Born in 1916, Fred Rist had his first ride on a motorcycle aged seven, when he’d ride a ladies two-stroke, Royal Enfield, around his father’s poultry farm, near Stokesley in North Yorkshire. By 14, Fred had a driving license – his father was also the proprietor of the old-established motor business Fred Burr and Co. and Rist junior would ride around Middlesbrough on a 350cc Coventry-Eagle, as Rist senior had the franchise for the marque.
But Fred didn’t want to enter the family firm, not just yet anyway. So he served an engineering apprenticeship (between 16½ and 18 years old) with Teesside bridge-building specialists Dorman Long and Co. – responsible for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, around Fred’s time there – before realizing he wanted to see more, do more and be outdoors more, and to that end, he signed up for the army. In 1934 he was posted to Bovingdon in Dorset, where he was to meet T E Lawrence, just before the unfortunate demise of the legend of Arabia.
By this time, Rist had a 1921 350cc side-valve AJS that he used as transport, which was replaced by a 350cc Humber of mid-to-late 1920s vintage, before it was replaced by a 493cc ohv BSA Sloper, circa 1930. On leaving this was used to get home to Teesside, a round trip of 700miles.
This story is from the January 2020 edition of The Classic MotorCycle.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2020 edition of The Classic MotorCycle.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Runs should be fun
The club run is an integral part of the old motorcycle scene. During 2020, a variation on the usual theme emerged, enabling people to ride in the company of like-minded souls.
Hybrid chicken
BSA Bantams come in many forms, and the ability to interchange parts between different models permits an almost endless number of variants.
Green WITH ENVY
Life aboard a 1950s 350cc British single is perhaps as good and as uncomplicated as it can get.
Worth the wait
Captivated by sight of one as a small boy, finally our man has the chance to try an NSU Max.And a ‘Spezial’ one at that…
The Motorcycle: DESIGN, ART AND DESIRE
The concluding part of a two-part feature, in which the history of motorcycle evolution is examined and a new book’s author interviewed.
Cream rises
There were several ‘star performers’ at Bonhams’ winter sale, as the choice machines achieved huge sums.
The Giant of Provence
With so few events to report from, it’s time to look back over a spectacular French event and look forward to its hopeful resumption.
Store cupboard special
A big box of presents? Must be Christmas! More deliveries keep the project on track.
By 1929, CJP Dodson was a bona fide top level road racer, pretty much unbeatable on the sand, too.
The diminutive Charlie Dodson was the last man to win a TT, the 1928 Senior, on a ‘flat-tank’ machine, then the next year became the first (and only) winner of a TT on a saddle tank Sunbeam, as well as recording the last ever success in the Island for the Marston maker.
Cassandra the Canadian Commando
After landing a new job and with time on his hands, a young man in Vancouver decided to restore a British motorcycle considerably older than him.
