Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - September 2008 - (Page 80)

MONTHLY FEATURES BIKER OF THE MONTH Always Think Long Term Behind the Scenes at British Cycle Supply Company By Mike Brown that resulted in a customer’s blown ad a redhead not jilted him engine. Firth fired the unfortunate in the late 70s it’s parts person on the spot, turned to conceivable that Biker of Mark, and asked, “You want a job?” the Month Mark Appleton might not have planted roots in Wolfville, “I really wanted to be a mechanic, Nova Scotia. Brit bikers all over the but they wanted me to be a parts world would have been poorer for it man,” Mark said. “I guess they were a because out of defeat came better judge of talent than I was.” inspiration and the start of a small repair shop that ultimately grew Wolfville Beginnings into British Cycle Supply, a major The crew at British Cycle Supply will help keep your old The seeds of British Cycle Supply supplier of British cycle parts and a British motorcycle on the road. Shown in front row from trusted source for reliable technical left to right are Sandy Fowler, sales; Wayne Swift, of the Company were planted in 1977 after general manager, Mark Appleton, Walneck’s Biker a summer romance in Wolfville. information, historical perspective, Month and company founder; and Gary Currie, sales and technical assistance. In the back row are Duska Mark returned the following and good old Canadian hospitality. Poirier, office manager; Jack Macdonald, Halloween, this time in a van for a warehouseman and Josh Watson, shipping manager. Initially, Mark set his career Not shown are Ken Dillon, sales, and Martin Singleton, seasonal Trick or Treat experience, sights on mechanics and received a sales and technical assistance. trick in this instance, as Mark formal education in the trade. learned his redhead flame was “I rode up on a 1954 rigid engaged to another. He took stock of panhead I built on a zero budget his options then. “I figured if love when I was 17. It must have taken wasn’t going to be there, I might as me three years to get it on the well try to make some money.” road. This was when you could It was a good thing he brought buy a running panhead for $725 the van and not the panhead, with papers,” Mark recalled. because the van became home while “I still have it. I don’t like selling he set up his first repair business in motorcycles. I always kick myself the basement of a Wolfville auto in the behind when I sell one. I’d body shop. Rented with utilities rather sell parts and help keep Mark and Wayne discuss inventory, a neverincluded for $150 a month, the 2,000 ending conversation at British Cycle Supply. others on the road.” square foot shop space was a bargain “It was a thrust washer that got even in the 70s. Mark set out to earn me into the business,” Mark a living in it. “I was fixing anything jokes, but the magnitude of the with an engine that wouldn’t run,” he error and the learning it imparted said. “I remember almost starving the are still relevant. “You don’t say first year waiting for the phone to ring.” unless you check,” he explained To make ends meet, he washed dishes at about many technical and parts the local university on weekends.The issues, a lesson learned early in his following year, Mark bought out the mechanical life. Mark said that it local Triumph dealership’s parts inventowas his good fortune to be at ry and this began a pattern made Harry Firth’s Toronto motorcycle possible by circumstances of the time. business in 1972 when a parts Dealers across Canada had started to man, who had previously look at other alternatives because of provided incorrect information Mark shows one of many used bikes for Triumph’s struggles to stay afloat and relating to a Norton thrust washer, sale. This later model Triumph has a consequently it was easy to racing history. lost his job over misinformation persuade them to part company with H 80 SEPTEMBER 2008 I WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® I WALNECKS.COM http://WALNECKS.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - September 2008

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - September 2008 Contents American The Buzz w/Buzz Walneck Motorcycle Tips w/Mike Brown Wood It Run? Riding the Jack Pine Run S&S 50th Anniversary Bench Racing w/Mark Zimmerman Parts, Accessories, Want Ads Davenport Show Guide British Biker of the Month Triumph Factory Rhinebeck Review European Japanese Competition Road Test: 1965 Velocette 500 Scrambler Road Test: 1967 Harley Davidson Sprint CR-TT Motorbikes & Scooters Memorabilia Antique Cycle Clubs How to Place a Word Ad How to Place a Photo Ad Area Code Directory How to Subscribe Let Us Help You With Your Event

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - September 2008

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