Intro

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Welcome to the new website of the Velocette Owners Club of North America!

Like any vintage motorcycle restoration, it took a while! A much-needed nuts 'n' bolts rebuild from the ground-up was long overdue!

In addition to the revamped website, with improved membership application process, new member login area, and digital swap meet section, the focus was on the core mission statement of the club: "Dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of Velocette motorcycles"

We've looked back over the years, archiving the clubs' heritage and making it available to members here. This includes digitizing and uploading all past issues of our newsletter "Fishtail West" for members to download. (A tall order, and slightly ambitious, but we're getting there). Since its inception in 1976, the club has had many members, motorcycles, rides, and events. We are slowly piecing together club archives from many sources involved with the club over the years, and they will be available for you to download from the members' section of the website. We appreciate your patience and support as we complete this process of curating, editing, and uploading this information.

If you have any stories, photos, publications etc. you'd like to share, please contact JP Defaut at, info@velocette.org

Your friends await!

JP Defaut, Website Editor

It all started in 1905

"City of a thousand trades"

If a new form of transport was possible at the turn of the last century, where better to develop the concept of a motorcycle than in a city like Birmingham. Known for its wide variety of metal goods manufacturers, the West -Midlands was home to many two-wheeled propositions in the early 1900s. The first motorcycle was produced by Taylor Gue Ltd (founded by John Taylor and William Gue) in Hall Green Birmingham. They called it a Veloce. Veloce Ltd was set up later that year and produced four-stroke motorcycles. Their first two-stroke motorcycle came in 1913 and was called a Velocette. The name was used for all their subsequent models.

Velocette Factory
1905

HISTORY OF THE CLUB

June 1976"An unusual level of commitment"
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"A truly great and memorable weekend occurred June 26 and 27 when nearly 30 enthusiasts gathered in Eugene, Oregon to honor the memory of Velocette. The distinctive thump-thump of Fishtail exhausts was heard, with 14 bikes on display at Armitage park on the Banks of the McKenzie River."

So reads the opening paragraph of the very first Newsletter of the West Coast Chapter of the Velocette Owners Club. On that very weekend, the Velo owners in attendance decided to form a club, Richard "Dick" Renstrom was named President and Steve Kesey was pronounced, Secretary & Treasurer.Since then, every summer in June/July, the Velocette Owners Club of America, with overseas members from the UK and as far as Australia and New Zealand, have gathered for a thousand-mile/5-day ride through some of America's most moto-centric landscapes. The rest of the year is far from quiet with regular outings and events organized by various members in different states, discussions on maintenance, setup advice, restoration, part sourcing, historical finds etc... Non-Velocette owners are encouraged to join the club: it's how you get hooked and a good way to find a bike!

Everything you've heard about running a Velo is true. The notion that "Velocettes were designed at the Christmas party" has some validity in concept, and one can draw a parallel with their owners. It takes a particular mindset. A commitment. There's no shortage of that here. Your friends are waiting for you... It is, after all that happened to me.

JP Defaut

HIDE TEXT

1,000 MILE RIDE

The annual Velocette Owner's Club Rally is not just a fixture every July in our calendar, it is the foundation upon which the club was conceived. In the mid-'70s, Velocette owners Richard Renstrom, Ed Gilkison and a few others used to meet in California with their shared passion and ride Velocettes together. On one occasion over a dinner, it was agreed that a club should be formed and the rest as they say is oil and smoke ever since.

More info

RIDES AND EVENTS

In addition to the 1,000 mile rally, members meet throughout the year and increase the mile count on their Smiths speedometers. We also join other clubs, British, European, American and Japanese on their rides and are keen to keep the motorcycle community connected. If you have rides you would like to share with us, let us know and we will post it here.

What's happening

OUR NEWSLETTER

Originally a 2-page newsletter, "Fishtail West" has become the clubs' quarterly "zine" where all club-related news, Velocette maintenance, repair tips, parts, motorcycles etc... are shared. In this section, we will be uploading our archive, back to the original document that started the club in 1976. To download past issues of Fishtail West, please join the club for full access.

Fishtail West

DIGITAL SWAP-MEET

Velocette parts are getting few and far between. Many members have collected parts over the years that they are willing to share with fellow Velo enthusiasts, to keep your Velocette on the road and off the bench!

Digital Swap Meet

OUR COMMUNITY

Velocette Owners are a unique bread; it takes quite a commitment to run, restore, or just revive a Velo.

What keeps our machines running is the community. Over time, we've all become friends and support each other as best we can. From sharing knowledge, parts, motorcycles, to planning rides, events, and looking for that special lunch spot.

We will be publishing articles, photos, motorcycle journeys, Velocette repair stories, etc... so please send your submissions to JP Defaut, info@velocette.org

Find out more

MEMBERSHIP

Join us! You're invited to join our club as a Velocette owner or just as an enthusiast. Velocette ownership is not required to attend any of our events, including the 1,000 mile summer rally. Membership is $35 a year. Benefits are full access to our online archives including all past newsletters, ride sheets, and the digital swap meet; 6 issues per year of our newsletter: the Fishtail West zine, a club pin, and invitations to our many events throughout the year including the 1,000 mile Rally every summer.

Join/Renew