Big John Products Maurice Arden

[davet]

While I recently stayed in a small hamlet in Staffordshire , I had the pleasure to meet Maurice Arden , it wasn't long before the conversation came round to motorcycles, me being a young 54 yr old and only recently started riding trials , was amazed at Maurice's knowledge of trials in the 50s to present date , but his heart was with the classics . When the conversation came round to the attire of the modern trials outfits Maurice surprised me again telling me off the boots he used to produce , the Big John super cross , the Fenman dual purpose enduro and the Supertrack model , which he supplied the British trials team with Boots and Gloves for 14 yrs . Maurice informed me Mick Andrews won the Scottish more than once wearing the boots Maurice made.

One of his promotional ploys was to tuck a new dry pair of his gloves into the bikes handlebars . Maurice also told me of a letter he received from the late Jim Sandiford thanking him for his support of the British ISDT team , also receiving correspondence from Ken Heanes and Mary Driver , Team manager and ACU Competitions secretary respectively.

I was wondering if anyone out there ever owned any boots or still own , gloves or the Big John body belt Which Maurice produced , or any memories you would like to share , and hopefully I will be able to pass on your remarks to Maurice .

It was a pleasure to meet such a Gentleman .

Thanks for your time

Dave Turner.

[laird387]

Hi Dave,

Maurice and I rode together in many, many trials and have common memories of riding in the 1950s - and I have already included pictures of him in my Offroad Archive section - so next time you see him please say 'Hello - from Deryk Wylde' for me - and even point him to TC if possible.

And yes - I did know the Big John products.

I have included an image that may well be of interest.

The Army Motor Cycle Association team for the 1954 ISDT pose outside their hotel in Llandrindod Wells before the event.

The riders are, L to R, Capt. Jennings; L/Cpl Mick Waller; L/Bdr Eddie Crooks; Capt. Eddy Dow; Sgt. Tom Challenor; SQMS Nicholson; Cfn. Terry Cheshire; Cpl Gordon Norton and Capt. A J Betty.

The machines are a mixture of Triumph Trophies, BSAs and AMCs. The Trophies were prepared by Henry Vale and collected from the Triumph works at Meriden by their riders after a personal tour of the factory, similar facilities were provided at Woolwich and Small Heath

PHOTO: RAY BIDDLE.

Cheers.

Edited February 8, 2014 by laird387

[bulltaco340]

I wore a pair of Big John boots for solo and sidecar scrambles and grasstrack in the 1960s /early 70s, as a member of the original Forfar District Motor Club (Hic et Ubique motto, still got the car badge proudly displayed in the kitchen!).

Boots were good solid lumps of horse or cow hide.

Edited February 11, 2014 by bulltaco340