H&H MOTORCYCLE SLEUTH MARK ‘THE BARN’ BRYAN FINDS BIKE GEMS
It is no coincidence that Mark Bryan’s nickname is ‘El Granero’ – the barn. Mark has made a career out of finding and selling classic motorcycles, some of them he has discovered in the most astonishing and unexpected places and that, he says, is exactly what makes his job so compelling.
When Mark travels anywhere it’s not the sites that everyone else is out to see that attract him, but rather falling down cowsheds, old country barns, derelict factories, boarded up shops in the rundown parts of town. It’s almost as if he has a sixth sense about what to look for as his track record shows he has found a range of valuable bikes in the most unexpected places.
Take the outer Hebridean islands for starters, not a place one would think to go looking for motorbikes; nor that part of Spain where it never rains, the far distant plains in the agricultural heart of the country; nor a rundown industrial estate in Walsall. Yet each of these unlikely destinations has delivered big time with stunning examples of historic motorbikes that have gone on to make big bucks at H&H Classics auctions.
One of the strangest of his finds and one of the most satisfying was a classic Vincent motorcycle that emerged from an airing cupboard to sell for £53,000
Currently he is lining up three of his latest barn-finds at the H&H Sale on July 28th at Donington Park which includes:
* A Collection of 50’s/60’s French Commuter Motorcycles
* A 1966 Velocette Thruxton (not used since early 70’s)
* A Collection of Indian Motorcycle Relics
His past offers as many fascinating discoveries. Speaking about these he explains just how much work goes into these eureka moments.
“I suppose it’s really about being in the right place at the right time. That helps.” And that of course means networking and making sure that he knows the motorcycle world inside out. In short it’s about: “Getting out to as many bike nights and weekends as my family will allow!!”
He says that for him it’s all about the hunt which finally ends when a barn door creaks open or a warehouse roller-door lifts and in the gloom inside he sees his prize, often in poor condition. “I get the most amazing adrenalin rush, I suppose it’s something of what Howard Carter felt when he first laid eyes on the tomb of Tutankhamun.”
When he finished his schooling Mark followed in his fathers footsteps and took up motor racing. Two Formula Ford 1600 Championships (twice Mallory Park Formula Ford 1600 Champion, 1989 & 1990), later he hung up his helmet and went to work for Harley-Davidson, Audi and Rover. He joined H&H Classics in 2014 to offer an auction service for bike enthusiasts. His work is his passion and weekends often see him at bike events showing his “Barn Find” 1970’s Harley-Davidson or 1950’s Velocette MAC!!
The next H&H Classics car sale is at Chateau Impney on July 10 and a sale with motorcycles at Donington on July 28th.
