Editorial
Brilliant
sunshine torrential
downpours and thunderstorms, what more could you ask of an
English summer? Oh! A
decent sunburn, well we managed to get our ration of that, so summer must be
around somewhere. As I write, we’re preparing to point the outfit south to the
I.O.W. for a weeks riding around in what seems an ideal venue for bikers, quiet
country roads and rural scenery. Long stretches of sandy beaches never far from
the road or a pub, those members who enjoyed the Klatchian rallies, will
understand well, the lovely atmosphere on this great little island of Vectis.
Martin
Photo Galleries
If you would like your photos to be shown on the web site please let Dave Cox know and he will do his best to show them. You can also have your personal gallery. Send in your photos on a CD, you can find his address on the newsletter.
OTHER RALLIES
If
YOU know of other
interesting and relevant rallies that will enthuse other members to put fuel in
their tanks and sparks in their plugs, then send a note to Martin the NL Editor
~ he’ll love to hear from you, get those bikes rolling!
Membership
Your membership number is
on the top of your address label, you will need it to get services from the club
& discount bike insurance. We do not issue cards any more, since this costs you
money.
Adverts
You may advertise bikes &
bits for sale in this publication and on the website free. Please inform us how
long you wish to advertise for and when you have secured a sale, thanks.
~ Cossacks in Museums ~
Based in Calne Wiltshire, off A4
Although the majority of the collection is Cars,
the Museum also houses an impressive collection of Lorries,
Motorcycles, Mopeds, Push bikes, a large selection of
vehicle manuals and other archive material, and a large collection of
motor memorabilia.
1st April to 31st October open every day except Friday
between 11.00am & 5.00pm. From 1st November to 31st March open Sunday through
Thursday (except Christmas Day) between 11.00am and 4.00pm.
The Museum is also open on Good Friday.
Cost of entry is as follows:
ADULTS £5.00
STUDENTS / CHILDREN £1.00
Based next to Holker Hall
Currently near Grange-over-t’Sands Cumbria, though soon to
move to south of Windermere, check first! Over 30,000 motoring
related exhibits including many reminiscent rarities, tastefully
presented in a rather quaint former Shire Horse Stables and courtyard
setting.
A curious and educational atmosphere generating intrigue and
nostalgia. A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience providing a truly
astonishing insight into our forefather's inventiveness and dexterity. 'Motoring
Memories' plus the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition.
Lakeland Motor Museum , Courtyard Café, Food Hall and Gift
Shop:
Open daily: 1st February to 1st November from 10.30am
Museum closes 4.45pm (4pm February to 21st March)
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
TICKET PRICES
Adult £7.00 Senior/Student £6.50 Child £4.50 Family £23.00
VJMC Show Uttoxeter
The COC rally at the
VJMC’s Uttoxeter show was experimental. I think we can say it was a success.
Peter Barker, Tony Jones and I arrived at lunchtime on Friday to erect the
borrowed hospitality tent. At one o’clock we discovered the instructions and at
half past we realised that the poles were numbered. After that it was easy –
apart from the pouring rain. As soon as the erection was complete it fined up
and there was only one short downpour on Saturday afternoon, just like there was
last year. This would have been enough to justify the big tent, but Tony also
used it as a Kitchen and Carl used it as a garage for the new Soviet restoration
job he’d been given.
This year there was
entertainment in the racecourse bar on both Friday and Saturday, and bar prices
had been reduced from last year, when they were plainly ridiculous. Also absent
this year were the security guards who prevented people taking in their own
drink. I had a good time, but when I came off the dance floor everyone had left
me. There were several halls and marquees of all sorts of bikes to look at, but
I must admit I didn’t do them all – there are only so many pristinely restored
bikes I can take. I prefer bikes with a bit of owner input like the modern
Triumph trail bike fitted with a three cylinder diesel engine on the Diesel Bike
Club stand. The jumble outside seemed to be mostly Japanese stuff. Last year we
got some BMW bargains, which made it seem better. The difference between a good
jumble and a mediocre one is only one good find.
Most of us spent Saturday
afternoon sitting in the hot sun putting the world to rights and trying to get
malignant melanoma, which I suspect didn’t please Carl and Phil on the stall in
the hall. Carl’s face looked angry when he came back, but he said he just had
back pain.
Despite my promise to
myself not to drink on Saturday night due to another engagement on Sunday I
joined the half a dozen who made the short walk into Uttoxeter for alleged £1.50
pints at Weatherspoon’s. This turned out to be a malicious falsity, but there
was hen party going on featuring umpteen young ladies in lighting up rabbit ears
and the sort of queue at the bar that makes you want to buy two pints at once.
We returned to the site for the last hour of the entertainment, but it turned
out to be nearer three hours. Again when I came off the dance floor everyone had
gone. I am beginning to suspect that some of my fellow club members are unable
to take the pace.
I had to get up early on Sunday and set of for Grantham, so I never did get to see what was in the other show halls. A friend of mine was ordained, I did three landmarks on the Round Britain Rally and got stuck in queues of traffic leaving the RAF Waddington air show, as well as breathing in several lung-fulls of half burned aviation fuel.
Attached are some
pictures of Russian bikes. I didn’t take any at the ordination ceremony.
Dave Ramsden
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