Another Hill

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Kop Hill Climb 2016

Following a little trip out to Eastbourne there were too many things going on over the weekend to do them all priorities were a birthday and a visit to an old friend. That did leave me a few hours each morning to do something. I was due to pick up some cables at Kempton Park auto-jumble but ran out of time to get there so they are now being posted to me and the weather was not that pleasant after the heat of the week. Sunday was much better and with an early start I was at Kop Hill by 10:00 on the Buell. 

I took a few photos and talked to number of people even before I got to the stand. The stand created a lot of interest with Frank starting the ohc Triumph and with so many people to talk to about the Museum.

I spoke to a journalist who used to make the videos for Duke entertainments and now is looking to do something a bit more interesting now retired from full time work. Arriving at the stand were a threesome who were in period costumes two of the thirties and the other from the fifties pictured with the Brooklands Sprinter.

I am told by Frank that it started like as a 1927 Sheffield Henderson and has a Blackburne engine. The frame has been much modified to take that engine with the lower top tube being pushed up and to one side to squeeze the engine in. Have a close look at it. It has some very interesting features. A new addition to the Museum collection is the Rickman Miteese and the kind owner has donated it to us. It is an ex-police bike that has a black enamel frame, unusual as Rickman usually nickel plate their frames. It is in the little barn at the present so ask if you want to see it.

If  you wonder why we didn't run something up the hill it is a matter of cost. To enter the hill climb the motorcycle needs to be road legal and that means taxed, insured and number plates!!!

I'm planning for next year to take part with the Valiant so watch this space for the outcome. I left Kop Hill around 12:30 to then go off to see our friend who lives near Alexandra Palace. Another late night.

Waiting at the bottom of Kop Hill, now on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU_a0JWtGUo

Now Frank has https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ria5-ukKzfUanother go at starting the Single ohc Triumph at the display at Kop Hill.

Back at the Museum on Monday, not having good start as when I went to leave home on the LE it would not start and I have petrol pouring over the floor. This was just a stuck float. Not having time to wait to sort it out and running late I went on the Kawasaki so I didn't have to unload my magnetic tank bag. Not much going on there were not many visitors, but what was a coincidence that three of them and in the Museum at the same time were from South Africa. A husband and wife and, on her own, another lady who does paintings of motorcycles, took so many pictures from all angles they kept us busy all day. I think they had a good time.

Gaydon Motor Museum

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org

Going to Gaydon

I've been up and down the M40 a number of times recently and thought each time I went past I should pay them a visit. I'm building a kit car and was in need of some special sized speedo and handbrake cables and at the Southern Classic Bike Show at the end of May I picked up a flier and when I was ready arranged a visit. This I did and went to JJ cables, not a stones throw from the car museum. Off on the Buell and only a few spots of rain to deal when almost home is was a pleasant dry ride. JJ cables have been supplying things to Bill at Reg Allens's motorcycle shop for years so it was a nice surprise when I arrived that he knew all the people I did. It was not long before I was on to the Car Museum. 

It has some interesting veteran and vintage cars along with many of the prototypes that we all know about like the Issogonis Mini and the Marina but know by numbers and not names. The museum is well laid out leading you from one section to another however to find the cafeteria and toilets required some deciphering. There are no signs on the first floor lobby to tell you where to go. There are only a couple of motorcycles there and they were early Rover before they started making cars. There is even a mention of an Austin motorcycle. 

There are a couple of early tricycles and some period bicycles. In another building were even more cars, vans and small lorries. I was particularly interested in a glass-fibre Mini that came from South America. I had a deep conversation with one of the volunteers about how the structural strength had been imbued into the construction to take the front and rear subframes. I had seen enough after a couple of hours and made my way home thinking about how you could have a strong enough body made from glass-fibre. A future project is in the planning. Needless to say I left some fliers there.

Back to biking and not a lot going on as I have been using the fine weather to work on my car as I have to do it all outside. I'm getting a good tan. 

I was at the Wey Valley Club first Sunday of the month and even then I spent the time doing the Club shop as opposed to riding. More recently the Museum has been down to Brighton for the Ace Cafe London to Brighton run to do more promotion on the sea front. It was a bit cold and windy on that day and the bikes are still in the van being ready for Kop Hill this coming weekend. The Tiger 80 and 1929 single ohc special will hopefully be run up the hill at this event. I look forward to being there on the Sunday but in between I managed a little trip out on the Buell just to Eastbourne for a promised fish and chip lunch with Gita at Harry Ramsdens on the sea front. 

Bike parking was conveniently place just across the road. I have missed so much bike riding weather that this was a real treat covering some 198 miles in the day and enjoying every minute with a blast over Beachy Head on the way back for good measure.