He won first time out with an outstanding best lap of 107.57mph to clinch the coveted Gold Star awarded for lapping the Surrey track at over 100mph.

BSA cashed in with the M24 Gold Star in honour of Wal's achievement. Each bike was individually built from selected components. The engine was tuned, had an alloy head and barrel, magnesium gearbox casings and each bike came with a dyno certificate proving it made at least 28bhp.

After the war a new Gold Star was built. BSA's most talented engineers worked on the bike. Bert Hopwood redesigned Val Page's original M24 engine into two units: the 350cc B32 and 500cc B34.

Roland Pike was responsible for transforming the humdrum touring single into a firebreathing race winner, and accomplished scrambler Bill Nicholson developed the swingarm frame fitted from 1953 onwards.

The bikes were offered with a choice of four camshafts, three sets of gears, four compression ratios and a selection of different petrol tanks, exhausts and handlebars. BSA intended the Gold Star to be competitive in all forms of bike sport.

And it was. The 1949 Junior Clubmans TT was won by Harold Clark on a 350 Goldie at an average of over 75mph. By 1955 33 of the 37 riders in the
Junior TT were on Gold Stars. And it was every bit as good off road as on, winning numerous scrambles and other events.

The 500cc DBD34 is the best known and most popular of the Goldies though there are lots of riders who'll tell you the 350 is a better bike. The DBD arrived in 1956 with sharper steering geometry, improved suspension and brakes and full road gear.

The engine made a claimed 40bhp at an outrageous (for the time) 7000rpm.

The secret was in the use of light materials and careful attention to lightening the rocker gear and assembly of the engine. The specially designed four-speed RRT2 gearbox had a first gear capable of 60mph and three very close ratios to follow. The RRT2 was once described as a five-speeder with first missing. It gave the Gold Star a huge advantage on the track.

Engine casings resemble the B series tourers but hold a bigger drive-side main bearing and the engine number should be suffixed GS.

The Lucas Magdyno is the central part of a fairly feeble electrical system and must be in tip-top condition for trouble free starting.

The duplex frame has been overshadowed historically by Norton's Featherbed but in reality is every bit as good. The genuine DBD frames are prefixed CB32 and the Clubmans frame should have lugs for rearset footrests.

Suspension was firm at the rear but a little too soft and underdamped at the front though it didn't stop the Gold Star winning races.

More on the DBD34
Pearson's Seeley Goldie
Miscellaneous Pics