Let’s Torque Norton

50 years ago, there was a lotta torque about Norton. That conversation continued at this year’s Norton Day…

Even if you’ve never owned a Norton motorcycle, you must’ve heard the brilliant slogan which appeared in the early 1970s. All that torque about Norton inspired the Norton Owners Club to lay on an entire day of talking Norton last weekend. The club welcomed absolutely everyone to this event – member, Norton owner, motorcyclist or not – although NOC members enjoyed the club members’ bonus of a nifty discount on museum admission.

The bikes started rolling up even before the event officially opened at 10am, despite the torrenting downpours of the day before which flooded motorways in the Midlands. Norton stalwarts were not daunted by the weird weather, and brought along some splendid examples of the marque spanning more than a century.

Once upon a time, folk grumbled that the NOC was really ‘the Commando club’. Norton Day demonstrated just how inaccurate that statement is today. Prewar flat-tankers rubbed shoulders with the very latest 961 Commandos while rotary race replicas complemented their cammy counterparts. Encouragingly, a good proportion of the riders were a lot younger than most of the motorcycles!

And as the early contingent rode home for lunch, so the younger riders arrived – mainly on 961s. Editor Westworth was impressed to observe how many of the new twins are clocking up considerable mileages, demonstrating that these machines are as much about ‘go’ as they are about ‘show’.

Understanding that motorcycle enthusiasts are likely to be interested in more than just one marque, the NOC invited other clubs and enthusiast organisations. Hence the outdoor displays included the BSA and Francis-Barnett owners clubs, the Classic Motorcycle Racing Club, Brooklands Museum’s motorcycling team and charities like the Midlands air ambulance and Mental Health Motorbike.

Trade specialists Norvil and Andover Norton offered technical support, alongside the club’s own spares scheme. Members were able to pre-order and collect their spare parts in person, neatly saving delivery charges. And club spares supremo Neil Shoosmith brought along an orange monster for everyone to admire…

At lunchtime, a selection of famous bikes was fired up to the delight of the crowd, and concours awards and rosettes were handed out to visiting machines near the end of the day. But these were only the outdoor events: a full schedule of Norton talking took place inside the museum. John Naish presented an overview of Norton through its press history, while Ashley Cutler considered the intricate business of manufacturing cams and tappets. Brian Gillen gave an update on the latest news from the Norton factory, and Alan Cathcart delivered the keynote speech on the history of John Player Nortons.

Many members (including Editor Westworth) went home with a smart new T-shirt to commemorate the event, after an enjoyable day of greeting old friends and making new ones. Membership of the NOC is welcome to anyone with an interest in the marque – you don’t need to own a Norton to sign up.

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Photos by Hazel Clarke, Bill Nelson and Frank Westworth