Chinnor
Byke Dayz 2018
After
being at the Wey Valley observed first Sunday of the month on another
hot day that brought out a record 216 bikes for a sunny ride, Monday
was back at the Museum and just laying around was this odd mag-dyno.
Close inspection revealed it to be a Simms. Mr Simms, an entrepreneur
was a Boche rep for London in the 1900’s so to see something like
this was extraordinary. As Mr Lucas bought out the Clyde Motorcycle
Company to obtain the Simms magneto and production of the Clyde ended
in 1907 I am guessing that this type of mag-dyno was of that era. It
looks like it. However the Lucas magneto did not really get going
until World War one when no one in the UK could get hold of any Boche
magnetos. Up to that point Boche was everyones favourite.
Having
started the week with removing the flywheel oil seal that was leaking
on the Valiant progress was halted by the fact that I was not able to
find the oil seal I had ordered weeks before form the LE Velo Club
and had to wait for the delivery of the replacement. Another job
waiting for completion along with the one to do on the Greenford
Police LE.
Another
pleasantly hot week and Friday I was off to Chinnor. Arriving at
seven in the evening a band was already playing and more cask ales on
tap than I could sample in a day set the tone. Some decent food was
available and the evening disappeared with grand entertainment. Dr
Blue doing two stints in his particular style. Gita was with me and
this time we didn’t camp. The field was full but with so many more
cars than before. It is not surprising as we are all getting a bit
older and crawling into a small tent to sleep on a thin mattress is
not so easy to do. I avoid if I can. It is not so much the comfort as
the ease of getting out of it for a midnight pee. Years of body abuse
has taken its toll.
Back
on the Saturday morning in time for the first band to play the brave
soals who did the morning ride out to return and show off their bikes
were not as many as last time but were still just as interesting. A
1950’s Panther stole the show but the most interesting was the
Lambretta. This three wheeler was their version of the Piagio Ape
that Valentino Rossi did much of his early riding on the roads with.
His parents would not let him out on a two wheeler knowing how
enthusiastic he would ride.
It was a very warm day Gita and I tried
the various food stalls and the afternoon had an additional feature.
We enjoyed the music as many enjoyed the England game on a big screen
in the dinning tent. Best bit was that England won for a change. I
tend not to watch England play as when I do they loose! A bit like
going for a bike ride and the black clouds and rain find me!
The
bands played on Billy Watman got my vote for the most interesting
performance. Explaining how he achieved his unique style with a few
bits of gadgetry. Being a solo artist and guitar player he had us all
singing along to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Good choice, as between
all of the audience there was a passable performance.
People’s
Front of Judea gave another over the top performance. It was getting
late and cold! And we had to be up early in the morning so we missed
the last performances. Shambolic always do something interesting and
Nemesis would have been great to see but that will have to wait for
another time. Chinnor Byke Dayz is a MAG event with half the proceeds
going to MAG and the other to the Air Ambulance Service. At £15 I
think it is fantastic value and better than many events that you pay
a lot more for. All credit to Paul and Anne who are the lead
organisers for this event. Long may it continue.
At the Museum on Monday I picked a cutting from one of the roses at the back of the Museum and brought it home on the LE at the end of the day. Three blooms on the cutting and the flag of St George in the back ground as a tribute to Englands win.
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