Ride it again, Sam

His workshop-cum-home has the flavour of old English countryside and hallowed museums housing Renoirs - all rolled into one. As Sam Solom...

His workshop-cum-home has the flavour of old English countryside and hallowed museums housing Renoirs 8211; all rolled into one. As Sam Solomon, one of the country8217;s biggest collectors and restorers of vintage motorcycles runs his hand over his first buy 8211; a 1956 Velocette Venom 8211; the pride and joy in his voice are unmistakable. 8220;This is one of the most expensive motorcycles in the world. There are only two in India, and I have them both. And to think I got the first one when I was only in Std. IX.8221;

The Velocette Venom, the first of a collection that would span a lifetime for the three brothers 8211; Maurice, Rubin and Sam 8211; was the only bike his father bought for him. And building from that foundation, over the last 25 years, today, he has a collection of 14 motorcycles from the 1940s to the 1970s.

8220;The passion for vintage motorcycles,8221; says Sam, 8220;is hereditary.8221; His father, a military man who retired and settled in Pune, was a collector of vintage cars. 8220;Unfortunately, we had to sell all of them. The maintenance cost was too high and they required too much space. We brothers were anyway always more inclined towards motorcycles,8221; summarises Sam.

The passion is all-consuming. He spends all his weekdays at the workshop, which is a bridge between the past and the present. On one side is housed a rebuilt 30-year-old engine, while a row of present-day Hondas and Samurais line up the other end.

8220;My workshop is my bread and butter. But Sundays are exclusively for my vintages. And I don8217;t need more money.8221; That would explain why he turns a deaf ear to the constant offers for his priceless and rare motorcycles. 8220;I am not in this for the money. It is not a business. Each motorcycle is a piece of history, and is a part of me. They make up Sam Solomon. How can I ever sell them?8221; he asks.

Collecting rare items appears to run in his blood. Apart from motorcycles, he has a terrific collection of rare stamps and coins. 8220;I have seven lakh stamps,8221; he informs. And then his mind runs over the nostalgia of days gone long by. 8220;You know how I8217;d get all the stamps?8221; he asks with a chuckle. 8220;In the old days, this area Shankarshet Road used to be populated with Swedes. They8217;d get a lot of letters from abroad, and I would make sure that the stamps came to me!8221;

There is, however, one angst against a world that does not understand his passion. 8220;The insurance companies refuse to accept insurance for my motorcycles. They say my motorcycles are too old for them to give comprehensive insurance,8221; he says, shaking his head.

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For, as far as Sam is concerned, each one of his treasures is worth more than an entire factory of modern-day marvels put-together. 8220;These are vehicles built to last. They have all raced on the tracks of Pune and other parts of the country and have won innumerable awards. They are priceless. quot;Today8217;s motorcycles do not have even one-fourth their strength or endurance. These vintages may look bulky and unmanageable, but they are actually the lightest and smoothest ever built. Can you imagine any of today8217;s motorcycles still running after 30 years?8221;

And with that he makes his exit. A figure in trademark overalls, walking away to his sanctuary of history!