SCRMC Autojumble. Kildean market, Stirling. 6 February
End of the winter hibernation. This year I decided I had enough surplus parts to take a stall and shared one with 3 other members of the AJS & Matchless Owners Club. We raised the club banner and hopefully, as well as having a fairly successful day ourselves, may have recruited a few new members.
Otherwise it was case of meeting old friends (aye, getting older, every year!) and discussing plans for the season. This is probably the best autojumble held in Scotland and among the best in the UK. All credit must go to the stalwarts of the club who organise it every year, especially Agnes and Bill Cadger
Scottish Motorcycle Show, Ingliston 11 - 12 March
Another excellent show. Anyone familiar with this show will know it is very much a joint effort by Margaret and Robbie Allan. Margaret has been very ill this year. I believe she is better now and I am sure all of us wish her a speedy return to good health.
I thought there was a bit of a sameness about some of the stalls and wondered if some of the dealers were really interested in selling bikes. However there were plenty of bodies through the doors and a lot to see.
John Surtees was there all weekend and brought some of his unique collection including a works MV which he rode on Sunday and several ex-works Nortons including the horizontal single. I did not realise just how well sorted this was. Why did they not pursue this development?
Ivan Rhodes and his son, Graham, brought the Roarer which they have revived and a double-knocker 350.
The vintage display really was special
(see
) and on Sunday we had a run round part of the old race circuit.
Unfortunately, because we had to drain our tanks for display indoors,
I dislodged some swarf which blocked my main jet. Although the G3
started and warmed up, it then cut out before I got my run. "Oh
dear", I thought. Still better then than at the first race of
the season.
Alan Bett has also got pictures up on his excellent VJMC site .
Classic Motor Cycle Show, Stafford 15-16 May
Organised under the banner of The Classic Motor Cycle magazine for the first time this year, this long established show was as good as ever. Deservedly well attended, it was all we could do to get round it in a day (the Sunday). Still I got everything I intended to buy, including quite a few bargains. More and more quality parts seem to be available. Details of the shows organised by Mortons
Pre '65 Scottish 28-29 April
This is now a 2 day event to cater for an increased entry and to take in a bigger selection of sections. This year, for the first time since staggering up a hill to the modern SSDT while 6 months pregnant my wife came with me. Considering her present age and condition - she is less able than my daughter to carry me off the hill - we kept fairly close to the Glen Coe road but found an excellent group to watch at sitting in the sun which we all know always shines in the Highlands at this time of year (!)
I wish the organisers could publish some more details for spectators. I know the event is organised (quite rightly) for the competitors and the old hands know where to go but there is now so much more detail available for the modern trial on the SSDT web site . It would be nice to have the same detail for the classic. Anyway the SSDT site does have what is available and I am glad to see that an entry list is available at the start - although we did not actually go down into Kinlochleven itself.
I was impressed with performances by people like Mick Andrews and Mick Grant, not only have these guys been riding longer than me but they are still competing at the very top levels. Unfortunately ex-BSA works riders Jeff Smith and the Lampkin brothers only did the Friday but I think they were riding full size Gold Stars - quite a brute on these sections!
Thundersprint 2000
, 3 Sisters, Wigan 7 May
Time to blow the cob webs away. This sprint is held on part of the tight Three Sisters course. It has excellent facilities. Camping was available at the circuit with a bar and food - even showers.
There were a number of big name entries including Jim Redman, really going for it, Stan Woods, very bravely on an RG500 Suzuki and Bill Smith, riding despite some recent injuries. Mainly, though, it is a day's fun for the clubmen. I was quite happy with my performance. My best time was 43.16s. When you realise that the best time was 27.10 and most of the class winners were under 30s, you see my performance in perspective. The Matchless went well and as I get things sorted out I hope to get it more competitive.
The performance of the dedicated sprint men including the sidecars (FTD Ewan Cameron/David Toone (Halec JAP) 29.29 and Shelagh Neal/Dave White (Classic Triumph) 33.34s) was very spectacular and gave the big crowd plenty of entertainment. Something which impressed me but was nothing to do with bikes was the lunch time display by a Spitfire fighter. Now, I have never before seen a "Spit" flying and I found the low level display put on by the very accomplished pilot awesome.
