Sending Ian Kerr OBE out to a golf club on a grey autumnal morn probably wasn’t fair, but he found a good reason for the trip
A prestigious golf club in Oxfordshire on a wet, wintery morning is not somewhere where you would expect to see two classic scrambler machines being ridden by a pair of octogenarians who were once two of the best dirt riders not only in the UK, but Europe.
However, Don and Derek Rickman – mounted on two of the best examples of the brand carrying their name – were there to ‘cut the sod’ for a brand new factory set to produce Metisse motorcycles for the 21st century, as well as celebrating the history of the brand started by the brothers in the late 1950s.
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Oh, and to have a quick spin before the official ceremony, much to the delight of the assembled guests.
Carswell Golf Club – situated off the A420 between Oxford and Swindon – is, of course, home to the current Metisse factory that is owned by Gerry Lisi.
He has not only kept the brand alive with the licensed McQueen replicas, but also produced a brand new 1000cc twin engine mounted in a MK5 Rickman frame which has impressed everyone who has ridden it – a thoroughbred – not a mongrel!
Now the intention is to take things to the next level with a proper production facility, where buyers can watch their machines being hand-built, look around a museum showing models from the past, and enjoy a bite to eat in the café within.
A new entrance off the main road will be created, with ample bike and car parking to create a destination point for riders looking for a bike-friendly destination.
Read more and view more images in the January 2019 issue of OBM – on sale now!
