Stafford Classic Bike Show

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org 

Stafford Classic Motorcycle Show

27^th and 28^th April 2013.

Part one.

As usual a big event takes some planning even if you are only going to exhibit. Living in London I had two options, one to ride the bike there or trailer it.  I have to use my kit car as the other car has no towing facilities. I have a single bike trailer that I have not used for years so I needed to test everything out including a trial towing run. I was at the museum for my Monday stint and picked up the required mega-wad of fliers. The LE was running OK although it overheated and boiled after a few miles, a problem to be discussed when I meet up with the people from the LE owners club. Tuesday I checked the trailer over and put some fresh grease in the wheel bearings. Both were dry and felt just a little rough. Wednesday I had all the bits together, loaded the LE with Gita’s help and went for a test run. 

  
My strapping down was fine and the bike did not move. I went out in the evening to the West London Harley meeting at the Angel on the Uxbridge road Hayes End. This is when I discovered I had a problem with the Buell as I heard some clunking sounds from the rear end. This sounded ominously of bearing trouble. I would have to check that when I returned from Stafford. It rained during the evening and that didn’t put a damper on a good evening out with the lads. I gave a short talk about the museum and what we could do for the club and what the club could do for us. I have been invited back to tell people about the routes I have done on ROG’s runs. I was due to go out on a ROG’s run the next day but because of the noises I decided not to chance and spent the Thursday packing all the bits I thought I would need for car and bike and trailer. Friday we had a lazy morning, loaded the LE on the trailer and finally left for Stafford about mid-day. The run was slow with a head wind and a traffic jam at the end on the M6. Just before Oxford I saw the LE move a little on the trailer so I stopped at the services to check and found anew strap had broken, not a problem as it was the one that when over the bike and was only a safety measure. I carried a spare which was much heavier constructions and fitted that. We arrived at Stafford have got caught on the toll for an extra £4.50. I was miffed about that because there is no price to be warned of only trailers extra at the bottom of the sign that is easily missed.  Needless to say I didn’t go home that way. When we got to Stafford show ground they would not let Gita in because there was no second security strap for her and I had to pay another £26 for one. I am not impressed with Mortons’ profiteering but other than that the organisation, security and control were very good. Once in, I found the LE stand on foot leaving Gita stranded in the car for ages.

 The stand was on the balcony so I had to use the ramp at the other end of the building. On the way to the ramp I received some abuse from a car driver who thought I could reverse a trailer. I tried, made a “horlicks” of it and he finally reversed out of the way after I completely blocked the road. With the LE off the trailer I was hoping to ride it up the ramp but it refused to start so I had to push it. I managed to get it to the stand, then checked the plugs which looked a little dark and then it fired up. There were some select expressions used. But another guy I met on the way in said he had had the same problem. Must be something to do with Stafford. 

The stand was pretty much set up so we left them to it and went off to Rugeley to find our Travelodge and get something to eat. We found the Travelodge unloaded the car, hid the trailer behind a hedge and went to sample the delights of the high street to see what they had. I was slightly disappointed in that only 2 pubs had any real ale and only one did food. Eventually after strolling around avoiding the cold showers we found a pub that had some real ale. It was the Albion but no food was available. Not too much of a problem but we were starting to get a bit peckish when someone on a table near arrived with a bag of chips. The people on the table said it was OK but I thought I had better ask to be sure and we could go and get some food and eat it in the bar and that is what we did. We were even told which chip shop to use 5 doors down, but we had to clear up our own mess before leaving. It was the Albion fish and chip and pizza shop. They do kebabs as well. Back in the pub we shared a large cod and chips and along with a pint of Hobgoblin. It was the best fish and chips I had had for ages and something that I had never done before. Back to the Travelodge to sleep and get ready for tomorrow.