Tiddler Tour Marks 7th Year

EAST HADDAM, CT – Given the ages of the bikes, it’s perhaps surprising there weren’t more breakdowns but only Rich Hosley of Guilford, CT found himself with tools in hand prior to the Tiddler Tour. He was trying to sort out an electrical problem with his Spanish-made 1970 OSSA Wildfire. “Two years of high school Spanish isn’t going to help me,” quipped Hosley, who is pictured above with event organizer Steve Rossi.

Hosley was among more than two-dozen or so riders who came to Rossi’s hilltop home for the seventh annual event on Saturday morning. The rules loosely state that the Tiddler Tour is for pre-1969, 305cc and smaller machines, but its really an event for like minded-souls who enjoy a roughly 100-mile jaunt on pavement and dirt. They came on a variety of brands.

“It’s pretty much ‘start when you want.’ I tend go at my own pace. I start late and see how many (other riders) I can pass,” said Dave Roper of Hicksville, NY, who brought a 1953 Moto Guzzi Airone. Roper holds the distinction of being the first American to win at the Isle of Man TT, which he did in 1984 aboard a Matchless G50.

Roper credited Rossi for pulling off the event. “He lays out a good route. A great bunch of people. It’s real low-key,” he said.

Others came from as far as away as Boston to enjoy the camaraderie. “They’re great guys. I’m friends with all of them,” said Bill Burke of Dorchester, MA, who was one of the original organizer of the Tiddlers and who brought a 300cc 1965 Harley-Davidson Sprint.

Among some of the riders taking part in the Tiddler Tour were:

Dave Przekora of Brookfield, CT

Dave Przekora brought a 1967 BSA “Barracuda,” a 250cc single. He explained that 1967 was the first year that the model was made and the first year it was exported from England to the U.S. The Barracuda name didn’t last, though, as Chrysler had the rights to the name for its Plymouth Barracuda car.

“It’s a great bike at 35-40 miles an hour on twisties. It feels like you’re doing 90,” said Przekora, who got the bike three years ago. It came from New Hampshire in three storage containers. “It’s been running for a little over a year,” he said, adding that’s he’s still fine-tuning it.

Doug Roper of Haddam, CT

Doug Roper crossed the Connecticut River with a 1965 Bennelli, a 250cc Wards Riverside that was sold by Montgomery Ward. He got it from Washington state off of eBay three years ago. “When I got it here, I found it needed a lot of work. It’s running really nice now,” said Roper, who is the brother of Dave and who organizes a second regional Tiddler Tour each year that’s held on the Fourth of July.

Dave Roper of Hicksville, NY

Dave Roper has owned his 1953 Moto Guzzi Airone for maybe 10 years. “I’ve put more than 20,000 kilometers on it. It’s a great bike,” he said.

Roper pointed some of the features, including a right-foot shifter, a spring that’s mounted under the motor and a friction shock absorber with cork dampening.

Roper said he does have one additional challenge when riding in the Tiddler Tour because of his instruments; he must convert the miles listed on the route sheet into  kilometers.

Bill Burke of Dorchester, MA

Bill Burke has owned his 1965 Harley-Davidson Sprint for five years and has modified it extensively. “It originally had an ash tray motor. This is a Knucklehead motor,” he said.

Rich Hosley of Guilford, CT

 Finally, Rich Hosley eventually managed to solve the electrical problem with his 1970 OSSA. A wire hidden under the gas tank that went through the frame to the headlight had frayed and shorted the system. It was a quick fix once located, allowing Hosley to participate. “It was really odd you could ride in here (without a problem). The bike was fine,” he said.