Ingliston 10 - 11 March
Ingliston 10 - 11 March
The show goes from strength to strength, despite an incorrect announcement on the radio the day before cancelling it. Crowds were large throughout the 2 days and the stands were excellent. The representatives even seem interested in selling you a bike - I could be tempted. We have a short list.
Guest of honour was Sammy Miller and he
had brought some very delectable machinery including a Gilera 4, the
beautiful little BSA MC1 and the Norton kneeler.
SSDT and pre '65 trial,May>
Regrettably, because of the foot & mouth outbreak and the concern over risking its spread, these events have been cancelled for this year. Although it is a tragedy for competitors and spectators, my heart also goes out to the people in Lochaber who give the trials such a wonderful welcome each year and who rely on the visitors to give the tourist trade a good start.
Thundersprint, 13 May
Oh dear, this is embarrassing. Despite
being rather underwhelmed by the short and simple track, I actually
won my class - was there really only one entry? Simple track or not
John Woods on his Norton Weslake was just awesome.
Elvington, 28 May
I was much happier here, on the wide open spaces of the old national circuit on this aerodrome and a run of over a mile. Down on the tank, rev counter fitted for the first time. Lots of work to do on the bike, lot more needed from the rider but fun, fun, fun. John Woods was only spectating at this one so, for once, someone else had a chance of setting fastest time.
Bob Mac Memorial Meeting, East Fortune 9 - 10 June
Just parading at this one and only on the
Saturday. The day started well with good weather and an entry boosted
by so many other meetings being cancelled but the weather
deteriorated and standing water eventually curtailed the days events.
I still did my 4 laps but very gingerly and got good and soaked in
the process.
Jimmy Guthrie Memorial Run, Hawick, 17 June
This informal run has been held for many years. The route is interesting and calls at the Hawick museum where there is excellent and moving exhibition to commemorate Jimmy. In the park, a few hundred yards away is the statue erected in his memory, funded by public subscription.
The entry for this event is truly
wonderful. besides a fine array of bikes there were 3 Model T Fords,
2 model A's a Le Mans style Bentley, Bull Nose Morris Oxford and
Cowley right up to Porsche Spider and Ferrari Dino.
I got chatting to the owner of the 18MCSR in the gallery and was surprised to be offered a ride. Not so surprised I didn't immediately jump on and ride off! Fitted with a short stroke motor and beautifully set up I found a very special bike.
AJS & Matchless Owner's Club Scottish Section camping weekend, Kenmore, 29 June - 1 July
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Alf Burgess & my 16M's resting after their labours. |
Once again, Alf Burgess organised an excellent weekend for us. About a dozen bikes turned up ranging from 250 singles to 650 twins and from 1949 to 1962 plus a few welcome supporters on modern machinery. First day's run included Aberfeldy, Amulree, Glen Quaich, the historic Kenmore Test Hill and, for some, Killin and Loch Tay. As Ruth was suffering from "numb bum" on the back we sloped off to look at the reconstruction of a Cranog in Loch Tay and then to Fortingall (allegedly Pontius Pilot's birth place - we haven't managed to convince everybody that the real Bethlehem is also in Scotland but we are working on that too!) to see the 3000 year old Yew tree. Next day we all took a run out to Rannoch Station (the Road to the Isles of the song). |
First time out for Dennis Jackson's newly restored Model 31 de-luxe - very nice.
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Scarborough Speed Week - Hillclimb and Twisty Sprint, 12 & 13 July
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My long time biking buddy, Ian Whitehead's ' 34 New Imp |
It is treat to get out on the historic Oliver's Mount circuit. I bettered my times from last year but still finished way down the field. We missed the rain which hit the rest of the country and got in plenty of suns in these well run event. We stayed on to see the Cock 0' the North races on the full circuit on the Saturday. It was a great to see an Tony Myer's on the Aermachi leading the Classic 350's until it slid away on the bottom hairpin, remounting to finish 4th. |
John Woods' awesome Manx Weslake - and the race is on for 2nd!
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National Rally, Blairgowrie, 18 August.
A good turn out for this annual event which includes a decent run (92 miles) although I was a bit disappointed we kept to the low lands on Strathmore and did not venture up any of the beautiful Angus Glens. Some lovely machines including the Linford's matching "his & her" Vincent Rapides, an absolutely beautifully turned out Model 20 outfit and Geoff Brazendale's recently restored WW1 Douglas which will need the forks redone after some 4-wheeled oaf did a u-turn on a blind bend across his path, fortunately without injury to the rider.>
With the run there and back, the Ajay clocked up nearly 300 miles. We almost got home dry. 30 miles from home the heavens opened and we got home very wet!
Saltburn Hillclimb, 15 September
The ever friendly and cheerful Secretary of this meeting, Ernie Crust seems to be blighted with bad luck. The promising cavalcade of historic cars and bikes to celebrate 100 years of motor competition at Saltburn had to be cancelled last year because of insurance difficulties, then the Middlesborough Club's earlier meeting at Ormsby was lost to foot and mouth. The hill climb went ahead in excellent weather, broken only by a short shower mid afternoon. This had the barrow boys spinning like "peeries". The lovely New Imp above deposited Ian at the first bend - touch too much front brake but fortunately only damage was a bent footrest. Other wise we were well pleased with our day. I set my fastest time to date and was snapping at the heals of the Velo pack! John Woods had left his record setting Weslake at home and rode a 350 BSA, still taking 2nd in his class. FTD was set by Rob Bradley on his mighty Norvin. Fastest sidecar (Martin Quirk/Pete Lidster) was also Vincent powered
Houghton Tower Sprint, 29 September
This event was postponed from April because of the foot and mouth epidemic. Over the years it has been run by different organisers and is now organised by the NW Marshals Association. The track is a short slippery uphill. It must have been slippy - I have never "spun up" the rear wheel on the G3 before! Not much of a challenge on the G3, it must have been hairy for the boys on the modern super-bikes. Huge entry of about 160 took a while to get through. There was plenty of variety including Keith Heckles Manx Norton, an G45 badged as an AJS and some wonderful '60's sprinter including a Matchless G80R outfit, a Panther and a blown BSA C15. Trust me not to have a camera with me - one of the brood was using it.
My time of around 14 sec was nothing special but was good enough for a 3rd place in the pre' 40 350 class.
