Description
This motorcycle is Lot 300 - To be auctioned by Bonhams at The Spring Stafford Sale (The International Classic MotorCycle Show) on 26th & 27th April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 101 - 147 are to be sold from 14:00 on Saturday 26th April 2025.
Lots 201 - 410 are to be sold from 11:00 on Sunday 27th April 2025.
Public Viewing:
Available 26th & 27th April 2025 from 09:00 until 17:00, at The Stafford County Showground (The International Classic MotorCycle Show).
Lot 300
Property of a deceased's estate; ex-Roland Pike
c. 1952 Pike-BSA 350cc Gold Star Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. BAN 693C
Frame no. 26. 2. 1948
Engine no. ZB32. GS. 6074 Spare engine no. none
One of only two Pike-framed BSAs
Raced at the Isle of Man TT in 1952
Known ownership history
Present ownership since 1970
Unused since at least 1999
Requires recommissioning
An important figure in BSA's history, and that of the Gold Star in particular, Roland Pike completed an engineering apprenticeship at Armstrong-Siddeley and Daimler Cars in London in the 1930s. Born in 1914, he started his competition career in 1935 and soon became adept at improving the Rudge machines he favoured for racing. In the immediately post-war years Roland was virtually unbeatable on the 250 Pike Rudge and secured a fine 2nd place in the 1948 Lightweight TT behind Maurice Cann's works Moto Guzzi.
The McCandless brothers having demonstrated the superiority of swinging-arm rear suspension with what would become the Norton Featherbed frame, Roland designed and built two lightweight welded frames of his own to take BSA engines, the frame number of this example suggesting it was built in February 1948. One frame was built to take a '350' Gold Star engine while the other had an all-alloy Star Twin '500' installed, and both were taken to the Isle of Man TT races in 1952. Despite him scoring a 'DNF' in both the Junior and Senior races, Roland's obvious talent as a rider and development engineer did not go unnoticed, leading to an offer of employment from BSA to head up the Development Shop, which was mainly concerned with improving the performance of the Gold Star. As time went on Roland became increasingly frustrated with the attitude of the BSA board, which regularly turned down proposals to improve their products on grounds of cost. In 1957 he left BSA and emigrated with his family to the USA, pursuing a career in the motor trade there (where he worked for Jaguar) and then in Canada. He died in South Carolina in 1999.
According to the BSA Gold Star Owners' Club, this motorcycle's rolling chassis has all the widely documented features of the two frames designed by Roland Pike and finished at the BSA factory in 1952. The oval, tapered down-tube and swinging arm details are correct, as is the frame layout including the lay-down multi-position rear suspension units (which pre-date the Velocette patent on this idea). The top fork yoke is to the factory Daytona competition pattern and the front forks are BSA. Much of the detailing has been changed over the years, which should be no surprise given the bike's long history of works supported development and subsequent hard use in racing from Grand Prix level down to club racing in later years. The front wheel is the original pattern 8" ventilated type, now fitted with a Taylor-Dow front brake plate, while the original oil tank, fuel tank and seat have been replaced with later 'off the peg' components. These changes reflect the continued repair, maintenance and upgrading that any competition motorcycle would receive. There is no evidence of the front down-tube having ever been cut out and replaced. Although at present a '350', this machine may well have started life with a 500cc engine installed.
Engine number 'ZB32. GS. 6074' is an engine that has been a mystery to the Gold Star Owners' Club for some time. '6073' and '6075' were signed off for dynamometer test on 22nd May 1952 and so '6074' was probably in this batch although there is no test sheet for this engine. It might be significant that this date is just before the TT races, which the Pike BSA entered. It might also be significant that there is no record of this engine in the factory dispatch books. It is widely documented that the Pike-BSAs were raced at Grand Prix level by Dennis Lashmar in 1953 and '54 and that he received factory support through Roland Pike in the Development Shop. There is also photographic evidence that the engine received continual upgrading through BB32 to CB32 specification. It has been noted that both Pike frames had been registered for road use at different times and that this engine was recorded as fitted on both occasions!
The spare 'Big Fin' 500 Gold Star engine with no numbers (that accompanies the machine) is a total mystery, but with a plausible explanation. The cylinder head has been machined to the Kuzmicki pattern squish type in conjunction with, probably, a short-stroke Manx Norton piston (Leo Kuzmicki was a development engineer working for Norton). There is a central spark plug and the engine is apparently of short stoke to match the Manx-type piston. It was also noted that the crankshaft lacks the shock absorber extension on the drive side. It is widely documented that Roland Pike built a variety of such engines in the Development Shop, experimenting with various strokes, crankshaft designs, squish-band heads, etc. The Kuzmicki pattern squish head is a very complex shape to machine, indicating a factory effort: this is not a home workshop conversion, it is too difficult!
On file are several letters from Roland Pike to the late owner, in which he says that he sold everything after the 1952 TT. It is believed that following the death of Dennis Lashmar in 1954, both bikes were sold to the same buyer. In a letter on file, the late owner states that this Pike-BSA had previously been raced by Paul Selleck, who was the owner when it was featured in Motorcycle Sport magazine in August 1968. In the article (photocopy on file) it states that Selleck had bought the machine three years previously from Dave Elden. The machine was a '350' and several of Selleck's modifications are mentioned: TLS front brake conversion, alloy central oil tank, and alloy chain guard. It was also noted that the cylinder head had been modified to accept a larger Amal GP carburettor and had a central spark plug.
In another letter on file Selleck is said to have sold the Pike-BSA to Don Coles. The late owner purchased the machine on 23rd September 1970 from an Edward Reading (receipt on file).
In the aforementioned letter the late owner states that due to an engine blow up, he installed a special 500cc engine built by Jim Smith of Pegsdon and used it sporadically until 1996 when the '350' engine was rebuilt by Gold Star specialist Phil Pearson. The machine's first outing post rebuild was to the Beezumph 6 rally in 1996.
The Pike-BSA has been unused since at least 1999 when the vendors' father passed away. The accompanying history file (perusal recommended) contains an old-style continuation logbook, an old V5, Phil Pearson's engine rebuild details, and extensive correspondence with Roland Pike.
This motorcycle's mechanical condition and completeness (or otherwise) is not known and thus it is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to the provenance of this fascinating piece of BSA history prior to bidding. Close inspection advised.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams Motorcycles website for all pertinent auction information.
