Photo of Les Sheehan’s 1954 AJS Twin and Hugh Viney’s works 1955 AJS Twin intended for the ISDT 1955 both alive and well in Australia (P Horton/Speedtracktales)
I was very pleased when Australian reader Patrick Horton, who has provided the most delightful photo we have above, made contact to say
“I own Hugh Viney’s 1955 ISDT AJS. He never got to compete in the 1955 event as he was knocked off the bike in Earls Court on the way to a selection meeting. It left him with a broken leg and a vacancy in the British team that was taken up by Gordon Jackson.”
Never resisting the opportunity to be cheeky I encouraged him for photographic proof and was even more surprised to get this reply
“Last weekend I went to visit the current owner of Les Sheehan’s 1954 AJS ISDT twin which is still in near-original condition. I had my 1955 machine with me and I have a photograph of both which I’d put up here but I can’t see a way to attach a photo to this comment. After seeing the owner I also went to visit Les Sheehan who lives nearby. There can’t be many ISDT riders of the ’50s left.
When Viney got knocked off his bike it was returned to the factory and sold to someone Jock West knew. The special bits were taken off and presumably put on the replacement bike ridden by Gordon Jackson. So bits of the bike photographed above originally belonged on my bike. Could I ask for them back??!!!!”
This amazing unexpected coincidence has not only revealed two of the ex ISDT AJS bikes from the mid fifties finally gave up the damp cold and emigrated to enjoy a happy retirement riding on the warm dusty trails of the outback of Australia but one of their riders, Les Sheehan, remains alive and well and living nearby… a heart warming tale for what is today a snowy day in North Wales. I for one must say to be able to wake up then start up either of those bikes and go out on a ride sans rain, cold, or barbour jacket under blue skies must make Patrick one of the luckiest persons I have ever come across. Here’s to hundreds of more miles of good riding to come Partick.
As we do not have any pictures of Les on the site, having looked him up on Google there was not much available but a request on an Australian Motorcycle site by his daughter Marilyn Quirk indicates he was the Western Australia Scrambles champ in 1956 so he must have emigrated shortly after the time of his ISDT appearance. I would be grateful for any offers of images of him and especially on this AJS.
Speed Track Tales 
I am currently working next door to Les, building his neighbors fence.Today he showed me his 1954 FIM medal and I tried very hard to be casual about it.Being an ex racer but much much younger club racer I vowed throw my Club racer trophy’s to the shit house.I’d love to ask him for an updated photo,in front of my lovely fence.
I’m glad to find out he is still well it would be great to get an updated photo of him and his medal for our records
Hi I am married to Les Sheehans Niece and I too have seen his bike.He is a very modest man but if you send me some info regarding your self and why you would like info and photos I will gladly have a chat with him and see what I can do. Cheers Paul Long Castlemaine Victoria Australia
Back in February 2013 I was asked by chap who new a chap that new another chap that had an old Matchless.
It had been at the bottom of his garden for the last thirty years,
Was I interested?
No.
Its got competition history!
Well no harm in having a look.
What followed next was more like a series of job interviews.
I passed, still not sure it was good move, or how on earth I was going to explain this rather rusty investment to the better half.
What did help was the fact, that the first chap in the chain happened to be her dad!
I became the custodian of a 1951 Matchless G9, Registration number MGO 517
Some investigations conducted many years ago and more recently available information on Speed Track Tales, seems to confirm that it was Ted Usher’s mount in the Italian ISDT 1951 and was given to Bob Manns in 52 for Austria.
The connection here is two old letters that came with the bike, they form part of the earlier research,
Both are signed Patrick Horton, Belmont road, St Andrews, Bristol.
Enjoy the sun Mr Horton sir.
Bit damp in Bristol at the moment.
Good tale keep us informed. I do have a line of contact to Teds family as a friend is married to one of his nieces.
The intention was to put MGO 517 to one side and pick it up after completing another long term project.
However I stumbled on the centenial ride due in Carlisle 18th August 2013.
MGO 517 had to be there, but I now had about ten weeks to get her ready.
