LETTERS AND CONTACTS MADE VIA E-MAIL
1) Sorry about the long delay since I launched this page. But here goes! The first item is an E-mail I received from Terry Button who now lives in Melbourne Australia. It makes very interesting reading.
"I am a retired policeman, originally from London, and am now the owner of a small hardware shop in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs. Two doors along is a motorcycle/motor car shop and the owner and I often yarn about bikes we have had. Today (yet again) I was talking about the L.E. Velo Mk1. I used to own in 1959/60 and the Mk 3's I used to ride in the Metropolitan Police in the mid-sixties. When I logged on the net this evening, I did a search on L.E.'s out of curiosity and, lo and behold, all of your pages came up and the terrific photos. It all brought back a lot of memories and I was absolutely enthralled. I had to chuckle at the comment that when the Mk.3. came along a windscreen was a viable proposition. My Mk.1. had a windscreen and I well remember travelling from London to the Isle of Sheppey one windy day. Great going down with the wind but murder travelling back the whole way against the wind in second gear! The Mk.1. was the first bike that I had on the road (as oposed to the old bangers that I had that never made it to being used on the road) and was purchased for the princely sum of twenty five pounds in '59. From memory it was traded in against a Francis Barnett at Pride and Clarkes in Brixton a couple of years later.
The Mk.3. was a great beat bike, not only because it was comfortable to ride for eight hours at a time AND kept your knees warm but because it was so quiet. In 1965, the one I rode was one of four or five at Eltham Police Station but the only one with a radio. To be able to take an emergency call and arrive silently was a terrific advantage and did wonders for my arrest rate. And as you so rightly say in your pages, the bike had a pretty hard life in the Force and stood up to it very well. L.E.'s are a pretty rare breed over here although you see the odd one advertised. I was tempted to buy one a couple of years ago, having stummbled across one in a small motorcycle shop in the city. It was a M.K.2. and they were asking $3000. Not too bad as it was in pretty good condition and the shopkeeper had bought it in Adelaide and ridden it about 800 kilometres back to Melbourne. Common sense prevailled, unfortunately, and I let my bike licence lapse many years ago and would have to carry 'L' plates again. Anyway, I am glad to see that there are a lot of enthusiasts out there that are keeping the old Velos on the road. I wish you and your club all the very best and long may it continue. Regards, Terry Button"
2) This E-mail came from Leslie Mogford in Norfolk. Bit of a character, and I quote: "Wonder if you can help me, dropped a CB500 last September breaking a leg in 12 places and caused a run on the stores for No.12 pan headed self tapping stainless screws to screw the leg together. Very strong advise to never climb on two wheels again 'cos the quack thinks I may fall apart if I come off again As a result have been put under strong pressure to dispose of my toys and my two L.E.'s and the Hondas have gone to new homes. My Vogue sits on the bike lift looking so fabulous and I cannot bring myself to sell her. I have heard that it is possible to pull a light sidecar (the sort that you used to see on the side of scooters). Have you any idea of anybody in the Club that has done this? Talking about the Club, my On the Level has stopped comming through again, although the direct debit still gets paid!..... Who do I phone or E-mail to sort it out, any idea? Kind regards, Leslie Mogford" Sidecar eh? The mind boggles!
3) The picture that follows was sent to me from Australia and shows a Mk.2. for sale on the cover. It says it was made in 1940! I wonder if Veloce knew?