A real downer to this weekend's Stafford Show was the fact that a club member had his bike stolen - from his home near Redditch the night before he left for the event.
The member in question is Ian Hodge. He does do fantastic restorations mainly of Challengers, and has won many awards. His latest project was a nut and bolt restoration of a 360 Challenger.
The bike was stolen from outside his house by thieves who broke into his van by cutting a hole in the rear door to get at the inner door handle. Ian had loaded for an early start to Stafford.
It is unlikely that this was a targeted theft - the van is sign-written for a garden equipment company, so more likely the motive was simply to pinch something easily floggable
I've seen the photos of the finished bike, and it certainly was up to Ian's usual restoration standards - in other words utterly correct and absolutely mint.
There s no way of knowing the bike's fate of course, so we need to spread the word far and wide in case it turns up. If the thieves try to ride it they probably won't have the sense to add oil to the fuel, and there was no oil in the gearbox or the chain-case, either, so they wouldn't get far; so it might turn up dumped. The police are on the case, particularly as they are apparently dealing with a bit of a spate of such incidents in that vicinity.
We need to pass on the details to anyone who might be offered it or come across it at an autojumble or whatever. The thieves won't have a clue what it is.
So: the motorcycle in question is a 360cc MX4 Challenger, frame number 36MX4C114.
Ian actually immediately responded by taking his MX3 to the show so as not to let us down - and ended up receiving the award for "Best Competition Machine". No consolation for the loss of the 360, I know, but thanks and well done Ian.
Please pass on this information to anyone you can think of who might be able to help find the bike. If anyone hears anything, contact Ian if you know him, or Warwickshire police, or contact me on colinsparrow@btinternet.com or by PM.
And remember at all times that the bastards are always out there...
The member in question is Ian Hodge. He does do fantastic restorations mainly of Challengers, and has won many awards. His latest project was a nut and bolt restoration of a 360 Challenger.
The bike was stolen from outside his house by thieves who broke into his van by cutting a hole in the rear door to get at the inner door handle. Ian had loaded for an early start to Stafford.
It is unlikely that this was a targeted theft - the van is sign-written for a garden equipment company, so more likely the motive was simply to pinch something easily floggable
I've seen the photos of the finished bike, and it certainly was up to Ian's usual restoration standards - in other words utterly correct and absolutely mint.
There s no way of knowing the bike's fate of course, so we need to spread the word far and wide in case it turns up. If the thieves try to ride it they probably won't have the sense to add oil to the fuel, and there was no oil in the gearbox or the chain-case, either, so they wouldn't get far; so it might turn up dumped. The police are on the case, particularly as they are apparently dealing with a bit of a spate of such incidents in that vicinity.
We need to pass on the details to anyone who might be offered it or come across it at an autojumble or whatever. The thieves won't have a clue what it is.
So: the motorcycle in question is a 360cc MX4 Challenger, frame number 36MX4C114.
Ian actually immediately responded by taking his MX3 to the show so as not to let us down - and ended up receiving the award for "Best Competition Machine". No consolation for the loss of the 360, I know, but thanks and well done Ian.
Please pass on this information to anyone you can think of who might be able to help find the bike. If anyone hears anything, contact Ian if you know him, or Warwickshire police, or contact me on colinsparrow@btinternet.com or by PM.
And remember at all times that the bastards are always out there...
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