How to get Homologation papers for Berkeley B95?

[John Bergqvist]

Hi, my father owns a SE492 and would like to get the Homologation papers for a racing one, so he can repair it to that specification and then hopefully enter it in historic events such as hillclimbs etc. Does anyone know where we can find them (Unsure whether we'd need the vintage Homologation papers or newer ones, if the model was ever re-homologated for use in modern historic series). We're based in the UK

[John Turner]

Can't answer the question, unfortunately, (sure someone on here can though) but can you tell me what year your Father's car was built.

[John Bergqvist]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Can't answer the question, unfortunately, (sure someone on here can though) but can you tell me what year your Father's car was built.

Hi, it was built in 1959, and it isn't a B95, sorry, it's an SE492, and the chassis number is 651.

[GORDON STREETER]

I had an Excelsior 2 stroke 3 cyl motorbike back in the early 60s with the same engine as the 3 wheeled Berkeley, and a mate of mine actually had one of those 3 wheelers as you could use them on a M/C licence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vhyxeHsAq8

[John Bergqvist]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Can't answer the question, unfortunately, (sure someone on here can though) but can you tell me what year your Father's car was built.

Your FISCAR club looks quite interesting, we'd definitly consider entering that, but we just want to know where we can get the papers to restore it to the original factory or racing conditions. Dad specifically mentioned restoring it to racing conditions as specified in UK homologation papers (if they exist), if they were different from factory/road conditions.

Also, where do modern safety features on the car come into play (roll cages etc.) in the historic cars in the FISCAR series?

[Mike Bell]

Hi John, I've just checked the archive of homologation papers that FIA have and no Berkeleys in the list. Think that manufacturer homologation started '59ish and due to expense only tackled by those that could afford it!

You are going to have to find period brochures, road tests etc. Owners clubs must be best bet? Good luck and hope you get some response.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

You are going to have to find period brochures, road tests etc. Owners clubs must be best bet? Good luck and hope you get some response.

Did you see the video Mike ?

[GORDON STREETER]

Actually it would make a good racer as it's got it's own built in smokescreen
I remember throwing the complete motorcycle in the local dump in the 60s and as it was filled in it's probably still under there.
The engine was modular and could be made into a 2 or 3 cylinder, I seem to remember the crankshafts were keyed together and used to come loose and get out of sync.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Did you see the video Mike ?

Have now- much respect for the job done and especially hand painting the competition numbers!

My favourite in the vid was the period one with 'D' Type rear fin.......

[GORDON STREETER]

They used to weigh next to nothing and my mate used to pick the back up and turn it round in his drive.
I must admit it was the only one I've ever seen and I've never seen a 4 wheeler !

[John Bergqvist]

Thanks guys. Does anyone know of any UK Berkeley owners clubs?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Bergqvist

Thanks guys. Does anyone know of any UK Berkeley owners clubs?

Try googling- immediately comes up with references to the Berkeley Enthusiasts Club. You may also get knowledge from Microcar clubs or societies- if indeed there are such things.

[Mike Bell]

Just been thumbing through the latest freebie BMH 'Motoring Classics' mag that comes with C&SC. It has a one page feature on Fairthorpe, and in a 1959 photo taken at Silverstone is an Electron being harried by..... a Berkeley! Looks from front rad opening like a Royal Enfield powered car fitted with a hardtop.

Co-incidence or what!

[Lancsbreaker]

Certainly was a Berkeley owners club back in the 70s, when my mate had a 4-wheeler - don't know what happened to it - I know he kept it for years but disposed of it eventually somehow....

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Certainly was a Berkeley owners club back in the 70s, when my mate had a 4-wheeler - don't know what happened to it - I know he kept it for years but disposed of it eventually somehow....

The BEC took over from the original club and is alive and kicking from perusing the website.....

[terence]

Mate of mine had what I think was labeled a T90,back in the sixties it was bloody quick. back to the main question,I think that proof of European Competition will be needed for papers to be issued. It may have changed,but American use never used to count.

[John Bergqvist]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Back to the main question,I think that proof of European Competition will be needed for papers to be issued. It may have changed,but American use never used to count.

Papers to be issued from whom? We're very new to the whole thing, also the berkely enthusiasts club website (at pearsy.co.uk) is down.

[Chigley]

John,
I've gained access to a BEC membership application form http://www.pearsy.co.uk/forms/BECmemfm.pdf that gives contact details of:
Ron Wagstaff
BEC Membership
45 Cranford Road
Tonbridge
Kent
TN10 4HQ

It may be a potential starting point.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Bergqvist

Papers to be issued from whom? We're very new to the whole thing, also the berkely enthusiasts club website (at pearsy.co.uk) is down.

I've accessed the website couple of times- just checked again and working fine.

Terence is referring to FIA Historic Technical Passport, which is the 'holy grail' of identity paperwork for historic racing. Whether you need or want to go to the extremes of applying for them will I guess be decided on what level of racing you want to do with the car. It ain't cheap and ain't necessary a lot of the time. Hopefully John can advise on what is required for FISCAR.

[John Bergqvist]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I've accessed the website couple of times- just checked again and working fine.

Terence is referring to FIA Historic Technical Passport, which is the 'holy grail' of identity paperwork for historic racing. Whether you need or want to go to the extremes of applying for them will I guess be decided on what level of racing you want to do with the car. It ain't cheap and ain't necessary a lot of the time. Hopefully John can advise on what is required for FISCAR.

The historic passport is what we want as ideally we'd like to go to international events if possible. However it says that the Historic Passport needs homologation papers, which we're supposed to find, but if no homologation papers exist (although we know berkely's did race internationally) then what are we supposed to do?

[terence]

Try John Hopwood at the MSA,probably the most helpful for you.If you phone just ask for the HTP department,JohnH might even be there.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Bergqvist

The historic passport is what we want as ideally we'd like to go to international events if possible. However it says that the Historic Passport needs homologation papers, which we're supposed to find, but if no homologation papers exist (although we know berkely's did race internationally) then what are we supposed to do?

John, there are lots of cars racing with HTP papers that were not a homologated model. It is, as you are aware, a case of getting proof of period specification and competition history in that spec. The MSA is definitely there to help and they should advise best person to discuss the Berkeley HTP with. Sometimes it is useful if the contact is in your part of the country, as ultimately they will need to see the car 'in the flesh'.

[Alan Morgan]

Have a look at the RacingSportsCars site. A very quick search uncovered a Berkley winning the GT500 class at the Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza in 1959. It's very likely there are more successes listed there.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Chigley

John,
I've gained access to a BEC membership application form http://www.pearsy.co.uk/forms/BECmemfm.pdf that gives contact details of:
Ron Wagstaff
BEC Membership
45 Cranford Road
Tonbridge
Kent
TN10 4HQ

It may be a potential starting point.

Well Well you never know what's on your doorstep as that's about 10 minutes up the road for me, but I've never seen one on the road.

[terence]

Originally Posted by Alan Morgan

Have a look at the RacingSportsCars site. A very quick search uncovered a Berkley winning the GT500 class at the Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza in 1959. It's very likely there are more successes listed there.

Well done Allan,thats all that would be required.