Documentary which explores the British love of fast, daring and sometimes reckless motorbike riding during a period when home-grown machines were the envy of the world.
Timeshift returns with an exploration of the British love of fast, daring and sometimes reckless motorbike riding during a period when home-grown machines were the envy of the world. From TE Lawrence in the 1920 to the 'ton-up boys' and rockers of the 1950s, motorbikes represented unparalleled style and excitement, as British riders indulged their passion for brands like Brough Superior, Norton and Triumph.
But it wasn't all thrills and spills - the motorbike played a key role during World War II and it was army surplus bikes that introduced many to the joy and freedom of motorcycling in the 50s, a period now regarded as a golden age. With its obsession with speed and the rocker lifestyle, it attracted more than its fair share of social disapproval and conflict.
Narrated by John Hannah.
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Clips
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The story of the British motorbike
Duration: 01:50
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The classic Isle of Man TT
Duration: 03:20
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The story of Brough Superior
Duration: 02:16
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The Caf茅 Racers
Duration: 02:19
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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The Rock-A-Teens
Woo-Hoo
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Link Wray & The Wray Men
Right Turn
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Portico Quartet
Paper Scissors
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Portico Quartet
Line
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Jon Hopkins
The Wider Sun
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Irving Berlin
Follow the Crowd
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Jon Hopkins
Wire
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Ernie Fields Orchestra
In the Mood
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Glenn Barber
Atom Bomb
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Bert Kaempfert
April in Portugal
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Leroy Dallas
Jump Little Child
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Link Wray
Rumble
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Joe Clay
Duck Tail
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Bobby Rydell
Good Time Baby
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The Tune Rockers
The Green Mosquito
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Twinkle
Terry
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The Spencer Davis Group
I'm a Man
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Floyd Cramer
Flip Flop And Bop
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Jo Ann Campbell
Motorcycle Michael
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00:19Jon Hopkins
Wire
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00:31Jon Hopkins
Vessel
Remix Artist: Four Tet. -
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00:38Link Wray
Rumble
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00:56The Spencer Davis Group
I'm A Man
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | John Hannah |
| Producer | Andy Hall |
| Director | Andy Hall |
| Series Producer | William Naylor |
Broadcasts
- Mon 28 Oct 2013 21:00
- Tue 29 Oct 2013 02:40
- Thu 31 Oct 2013 22:30
- Mon 23 Dec 2013 19:00
- Sun 30 Mar 2014 19:00
- Mon 31 Mar 2014 00:30
- Tue 1 Apr 2014 23:50
- Tue 29 Jul 2014 20:00
- Wed 30 Jul 2014 01:00
- Tue 30 Sep 2014 22:00
- Tue 31 Mar 2015 23:45
- Wed 8 Apr 2015 23:30
- Fri 13 Nov 2015 00:00
- Mon 16 Nov 2015 01:00
- Thu 7 Apr 2016 22:30
- Fri 8 Apr 2016 02:40
- Mon 12 Sep 2016 22:00
- Wed 14 Sep 2016 03:00
- Thu 13 Oct 2016 21:00
- Fri 14 Oct 2016 02:55
- Tue 18 Oct 2016 00:50
- Wed 15 Mar 2017 22:00
- Wed 22 Mar 2017 03:00
- Tue 17 Oct 2017 00:50
- Sun 4 Mar 2018 21:00