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I went to a Charity Car Show today to support a Food Pantry at a large church in Ballwin, MO about 35-miles northwest of me. Entry fee was simply any non-perishable food items for the pantry.
This is the 3rd time I've attended this Show, but my first 2-years there I did not place in their Top 15 format (All years/makes/models of cars and trucks together). I didn't hear a number of entrants, and I didn't count them, but if I were guessing I'd say about 150 to 175 vehicles. I guess the 3rd time was the charm because I finally made it into their Top 15!
There will be 3 Posts of pictures, so please hold off on comments until I get my 3rd post in. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the pictures! Also, hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July! I'm heading to another show tomorrow!
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; Jul 3, 2025 at 02:47 PM.
Chris - OMG. Can't wait to view this thread in its entirety. I did note one I love - 1960 TR3. Likely a TR3A model.
Originally Posted by otto72
Nice turn out for the show and some real nice cars and bikes. Congrats on placing top 15 good competition . Thanks for sharing
Keith
Originally Posted by Supernice88
Thanks for sharing the event. Some stiff competition there between all those nice looking rides.
Congrats on bringing home a trophy, well deserved!
Norm/Keith/Art - Thanks for checking out the thread and pics. I really appreciate all your support and comments! Great show, but a long day, and hotter than a *****!
Chris - Some really nice vehicles at that show. Congrats on pulling Top Choice w/in the Top Fifteen & thanks for sharing. I do love the 1960 Triumph TR3A.
Chris - Some really nice vehicles at that show. Congrats on pulling Top Choice w/in the Top Fifteen & thanks for sharing. I do love the 1960 Triumph TR3A.
Norm - Yes, the Triumph was very cool! It made the Top 15, good eye on your part! What did you think of the old BSA, it was very clean? The owner drove it to the show and it was parked right behind me. It sounded good when he pulled in.
What did you think of the old BSA, it was very clean? The owner drove it to the show and it was parked right behind me. It sounded good when he pulled in.
Always admired BSA motorcycles. I noticed it straightaway. I'm no aficionado of BSA - they have a storied past for sure. I note the tank displays B.S.A. as opposed to BSA. I was, however, interested enough to research that motorcycle & found it. It is a
. The reason I mentioned B.S.A. vs. BSA is I knew B.S.A. stood for the original manufacturer (Birmingham Small Arms Company). I have limited familiarity w/ the history of purchasing rights, licensing, mergers & acquisitions but there were several. On a side note, I read somewhere BSA is to start selling motorcycles in the U.S.A. this year. In fact, there's a BSA dealership in Holden, Missouri, either already selling them or soon to be selling them. Rather cool.
Always admired BSA motorcycles. I noticed it straightaway. I'm no aficionado of BSA - they have a storied past for sure. I note the tank displays B.S.A. as opposed to BSA. I was, however, interested enough to research that motorcycle & found it. It is a 1944 BSA M-20. The reason I mentioned B.S.A. vs. BSA is I knew B.S.A. stood for the original manufacturer (Birmingham Small Arms Company). I have limited familiarity w/ the history of purchasing rights, licensing, mergers & acquisitions but there were several. On a side note, I read somewhere BSA is to start selling motorcycles in the U.S.A. this year. In fact, there's a BSA dealership in Holden, Missouri, either already selling them or soon to be selling them. Rather cool.
Norm - Thanks for the research and extra info. I haven't accessed the links about the new production yet but I will. I know absolutely nothing about the history of BSA other than what you just provided to me, and hearing from my Dad more than once that they had some of the fastest, if not the fastest, bikes on the roads in the 50's. I seem to recall reading somewhere they set some land speed records back in the day. I'm gonna have to look that up!
Always admired BSA motorcycles. I noticed it straightaway. I'm no aficionado of BSA - they have a storied past for sure. I note the tank displays B.S.A. as opposed to BSA. I was, however, interested enough to research that motorcycle & found it. It is a 1944 BSA M-20. The reason I mentioned B.S.A. vs. BSA is I knew B.S.A. stood for the original manufacturer (Birmingham Small Arms Company). I have limited familiarity w/ the history of purchasing rights, licensing, mergers & acquisitions but there were several. On a side note, I read somewhere BSA is to start selling motorcycles in the U.S.A. this year. In fact, there's a BSA dealership in Holden, Missouri, either already selling them or soon to be selling them. Rather cool.
Originally Posted by Dream67Olds442
Norm - Thanks for the research and extra info. I haven't accessed the links about the new production yet but I will. I know absolutely nothing about the history of BSA other than what you just provided to me, and hearing from my Dad more than once that they had some of the fastest, if not the fastest, bikes on the roads in the 50's. I seem to recall reading somewhere they set some land speed records back in the day. I'm gonna have to look that up!
BSA had been around for many years. They pretty much used "Smiths" instruments and "Lucas" electrics on all the bikes. They made bikes in several sizes and went through mergers, eventually both went bankrupt in the 1970's at different times.
Triumph and BSA did some "engine sharing" in the early 1970's with her new 750 c.c. "Triple". The BSA's cylinders were vertical, and Triumph cylinders were canted forward at about 20 degrees. BSA and Triumph were the winners in 1970 at Daytona. The "new" Honda 750-4 trailed the Brits.
Triumph was well noted for Bonneville Salt Flats speed. I think their last record was 210 or 214 MPH. In the early 60's the Triumph Bonneville was a tad faster than a BSA.. Late 60's the BSA's were a bit faster than a Bonneville. There was a rivalry between BSA and Triumph riders about who was faster. Either a good BSA 650 Lightning or Triumph 650 Bonneville would beat a good Hogly-Davidson 883 Sportster.
The BSA at the car show is a pretty bike. It does have an early Amal "Concentric" carb from the late 1960's, you can tell by the shape of the float bowl. The original carburetor in the box was an Amal with a "remote float bowl" that was typical of the period. The "Concentrics" are easier to tune and get parts for. I am assuming the bike at the car show was the same one in the video.
The guy in the video knows little about those bikes. He knows only what he could figure from playing with things. The gas tank cap flips up and forward and is latched down by the top that turns to unlatch it. Its a "Quick Fill" petrol cap. Unlatch, flip forward, fill, flip back, latch and you were on your way.
Ralph - You're welcome for the pics and I appreciate you checking them out. Also, thanks for the great tutorial on BSA and Triumph, that was awesome! 👍
Ralph - I thought same about guy in the video. Nice catch on the Amal remote float bowl carb in the box. You know your motorcycles - commendable.
I have an "awareness" of the old remote float bowl carbs. I know a lot more about the Amal Monobloc and Amal Concentric (pre Concentric Mk. II) carbs. I chuckled when he pointed out the "Velocity stack" on the bike. Those velocity stacks have been around since the 1950's. I think they can still be bought.
I also wondered why it had an alternator that he pointed out. Thats what the magneto is for.....ignition and lighting. The alternator was first installed on "Unit construction" 1959 BSA 250 c.c. single cylinder motorcycles.
The light switch he was playing with had 3 positions. Off, headlight on and "parking light". Nothing happened in the one position because it probably didn't have a small bulb located in the headlight reflector. This light was a low wattage bulb when parked along the road for things like patching a flat tire. The tires were "tube-type" back then. A lot of motorcycles back then had tubular shaped "air pumps" that were held between two points shaped like arrowheads.
Oh, and Enfields (Royal Enfield, Enfield-Indian) have been imported for several years. A dealer set up a display a couple years ago at the AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club of America). They are manufactured in India. They have a more modern Rotax engine and electrics. Look up Mahindra.
