awakened from its wonted quietude on Wednesday
evening by an invasion of motorcyclists assembled to participate in the Flexibility Hill
Climb. Timekeepers were Mr M.Jefferson and Mr R.Richardson who had the valuable
assistance of a trained staff of flag-signallers. Results were:
1
st
- H.S.Moon, 2¾ Hudson, 4mins.10.4secs.
2
nd
- J.Nivens, 2½ Triumph, 3mins.25.1secs.
The times shown denote the difference in the times taken to accomplish the fast and
slow ascents.
The Annual Smoker and Prize Presentation took place in the Corporation Hotel.
Councillor Forbes presented the prizes won during the past season. Opportunity was
taken to present a portrait of one of the sidecar members, Mr James Smith (Caliper
Smith?) by the frequenters of the "Corner" as a memento of his Silver Wedding and
also as a reward for his unflinching patience when listening to their oft-told motoring
yarns. One member turned up arrayed for a fancy-dress ball and was somewhat
dismayed at the hearty reception accorded him. Great disappointment was expressed
at the failure of the Motor Orchestra to provide a selection, especially as this had been
greatly anticipated. In response to urgent appeals J,Dale, in vigorous language voiced
the claims of motorists for a much-needed improvement in the roads leading from
Middlesbrough.
1912 was notable for the first appearance of Freddy Dixon in the T.T.Races. He rode a
Cleveland Precision but retired. The Cleveland Precision was manufactured by
Egerton Price who became Mayor of Middlesbrough in 1922. Over 20 of these
machines were manufactured but, being built up from parts made in Coventry and the
consequent high cost of transporting them to Middlesbrough, was eventually
responsible for the demise of same. It will also be remembered that the N.U.T. was
manufactured in Newcastle/Tyne by Hugh Mason, a very beautiful machine with a twin
Jap engine. Egerton tells me that this fact was one of the reasons why it was decided
to build the Cleveland Precision.
(Author's Note: It was about this time that the necessity of providing some sort of a
variable gear ratio on motorcycles which had previously been belt-driven with a fixed
gear ratio became apparent and such arrangements as the Zenith Gradua, the Rudge
Multi of similar design, the former operated by a handle above the tank and the latter
by a lever, appeared on the market as did the N.S.U. 2-speed pulley on the engine
