Here's a couple of photos of Alan Jones unique Cheney Matchless taken 43 years apart. The top photo was taken in Geelong in 1966 not long after the bike was imported from the UK. Photo 2 was taken at the Klub Kevlar Show'n'Shine this past Sunday. As you can see, Jonesy has done a great job in keeping the bike as historically correct as possible. The rare Goldy tank still bares the dents from its race career and every single part on the bike is as shown in the '66 photo.
The bike has a pretty chequered career being one of Eric Cheneys earliest creations from around 1964. The bike had been commissioned by a racer (
his name escapes me right now) who after waiting months for delivery eventually canceled the order. The incomplete bike was sold to Brian Curtis who completed the mounts and welding, fitted an Ariel Leader swingarm and fitted his genuine (authenticated) and very trick works Matchless G85CS engine, a brother engine to that fitted to Roy Easts Metisse. After racing it a few times the bike was sold to a Victorian rider who rarely raced the bike and eventually put rego on it and rode it on the road. Many years later the bike was sold to the Scaysbrook family and used in Jim and Peters early racing careers. Eventually the Cheney was sold to Alan Jones in 1984 and is the first bike aquired for his now large collection. Alan has always intended to race the bike but other machines such as Black Betty and his CCM pushed the Cheney back into the shed to await another debut date. The bike was finished for CD4 but unfortunately not ridden due to the muddy conditions.
* Brian Curtis, the bikes last British owner and constructor went on to a great career as a chassis builder in his own right. He was the actual constructor of the NV HL Yamaha frames.
* The Cheney has the distinction of winning the first vintage race in Aussie motocross history. In conjunction with the 1981 International meeting at Amaroo Park won by Gary Semics, the organisors ran a vintage race (roughly pre 65 oriented) which was won by Peter Scaysbrook on this Cheney ahead of Roy East on his Metisse Matchy.
