First move for more than 40 years for motor-cycle business

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 14

First move for more than 40 years for motor-cycle business

A link with Manchester Street stretching back more than half a century was broken last Friday night when the Russell Motor Company closed its doors for the last time. On Monday the company, trading under the new name of Sabiston’s Motorcycles, Ltd, opened for business in new, bigger, and more modem premises at 527 Moorhouse Avenue.

The move seems certain to trigger a new era of prosperity for the oldestestablished motor-cycle business in Christchurch. The managing director, Mr Alastair Sabiston, is determined to maintain the proud record of the company for repairing and servicing motor-cycles of all makes.

Dealing in second-hand motor-cycles will also remain an important part of the business. But there will be an increased emphasis on the sale of new motor-cycles. The company has an agency for Japanese Kawasakis. A full range will be kept in stock and these will be actively promoted. A substantial

stock of spare parts will also be maintained. The new building is ideally suited for trading in and repairing motor-cycles. There is about 2000 sq. ft of showroom space, and a further 2000 sq. ft has been set aside for the workshop. The remainder of the 4500 sq. ft building will be used for office facilities, and the storage of spares. In addition,

there is a large area for off-street car and motorcycle parking, which gives it a considerable advantage over the Manchester Street site. The Russell Motor Company has been traditionally associated with Manchester Street. It was established in 1928 by Mr Bob Russell, who was well known in both the sport and trade. The business operated at 27 Manchester Street from 1938 until last Friday. Now it has a new home, a new name, and a new image of progressiveness to complement its enviable reputation for workman-' ship and reliability. The first change of name for the company in more than 50 years was made reluctantly. It was made, chiefly, because Mr Sabiston is a well-known and widely respected figure in the world of motor-cycles and motor-cycling. It seemed sensible that the company should be easily identified with him. Mr Sabiston joined the staff of the Russell Motor Company as a mechanic in 1967. He liked the type of business, and in 1972 he became the new owner. Even before he moved to Christchurch from Dunedin 12 years ago, Mr Sabiston had already established a reputation as New Zealand’s foremost constructor of one-off moto-cross racing machines. He built his first machine in answer to a challenge to prove some of his theories. At that time, the British-made Metisse racers were the best racers available but Mr Sabiston could not afford the £5OO they cost. Using ideas from a Metisse owned by Ray Johnson, of Timaru, and some of his own ideas, he built a bike which looked and performed very much like the real thing. One thing led to another,

and Mr Sabiston soon had another machine on the drawing board. At the last count, he had built seven motor-cycles, including two grass trackers. They have all been sold, but Mr Sabiston now wishes he had kept at least some of them.

“I had to sell them — I needed the money. But if I

ever make my fortune, I might try and buy them all back and start a museum. I know where three of them are.”

The last and best of the specials, which all carry the name of El-Sab, was built in 1974 and powered by a 850 B.S.A. singlecylinder motor. He kept it for about 18 months and among his successes with it was a fine victory in the 1974 Gold Star South Island moto-cross championship. One of New Zealand’s leading moto-cross racers over a long period, Mr Sabiston mainly built the bikes for himself because he felt he could produce something better than was available from the recognised manufacturers. The 850 B.S.A. El-Sab was built to show that a good four T stroke could still win against the best of the Japanese two-strokes.

Mr Sabiston made his point before his racing activity started to wind down as his business interests and responsibilities increased.

However, it was on a British 380 Greeves Griffin that he had his finest moment of glory. Under the sponsorship of Don McNeill, he finished first equal with Allan Collison in the New Zealand open moto-cross championship at Dunedin in 1972.

He has lost track of the number of successes he has had at South Island level, but freely admits he has had more seconds and thirds than firsts. Nevertheless, he has won the South Island gold star championship twice, and one year finished third in the New Zealand quartermile grass track championship at his first attempt on a borrowed bike. His interest in motor-