Panther owner's smash sickener
THE owner of the Panther Chariot was left shaken and his bike badly damaged in an accident following its first return to the Spen Valley in 33 years.
The bike was brought from its present home in France to Cleckheaton a fortnight ago by its owner Jos Evers who had spent years restoring it from a ruinous condition.
But while he and the Chariot enjoyed a triumphant welcome back to Spen from former Phelon and Moore employees, its glory was short-lived.
Just after disembarking the ferry in Rotterdam on its way home, it was involved in an accident with a car driving on the wrong side of the road.
Jos was catapulted over the car's bonnet, but thankfully landed on his feet and while he was a bit battered and bruised he suffered no serious injuries.
The Chariot, however, was not so fortunate, and Jos now faces the task of restoring it once again.
Jos explained to the Guardian and Herald what happened.
"I'd just left the ferry at Hook in the Netherlands, and was heading in the direction of Rotterdam, when suddenly an English registered car came from the right hand on the wrong side of the road," he said.
"There was not enough room to avoid the car or to come to a standstill so while using my brakes I prepared for the crash, while holding a firm grip on my handlebars the best I could.
"When I hit the car, I was swung off my Panther and somersaulted over the car. I saw my life passing by, and was surprised when I landed on my feet with just a bleeding scratch on my nose.
"I went straight to the people in the car and thank God they were okay.
"Then I looked to the Chariot and felt really sad to see all the damage. The wooden box which did its job so well all those years at P&M, and the little time I was using it, was completely in pieces, as was the windscreen.
"The front forks and wheel are ready for the scrapman, and cannot be saved. The headlamp is gone, as is the front mudguard, so my quest to restore it now begins again!
"I hope to find the right bits, and to put the Chariot back on the road again. The windscreen, as used by P&M will be especially hard to find, so if any of the readers have one I would love to hear from them.”
It was a sad end to Jos’s visit to Cleckheaton, but he was delighted to see so many former P&M employees turn out to the Commercial pub in Cleckheaton for the Chariot’s return.
“Some of the old employees saw each other again for the first time since they left P&M all those years ago,” he said.
“This really filled my heart, even more so because this had never been in my thoughts.
“I was also pleased to meet the man who built the Chariot engine way back in 1961.
“He remembered well that one day he had to make an one-off special engine, and by telling me the job number stamped in the engine, it proved he was right.
“He was really surprised to see his old job back in the flesh 47 years later! It must have made him think that he did a good job.”
The Chariot was used to transport new Panther bikes and spare parts to Cleckheaton railway station.
If anyone can help with parts to help Jos in his new restoration project, they should contact news editor Margaret Heward on 01274 874635.
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
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