Everybody knows him as the ultimate stuntman who achieved the famous motorcycle jump (and that on a Triumph made to appear like a German bike) in Steve McQueen’s “The Great Escape.” Others remember him as a daring-do racer. In addition, Bud Ekins also enjoyed tinkering with time machines.
Case in point this totally stock, “original paint” 1938 Triumph Speed Twin that carries several layers of historic patina. One, it was the very first of its “species,” Edward Turners’ milestone British vertical twin which set the stage for decades of Trumpets to come, including the legendary Bonneville and eventually the Speed Twins of the 21st century. Two, it was once belonged to Bud Ekins and passed on by Bud before he himself went to the wide open racetrack in the sky in October 2007.
Most recently the chunk of precious metal has found a new home with Brit bike collector/restorer/rider Olaf Hassel, the Winnetka, CA resident beginning the interview by stating his name, of Norwegian origin, as “Hassel…by name, hassle by nature.” We also learn that Olaf grew up in London where his inclination toward British iron has its roots.
At the moment we were standing in his driveway scanning his recently acquired 1938 Triumph “5T” aka Speed Twin. Olaf knows his British bike history, highlighted by several classic Velocettes and Nortons undergoing his attentions, and provided us with the background to his latest and rarest addition. In fact we learn that this bike, in such original, unmolested condition, might just be rarer than the almost mythical Crocker which is all the craze at the moment.
As the story goes Edward Turner, in 1937, turned in his Ariel company i.d. for one belonging to Triumph which quickly brought his plans for a new 500 cc vertical twin cylinder power- plant into fruition, a design that would literally triumph for nearly half a century. This particular 1938, bearing the engine number 8-5T12877, is a first example as distinguished by a six-stud crankcase, a one-year only appearance, as the following years utilized an 8-stud design to add further strength.
Rarely seen and still in place on this exceptionally stock machine is the Triumph tire pump, Lucas horn and lower chain guard. Another item of interest is the Bakelite composition steering damper, the material just then invented in the late pre- WWII 1930s.The only part on the bike that has been refinished is the Lucas headlight, which has been re-chromed and still sports the rather ornate Lucas crest insignia as well as the original and classic black-face Smith Chronometric instrument gauges.
Rare as dragons teeth are the Lucas oil pressure gauge and ammeter which includes an integrated inspection light that detaches from the tank and via an electrical extension line allows the light to be shone over various parts of the bike during dark hours, all original equipment. As are the Amal marked levers, of old fashioned brass and chromed design attached to the paint rather than plated handlebar.
Also found there are the levers to affect spark and advance in conjunction with the super rare pre-war Lucas Double Mag- Dyno by which you operate the machine. It still wears its English M.OT. license badge required for British roadway use as well as original Triumph decals and the classic triangular engine case plate inscribed with Speed Twin.
In Richard Renstrom’s book “Motorcycle Milestones Vol. One” published nearly 30 years ago, the Triumph Speed Twin was already included among that select listing. It calls attention to the late 1930s, rushing toward WWII, having developed new techniques and machine tools that allowed for finer tolerances and thus more precision and that combined with the British being at the motorcycle forefront with their single cylinder machines thanks to the engine’s simplicity, low cost of production, endurance, performance and excellent handling.
In addition vibration was problematic with the single design. The solution? A twin cylinder engine, but various efforts failed until Triumph, in business since 1885, got it straight, rather until Triumph acquired the skills of engineer par excellence Edward Turner, the designer of the famous Ariel Square Four. In 1933 and prior to his arrival in 1937, their own in-house design for a 650cc vertical twin flopped big time.
In fact the company was going under by 1936 until bought and revived by Jack Sangster who almost immediately hired Turner, the two saving the day, Triumph and perhaps the British motorcycle industry. Turner started by designing 250, 350 and 500 singles for his new Triumph employers. Within a year he designed the all new 500c Speed Twin, which became a smashing success that turned the industry on its ear and revived Triumph to international prominence. Here was a bike that weighed about 365 lb featuring a compact new design with a narrow crankcase. Set in a rigid frame, the 500cc, mild 7:1 compression ratio engine was fed by an Amal carb with remote reservoir and pumped out 26 hp, good enough to blast 90 mph in 1938 and whump the heavier competition.
Bud Ekins knew what he was looking at when he discovered this bike many years ago in England and so purchased it, bringing it back to his L.A. shop. It then changed hands in 1991going to another collector and then some 17 years later joined the stable of English thoroughbreds inhabiting Olaf’s garage. If interested in more info, drop Olaf a note: velomadness@aol.com.
Sidebar: Bud Ekins
Besides being a top notch competitor, taking four gold and a silver during the 1960s ISDT events plus winning the Big Endurance, the Catalina GP and the SoCal District One plate seven times, Bud Ekins rode everything and drove four wheels including the dark green Ford Mustang that “starred” along with his buddy McQueen in the classic cop movie “Bullitt.” He also appeared in the TV series ChiPs and dozens of movies including The Blues Brothers, Electra Glide in Blue, Race with the Devil, Sorcerer and Diamonds are Forever. He was a member of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Offroad Hall of Fame. Previous to starring as a stuntman and character actor, he ran a Triumph dealership.
