Seeking permission to bring a vintage motorcycle into Bermuda has made one man see red.

For Sanders Frith-Brown's attempt to bring a 1952 James motor cycle with a 98 c.c. Villiers two-stroke engine into the Island has been shot down by bureaucratic restrictions.

"On the 50th anniversary of the introduction of motorised vehicles, Bermuda perpetuates to keep outdated laws on the importation of vehicles in place,'' he said.

"Ridiculous rules and regulations'' state second hand cycles and cars over six months old cannot be brought into the Island after being purchased overseas despite their condition, continued Mr. Frith-Brown.

Mr. Frith-Brown added that the motor cycle could only do about 40 m.p.h. -- downhill -- and he would have to pedal it up some hills on the Island.

Meanwhile some 100 c.c. bikes could top 70 m.p.h. on a straight.

And Customs would not even allow him to bring the cycle in so he could set it up in his yard and look at it, he continued.

But if he could find the old frame of a vintage bike on the Island, he said, it could be sent overseas to be rebuilt.

As long as it was once licensed here it could be brought back to Bermuda, he said.

Mr. Frith-Brown added that he intended to bring in an antique car to use as his only car but would have to wait and see how successful his lobbying of Transport Minister Wayne Furbert was.

He said he hoped Mr. Furbert would stop to think about the impact the old laws were having and what they were really achieving.

If Government did not back down, he added, he would take his appeal to a higher court.

Mr. Furbert said he had received a letter from Mr. Frith-Brown but as the matter had just come to his attention he had not had a chance to delve into it.

He added that he would be speaking to members of his technical staff to find out more about the situation.