Who are they?

[Roger Gwynn]

Picture shows what is almost certainly a 1935 or 36 competition VH, note wire mudguard stays and bash plate and 1932-36 knee grips. Any one happen to know who the people are especially the happy passenger who must have had a good day out in the mud. Note also the lump of wood holding the head on, a trick I have used myself, en-route to Finland.

[Roger Gwynn]

PS Northampton registration

[simon.holyfield]

Look at that sidecar mudguard and the panel under the sidecar nose. Looks like they've been ploughing!

[will_curry]

It's a wonderful photograph with a lot of detail.

I don't think it's a block of wood though. More likely a shield to keep the
scenery and hot air out of the carburettor. There is a picture on

https://trialsguru.net/scott-trial/

of three Ariels piled on a pickup at the Scott Trial with one of them showing
the other side of such a shield.

Can anyone read the details on the plate on the door? It might give a clue
as to where the picture was taken.

[Roger Gwynn]

Well spotted Will, it is a shield. When zoomed in, the fold in the sheet metal can be seen. The brass plate looks like it has been polished so much that the lettering has largely gone but could just be the photo, unreadable I am afraid.

[adrie.degraaff]

L. Nesute

[mark.prizeman]

Brass plaque
L Heslett
Pictures

??

[will_curry]

It has been suggested by Trevor Pinfold of the Northants section of the VMCC that
the rider is Percy Spokes and the passenger his son, Reg.

Spokes were the Ariel agents in Northampton.

[Roger Gwynn]

The name rings a bell in connection with this photo.

[Simon.Gardiner]

We've had Reg Spokes and and his son mentioned recently, regarding the pre-war Porlock pic in the thread at:
viewtopic.php?t=13574
In the Porlock pic the person at 3rd from left was suggested to be Reg's son but the guy in the sidecar in this pic looks more like the rider at 2nd from left (in the Porlock pic).

SG