Long story short, I had a number of issues, but in the spirit of the event managed to keep her going and cover 130 miles. (she had been under a tarp for thirty years)
In the afternoon I had the honour of riding with Dave Wilson, son of Eric Wilson, Gold medal winner on a Norton in the 51 event.
Received back in Carlisle by a wonderfull lady by the name of Dot Jones, I had medal in hand.
Off to the Manx now and a chance meeting at Gorse Lea, with a gentleman by the name of Ray Sayers (Gold 65), said he new Ted and that he was nice man, I felt warm about that.
MGO 517 is now being prepped for the 2014 Manx, its in the garage with a number of other bikes, none of which seem to matter that much any more.
Hi Leigh yes Dave can often be found loitering around this site or on our Facebook page. I have known Dot and Jim since my teens and for many years they did not live that far from here.
AS a 50 springtwin model 20 owner and a casual trail rider on easy lanes i am very interested have u any photos of bike, i knew the centennial was on but was on a family holiday abroad. However the use of these twins as isdt mounts has sparked my interest to the extent that i have entered mine in this years beamish trophy trial, which given that the freshly reground crankshaft is in a washing up bowl in garage at mo…… haha heres hoping.
Hello Nigel
The Beamish sounds interesting, good luck with the rebuild hope it all works out.
I have no idea how to fix photos on here, there is however one on a website, showing the bikes prior to the start of the centenial ride. There are of course some pictures on this site of MGO 517 in 1952 Austria.
Sad to say she rather let the side down that year, or the wader magneto did?
the beamish is filling up fast so if u want an entry get it in quick. guy who now does ricmans did it last year on a fabulous triton outfit, cleaned the lot with 3 people on it !.in a rush so giv u more later
i know the organiser of beamish so we can probably put u in contact with somebody from down ur way whos entering see if u can share costs if u wanna come, now a major issue. ud manage the sections no bother on one of them. bloke did all of it last year on a 1942 wd harley , he’d come from isle of man specially, deserved a medal !.
Hi Nigel
I requested an entry but have got no reply yet
Sent an e-mail off again today so fingers crossed, but do not hold much hope out now.
I did include some detail of the bike hoping it may spark some interest, but I guess its first come first served, which honestly is how it should be.
Hope your rebuild is gathering pace, wish you luck with that
I will let you know if my prosects improve.
I continue to fettle MGO 517 and as I type, her indoors has dropped in my lap, a parcel from Steve AMC classic spares, must go now and look at my goodies.
iv entered and i know its accepted cos the chq has been cashed but u don’t get ur number till later in year so don’t panic, check ur bank account if u sent a chq. . dropped my cam followers off to be re hardfaced/profiled this morning get them back tomorrow engine might get built soon.
have u enteredh te 2015 beamish
Sorry Nigel I have not checked this thread for some time.
MGO 517 has had a busy year, having completed a number of local byway runs, the last being Tuesday this week. (13/10/15) These runs are a mixture of road and off road and are usually around a hundred miles each. Much has been learned about the bike while clocking up off road miles.
I rode it to the Manx and did just shy of seven hundred miles that trip,
Rick Parkington of Classic Bike photographed it in Peel, we are on page twelve October issue. (caption incorrect – Bob Manns rode it in 1952 – DNF)
Did the Beamish this year for the first time, what a great event and such a nice bunch of people.
MGO 517 made it into the photo gallery (picture 91)
My start number was 81, in the photo you can see number 188 on the competition plate, the bike wears this number with the greatest of respect for Ted Usher – Oh to have just a fraction of that man’s skill.
I believe the more I ride the bike off road the better I will get to understand it,
However – what is way beyond my comprehension is the skill, stamina and determination those guys required to finish an ISDT let alone meet all the criteria required to win a medal.
Incredible
you probably rode past me into start area i was manning gate glad u enjoyed it is bike on standard gearing ?.
My uncle Rupert Jardine of maryborough (victoria) owns one of les sheahans ex works ajs ,possibly the 350 .? He won the victorian scramble title in the 50,s on it .at the ravenswood scramble track just outside bendigo. Not sure if he still has the bike ,but i think he has some parts from it