My "BSA-life" in short.

In 1972, shortly after I got my drivers license, I started with a second hand Yamaha 180cc which caused me a lot of technical problems. So early 1973 I was "lucky" to buy from a friend a 1969 BSA Lightning which just had an overhaul, new wiring-loom, new tyres, chain and sprockets. So in fact nearly, as new.
But; "one is young and a bit wild'. So I tried to do my best to keep up with the heavier bikes (which I did rather well !).
Visiting some races and rallies, brought me in contact with Fred Beier at the end of '73. Early '74 we met again at the Elephant Rally at the Nurnburgring, where also some of his English friends were.
Another small German rally was visited and than we decided we were going to spend our hollidays in the south of England.
Our friend Barry Pope took us to a rally of the British BSA Owners Club near Beauley, where I had my first contact with them.
As I still meet some of those people nowadays, I do not have to tell you that I had a very good time over there.
There the idea was born to go to the BSA International Rally in Austria, about 6 weeks later.
In Seefeld, Austria at the rally, Polly Palmer spoke to Fred and me and persued us to see if there was an interest in Germany and Holland for a new BSA Owners Club. Both countries had one before, but why they stopped in the sixties, was unknown to him. So late '74 Fred Beier put an advert in the German magazine das Motorrad, while I put one in the Dutch one "Motor" (dated 20-9-1974).
Within a couple of months about 20 people wrote that indeed there was an interest. Early in the 2nd quarter of the year a meeting was organised by some people and held near Utrecht, being a central location for the country.
As for example, they lived more central for most members, shortly after that Jan Brouwer and Benedict Lefeber continued and founded the Dutch BSA Owners Club. Meanwhile also my friend Fred Beier told me that the German club was founded and as the next International Rally in Italy (Follonica) was ahead, some of the German new members already showed up over there.
Live went on and end 1976 after many (hard and rough) miles with the A65, I bought a Rocket 3 which I still own and enjoy (the one with sidecar on the picture). Family live started, so in 1983 a sidecar was put to the bike to have transport for the wife and son.
Meeting friends always kept an important thing to keep up the "right spirit".
As the German Elephant Rally was moved from the Nurnburgring to the south of Germany, with some nearby BSA friends (Lambert Geurts and Carl Martens who I learned to know just before than), we started the Hot Rod Rally on the local campside "de Bosrand" as an alternative rally very early in the year (always last weekend of January).
It would go on for 15 lovely times, when I thought I had organised it enough times. At the last one Frans and Martijn Hendriks said they would continue the rally with the same name, but on another location more in the centre of Holland. I must say that I still enjoy it going there to start the year in the "right atmosphere".
More about the last Hot Rod Rally can be read in the April 2004 edition of Classic Bike.
While visiting autojumbles through the last 15 years, also "some" Rocket 3 parts (bargains) showed up.
As I realy like this bike to ride solo, I was not sure to leave the sidecar on yes or no.
So when 2 years ago a frame and rear swingarm were for sale in England, I decided to build up another one (and than as solo) with the spares I had. Last year it was completed and meanwhile it has done about 1,500 miles. So it helps me too, to keep up the right contacts.

This subject is not in the context of this site, but my opinion is that one needs the right friends and spirit to get you through the hard times (when your bike lets you down), but also to let you know my general interest in The BSA and the people who have (partly) the same interest.