Norton Manx 30M

I’ve just had a lovely email from Marian Simms in New Zealand, the daughter of Australian racer John Simms. “He has more bikes than is socially acceptable,” she says, “and is currently rebuilding a Manx Norton he bought in the UK before I was born.

“It has been in three other hands since then, and it came home to daddy recently.” The Manx was one of the most successful racing motorcycles of all time, capable of up to 150mph, and was built from 1946 to 1963. Send us the pictures when you’re done, John.