You have probably already seen images 8, 9, and 11 in "The Best Twin" 2nd edition. To that can be added this illustration and text, copied from the 1913 Douglas catalog, and originally appearing in "Motor Cycling" as noted. Unfortunately the gentlemen are partially obscuring the view of the machine.
Larger viewPhoto. by Meurisse.
The Paris correspondent of "Motor Cycling" on-right introduces Mr. Harry Bashall to M. Boillot at Le-Mans.
Junior Tourist Trophy Race. From "Motor Cycle," 4th July, 1912.
It was our pleasant duty to congratulate an old friend upon winning the Junior T.T. W. H. Bashall, of Ockham, Surrey, is an amateur motor cyclist and car driver, and he has had a most varied experience of all forms of motor vehicles. This was his fifth appearance in T.T. races, a previous success being second position in the 1908 race, when he rode a 5-6 Bat- Jap. Bashall is a rider of fine physique and scales 13 stone, so that the manner in which his little Douglas sped over the ground is all the more remarkable.
We were astonished to learn that he stopped six times in the first lap, due to mud being thrown up to the back plug by the belt. Despite this handicap, he was second on time. He stopped again in the second lap to fill up with petrol and oil at the Woodlands Depot, Douglas, his only other stop being for oil at Ramsey on the last lap. His chances of the trophy were almost jeopardized by this shortage of lubricating oil, which caused him to resort to the low gear for five miles. The gear ratios, by the way, were 4-7/8 and 7-3/4 to 1. He was not aware of his position until at Ramsey on the last lap, where Alec Ross told him that Kickham was leading him by a minute. After that, Bashall told us, he rode as he had never ridden before in any T.T., which will be best understood by those who know his dash and daring. He further confided to us that the 350 c.c. Douglas was as fast as his last year's 585 c.c. Senior twin.
It is an interesting fact that, although he dashed through the mud and grease, he experienced no sign of belt slip whatever -a testimony to the big driving pulley. Bashall related one or two amusing incidents of the race. He started with his breeches pocket full of tools, but these chafed on the tank, wore a hole through the cloth, and one by one dropped out on the road. Once when he stopped to clean a plug the rag he was using burst into flames. Another incident of his eventful ride, was when dropping down the mountain road at a mile a minute speed.
He was gradually overhauling P. J. Evans on the Humber, who was responding to the appeal of the Frenchman, Stoeffel, for an inner tube, and just as Evans threw it overboard, Bashall, dashing along in the rear, caught it on his toe and carried it along some distance As regards the running of his horizontal twin, it behaved faultlessly throughout, and, if anything, was faster at the finish than at the start. It is safe to say that there has never been a more popular winner of any Tourist Trophy. The enthusiasm was tremendous, and Bashall was lifted shoulder high as soon as he dismounted his faithful Douglas. In the evening the scenes of enthusiasm at the Palace, Douglas, when the trophy was presented by the Clerk of the Rolls will be remembered for a long time to come. The winner's Douglas had an Amac carburetter, Hutchinson tyres, Bosch magneto, Lyso belt; whilst Pratt's spirit and Price's oil were also used.
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Successes by Mr. W. H. Bashall during 1912 Season.
June 28.- Junior Tourist Trophy Race, Isle of Man. First, securing Trophy and Gold Medal.
September S.-Motor Cycle International Cup Race at Le Mans, France. Sixth.
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-Doug