Southern
Classic Bike Show 2019
I
get notification of the Southern Classic Bike Show around the end of
February and I need to the the request in for the club stand by the
end of March. This gives me plenty of time to get in touch with the
usual club members who have a bike to show and be able to attend the
event. All done in plenty of time before going to India in April for
a traditional wedding. This trip to India I managed to stay in good
health and came back in time to get to a Wey Valley Observed Sunday
and a trip out on a back by one run that had a stop at the new look
Ryka's. It was a busy Sunday with lots being sold at the shop at
which I help out. Not surprising as there were over 220 bikes in the car
park. Back at the Museum on the Monday and trolling through a bike
magazine I found this advert.
The
first ever Southern Classic Bike Show from 1986.
I
didn’t see this in 2016 but there is on sale a book that is a
photographic record of some of the interesting bikes that have been
seen over the last 30 years.Not all things go to plan. The week
before George had phoned me to say he would not be able to bring his
KSS along as the headlamp glass had vibrated free and self destructed
so he had no usable headlamp and would bring along his Venom sports
instead. I notified Mortons of the change of bike also George had to
go to a funeral on the Friday and would not be able to help me set up
the LE Club stand I had arranged to meet up with Chris at the Admiral
Hawke in Sunbury to do a trailer swop on the Wednesday before the
show that was not a problem however on the way home I had a tyre self
destruct and had to do a wheel change on the hard
shoulder of the M4 near junction 3. Even with a speed limit of 60mph
it was not a pleasant place to be.
Gita
help me get the stand set up on the Friday afternoon and when I got
home checked out my LE and got all the bits I needed for the early
start in the morning. All ready for Saturday. Up at 6am and off to
Kempton Park at 7am and arrived just before 8am. Chris was already
there and we quickly unloaded his Police LE from my trailer. Where
was George? By 08:30 Phil had arrived on his Valiant. About this time
I had a call from Gita who said that George was stranded in Greenford
and would not be coming along. Down to three bikes on display and we
had the biggest space ever!
I
was hopeful that George would not remain stranded and get his bike
going again.
It
was another full on day with lots of interest in the bikes along with
a bit more promotion for the LMM. We met some of the old faces and
were introduced to some new ones. Denis Frost, Velocette man through
and through and the Club Historian was pleased that we were promoting
the club and agreed it was time for some new banners and photos that
I could get from India at reduced prices but I would need electronic
copies to replace the paper ones we have that will not last much
longer.
Late
in the morning George arrived and helped out to the end of the day.
He had to do a bit of shopping for parts to try to cure the Venoms’
ills. He had gone to the funeral and did 100 miles on it with no
problems the day before. I introduced him to George’s corner where
I wanted to position his bike that had pictures of him and his bike
watching the procession of vintage bikes of the Pioneer Run near
Epsom.
Epsom.
There were some nicely turned out bikes at the show but what dis catch my eye was this Tricati and Pete had got the frame and the engine mated but not completed as an offer he could not refuse persuaded him to let it go and I thought his may have been this one.
It turned out to be a good day at the show until I heard of the death of one of the Wey Valley Club members who had died in his sleep a few days ago. He was no older than me! He was a character and rode bikes with sidecars. He even instructed a member in advanced riding techniques for outfits.He was Graham Newton, a larger than character who gave so much to the Wey Valley Bike Club and so much more to improving motorcycling riding. We shall all miss him.
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