A report appears on Bikersweb and results on the Thundersprint web page
AJS & Matchless Owners Club
(Scottish Section) Camping Weekend, Bonchester Bridge, 19/21 May
After the great success of the International Jampot Rally held in Scotland
last year, a much less formal camping week-end was organised in the
Border town of Bonchester Bridge. The turn-out was a bit
disappointing, especially as the camp site was very pleasant and
interesting runs had been planned for the Saturday and Sunday. We
arrived on the Saturday, in time to have a barbie and then adjourn to
the local pub. The ale was particularly good and as I had just come
back from a conference in Birmingham where the beer seemed to be
"essence of cat" this was very welcome.
On the the Sunday we finished up at the
Kelso Show where we were able to put our bikes on
display with the formal entries for the show.
The AJS went well apart from shedding its engine sprocket shock absorber on the run down - just when I had almost sealed the chain case! Some of the long Border hills made me wonder if I have geared up too much with my 20T engine sprocket, 2 over standard. As the dynamo is going to have to come out for a bit of attention I might just try a 19T.
Ormesby Hall Sprint, 11 June
Middlesborough and District Motor Club organise this sprint up the drive of a Natinal Trust property. There is an ess bend through some trees about 2/3 along, just as I hit top and it is a bit of an act of faith to hold it "on". Eventually, on my last run I stopped messing about, realising my "full bore" was equivelant to the fast men easing up so I got my act together and broke 20 sec. The G3 shook its head (probably in disgust) as I gunned it and I was well satisfied with the day's sport. Mind you I will have to get a bit more power if I am to catch the Velos that overrun the pre-war 350 class. Just as well Mr Farrall's Rudges are in a different class, but even his 250 is several seconds faster than me.
This friendly, well run event was combined with a classic bike show with some beautiful machinery on display in front of "big 'ouse"
Scarborough Bike Week, 6 - 9 July
I entered 2 events during this week. On Thursday there was a hill
climb up from the paddock, back along the the start and finish
straight of the Oliver's Mount circuit, round Mere Hairpin then up
the hill
to Quarry Bends where we left the circuit through a nadgery chicane
to finish on the slip road. This formed a good long climb with quick
times in the 40 sec bracket. I could not break 70 sec and the old G3
was really working on the climb, experiencing fuel
starvation on one run until I cleared the tank breather. We managed 4
competitive runs each thanks to the slick organisation of the
Auto 66 Club
. John Woods won overall on his incredible 920 Manx
Weslake although his early TZ Yamaha uncharacteristically "got
away from him" earlier in the day.
The picture, at the top of the hill climb is by Alan Horner Photography 01423 889154.
Next day we were back for the sprint down from Mountside Hairpin through Farm Bends onto the finish of the main circuit. This incorporated a fast run downhill over the bumps and then a desperate lunge on the brakes to get round the tight bends at the bottom - great fun. Unfortunately for me most of the reduction in numbers entering this meeting were the folk whose times I could compete with. One gallant soul entered one of the little jewel-like 50 cc dohc "retro" Honda have been producing and I did manage to beat his time. Like me he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Again slick organisation enabled us to get our money's worth - 6 competitive runs this time.
We stayed on for the "Cock o' the North" races on the full circuit. These were not blessed with the excellent dry weather we had enjoyed and the damp roads caught out quite a few riders. Ian Lougher came off once but otherwise had a great meeting, particularly in the big races even though he was only on a 250. Our local boy Brian Alexander, several times Scottish Classic Champion was going well on the Titchmarsh Seeley Weslake and would have got 2 second places but he slid off on the last lap of the first, bursting the fairing but fortunately not himself. Also that man John Woods, having missed the sprint, was back with his Yam for 2 wins and a second in very polished style.
Before the main race a minute's silence was observed in memory of Joey Dunlop. Nothing will bring him back but I was glad we were able publicly to pay a small tribute to this great man.
