New Life for an Old Soul: A Norton 16H from South Africa
In today’s digitally saturated world, communication is seamless, relentless and overwhelming. But Vic Matthews is part of a generation that didn’t grow up on the internet?his digital footprint is no larger than a seldom-updated Facebook profile.
So I only found out about his painstakingly restored Norton 16H via a succinct text message from my father; ?Vic has just rebuilt this Norton!? And the instant that message popped up, I knew that Vic had brewed up something killer.
I arrange to meet Vic in Gordon’s Bay, a harbor town about 35 miles from Cape Town, where he and his wife, Kathy, have lived for the past six years. Vic, who’s now retired, is the most unassuming guy you’ll meet. He rides the Norton into the beachfront parking lot wearing track pants, running shoes and bright green socks, later donning Kathy’s wooly mittens to keep his hands warm. As we roll the bike into place, he is as humble about his own work as he is critical, apologizing for the lack of period-correct double pinstripes on the bike.
?It’s not finished yet,? he says. ?No-one will notice,? I fire back. ?Those that know, will,? he replies.
Vic might not have a reputation online, but those who know him, know the quality of his work. He and my pops go all the way back to 1989, when they worked together in Cullinan, a small mining town in the northern part of South Africa. Since I’ve known Vic, he’s had a garage full of classic motorcycles, scoote...
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