Alan Turing

21
Les I have some genuine new brake shoes for your motorbike you can have. Not that your going to wear them out with those kms. If you need someone to blow the cobwebs out of the old girl you know who to call!!! Greg E

From: Hartmut Kiehn <hartis@live.com.au>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 25 June 2012 8:14 AM
Subject: RE: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Alan Turing
 
Les, driving the Messerschmitt, did you notice the fishtailing when going ‘fast’  (80 to 100 kmh)? The follow up model had twin rear wheels and (I believe) a 400 cc twin engine top speed was 135 km/h!!
Your 250 BM, has got the Swing front suspension or the standard telescopic front end ?  The first crossing by light plane was accomplished by using a 500 cc BMW engine . Ferdinand Porsche designed
the motorbike  when being employed by Daimler Benz. His bosses were not impressed and gave the design to BMW.
Hartmut
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Les Harris
Sent: Sunday, 24 June 2012 10:34 AM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Alan Turing
 
 
Roger,
I have driven both of these vehicles.  The Messerschmitt had a very unusual feature – it did not have reverse gear!!  In fact, it didn’t have a starter motor as such.  It had a Sachs Dynastart, which was a flywheel alternator.  When the engine was running, it provided electric power to the vehicle.  To start the engine, battery power was applied to the alternator. 
To reverse the vehicle, the driver flipped a switch, which stopped the engine, reversed the polarity of the alternator and restarted the engine – running backwards!  One then had four reverse speeds and I actually saw one being driven at about 30MPH along Epping Road – in reverse!
The BMW Isetta was a very practical vehicle, powered by the 250cc single cylinder BMW motorcycle engine and it got along quite smartly in traffic.  For about a year, I drove a Goggo Dart and that thing went like a hairy goat in traffic.  From memory, it was only a 400cc twin two stroke engine but, because of the very light weight, nothing could keep up with it up to about 40MPH.  Manoeuvreability was quite good and it was a lot of fun to drive.
Speaking of the 250 BMW motorcycle, I own a 1954 model which I bought in about 1956 with 11,000 on the clock.  It now has a grand total of 22,000 miles on the clock! 
Les
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Roger Bell
Sent: 24 June 2012 00:21
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Alan Turing
 
 
. . . photographed (poorly because of the light and reflections) these now collector piece BMW and Messerschmitt vehicles which were very popular in Britain in the 50's. I sometimes wonder if their time could come again as city cars with updated pollution free power units and better passenger protection.
Your posting obviously triggered many memories for me. Thanks
Roger
Melbourne
22

Hartmut,

I never got it up to those speeds so I can’t comment. 

My BMW is an R25/3, telescopic front forks and plunger rear suspension.  The next model was the R26 and was the first 250 with Earles front forks.  I also owned an R50, 500cc with Earles and rear swing arm, and an R69, 600cc ditto.  The R69 was a magnificent touring machine – whisper quiet, very comfortable, satisfyingly fast and a joy to ride.  I wish that that I still had them!

Les

 

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Hartmut Kiehn
Sent: 25 June 2012 08:15
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Alan Turing

 

 

Les, driving the Messerschmitt, did you notice the fishtailing when going ‘fast’  (80 to 100 kmh)? The follow up model had twin rear wheels and (I believe) a 400 cc twin engine top speed was 135 km/h!!

Your 250 BM, has got the Swing front suspension or the standard telescopic front end ?  The first crossing by light plane was accomplished by using a 500 cc BMW engine . Ferdinand Porsche designed

the motorbike  when being employed by Daimler Benz. His bosses were not impressed and gave the design to BMW.

Hartmut