Strathendrick & Trossachs Rally, 12 July
With the closure of the Doune Motor Museum we lost our start venue for
this long established event. This year, it was centred on Crieff
starting at the Rugby and Cricket Club. There was the usual excellent
turn out for a good run of nearly 100 miles. The weather did no worse
than drizzle and I enjoyed riding round in the
company of Jim Richmond (
1950 Guzzi 250
) and Doug Small (1959 AJS G3LS).
I was particularly happy to see Margaret Allan, co-organiser with
husband Robbie of the
Scottish Show
, not only looking once again in excellent health at the evening do but going
round the run on the back of the Norton Dommie piloted by their daughter.
British Superbikes, Knockhill, 13 July
A busy weekend - I rode down to Knockhill for the Superbike racing, meeting up with my son. I was glad I was on the bike. Junior brought a car up and he spent about 3 hours getting into and then out of the circuit. It was the biggest crowd I have seen there despite some heavy rain at the start of the meeting.
It was a mixed day for the local heros. Steve Hislop had to withdraw due to the battering he took the previous week at Brands. Niall Mackenzie took pole then fourth in the first race but, uncharacteristically, dropped the Duke while lying third in the second. Still, it is great to see him up at the front again. Chris Walker took 2 excellent wins on the Suzuki, the second one just pipping Neil Hodgson.
The 600 and 250 races both went to locals, Jim Moodie now V & M Yamaha mounted and Callum Ramsay from Perth on a Mackenzie Racing Yamaha.
The wet track brought off quite a few riders, fortunately, I think, without any serious injuries. Less fortunate was the aftermath of a bad bike/car collision I saw on the way home. The crowds stretched the circuit facilities to the limit and certainly demanded care and patience on the road back.
National Rally, Blairgowrie, 19 July
More Velos and Vincents than a 1970 copy of Motor Cycle Sport! There was an unusaully big turn out of the "V" machines (and none the worse for that) including impressive "his and hers" Rapides and a Black Prince fitted with seriously sticky rubber. I have a great respect for a competitor who regularly manages these 100 mile rallies on a Royal Enfield Continetal GT with those low, low clip-ons. Respect, even for this gentleman, was exceeded by that for the rider of a "full house", 100% genuine BSA RGS, RRT2 gearbox, drops, rear-sets, the lot. I forgot to ask if he got it out of 1st.
By the time I had ridden up to stay over with my mother and then on to Blairgowrie, done the rally and home again the Ajay had clocked up 300 miles and I was just thinking how well it had gone when, entering the speed limits of Kirkintilloch, it shed the rear chain. I would have just pushed in but it is uphill to the house - so out with the tools and spare link. What a messy job! And, of course, it was raining!
Saltburn Hill Climb, 17th September
Back to the racer and my favourite event of the year. It was a struggle to get there. Firstly I did a top end overhaul of the G3 and made a box and cox of refitting the head (over-length head bolts) and blew the head gasket running it out to the MoT station. Then we had the petrol blockades and I felt using my hospital ID might not work with the racer strapped across the back of the Disco! However, things eased in time and we made it.
Competitors were a little bit depleted but the event was as friendly and slickly run as ever. I was delighted to beat last year's target time on my first pratice run and then shave over a second off my previous fastest time despite never really "getting it together" all day.
FTD was set by John Woods on his blistering quick Weslake. He even broke his hill record which already stood at a time which was hard to credit. The the quickest bikes in the prewar classes were over 5 sec quicker than my time. Still we are getting closer.
A quite awesome Brough Superior was entered, reportedly an ex Freddie Dixon machine. I was amused by the praise heaped on the rider in the press for risking the fuel situation. Although he had indeed travelled a good deal further than me it is clearly more meritous to risk being stranded in the Midlands with a Brough than Shap with an ex-WD Matchless!
Frank Melling who organises the Thundersprint won the the 500cc post war on his Crooks Suzuki, a particulary good performance given that the Suzi is a much heavier piece of machinery to heave up the hill than you might think.
One of the best performances of the day was by the sidecar team next to us who swopped a mag on their Norton twin between runs and got out in time for their next turn. Remember to do that on the twin you have to drain the engine oil. And they complained they had not got the timing bang on!
