Exeter Trial 2020

After an involuntary break from long distance trials (due to work - boo!) I was scheduled to be at home for the 2020 Exeter.

The entry form duly went in and plans were made to prep the Yamaha to pop its trials cherry. As they say to fail to prepare is to prepare to fail and I really did set myself up for a no start. I thought I would have plenty of time to sort the bike out over Christmas but I had underestimated the time that would be taken up with familial duties. The Yamaha AG has some wiring peculiarities introduced by owners over the years, I thought that a couple of evenings would be enough to sort them out. Very much not so. I ended up getting the bike mot'd the day before the trial and the best I could do was to get the horn and stop light working so it scraped through a daylight mot.

Normally a daylight mot would spell disaster for a long distance trial but our merry band had entered the day trial with a start at the Crealy breakfast stop and missing out the night sections. Fortuitous as it turned out.

Somehow it felt a bit of a cop out turning up to start the trial whilst the majority of competitors had been on the road all night and were taking the opportunity of the enforced hour break at Crealy for a power nap. However the difference for me in doing the day trial is one day away from home versus three so it really does make it a lot more accessible for those with families and or a busy work life.

Yamaha AG200 at the top of the first section. Matt and Dan
with the Ariel outfit in the background.

The first section on the day trial was Tillerton Steep and I was surprised how easily the little Yamaha rode up it. Mind, up until now I have been used to competing on a road going Enfield Bullet.

And a full view of Matt's rigid Ariel outfit. It's definitely of
'the right stuff'.

All went well up until Simms. Weighed down by two portions of cake prepared by the wonderful ladies at Islington village Parish Hall I approached with too much confidence and too little speed. The re-start was easy, I cleared the slippery slabs but by then had lost line and rode it up the bank on the steep muddy section after the slabs and came a cropper.

Rich on Beta Alp coming out of the Tillerton
Steep mudbath.

Confidence knocked I then fluffed the next section, Tipley Hill, and footed. Back on form after that though and the last section , Slippery Sam, was a clean.

One section down and here's my boot. And that's with keeping
it on the pegs throughout.

We made it to the end point in Torquay roughly on time. Sadly though no time for victory celebrations as I needed to get back to the van at Crealy before sun set. 

All in a great day's sport. The AG bike proved its mettle and didn't let me down. A big thanks to all the Marshals, helpers and organisers and I just hope it isn't such a big gap as last time until I enter the next trial.

Toby and Honda XT250.

This chap entered a Zero electric bike. Not sure
how he did.

One of several Dellows entered.

Another Dellow. Love them!

A trio of red cars at Islington Parish Hall.

MG and cat.

The approach to Simms. Fairly benign looking from this angle.

One very muddy AG200 after the last section.

Happy New Year 2020

Sturminster Newton New Year's Day Run is in its 25th year now and has become the local institution for nearby enthusiasts to greet in the New Year.

As ever there was a marvelous selection of old time machinery to view, from tractors to Lamborghinis.

Having stayed up later than intended and feeling slightly sorry for myself setting off from home at 9am I decided that the little Beesa Bantam would be a suitably gentle ride. The run was pleasant but the weather not kind, we moved through varying degrees of dampness from mist to mizzle and beyond.

Below a few snaps from the day. Happy New Year to all for 2020!

Allard parked up.

Aforementioned Allard again.

Armstrong Siddley.

Genuine barn find Sir.

Primed and ready to go.

Jaguar SS100.

Jag once more.

This Trident Hurricane roared past the Bantam and sounded
great.

Laverda RGS1000, quite a beast for the slippery county roads.

My Bantam in a Velo / Ariel sandwich.

Merry Christmas 2019

Wishing all a wonderful Christmas!

Royal Enfield Sports Combination

Here's one of the vintage motorcycles I would most like to have in my 'stable'. It's a 9.76hp Royal Enfield Model 182 Sports from 1927. This particular machine is fitted with the matching Royal Enfield sports sidecar, though the 182 was equally useful as a solo machine.

A great looking bike with its stacked silencers and 'pie crust' scalloped petrol tank. Very functional too with 8 inch brakes, light weight and a decent performing motor.

1927 Royal Enfield v twin Model 182 Sports.

Winter Bike Rallies 2019 / 2020 season

Winter rally season - It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Woefully late in getting the listing published this year, in fact a couple of events have already been and gone.. Just remember them for 2020.

As ever if you know of any events you can recommend that are not on the list just drop me a line, equally any mistakes happily corrected.  And if you attend any of these and feel like sending some snaps in for publishing, please do.

Quick disclaimer - all dates are probably correct, check for yourself to make sure. Most events will be ticket only. Winter riding and camping is very obviously not a walk in the park, make sure man or woman and machine are well prepared for all eventualities.

Winter Rally. 8 to 10 November 2019. Gower Peninsula, UK. Welsh Coast MCC

Icy Ale Rally. 6 to 8 December 2019. UK. Druids MCC.

Hivernal Les Millivaches. 13 to 15 December 2019. near Limoges, France.

Motoxeada, Concentradion Motorista Ivernal. 13 to 15 December 2019. Fonte da Cova, Spain.

Appenino Winter Treffen. 21 December 2019. Settempedana, Italy.

Force Ten Rally. 3 to 5 January 2020, Warwickshire, UK. Mayflower MCC.

Savalen Rally. 22 to 26 January 2020. Savalen Fjell Hotel, Savalen, Norway.

Pinguinos Rally. 9 to 12 January 2020. Valladolid, Spain.

Cinghios Treffen. 11 to 12 January 2020. Valdo, Italy.

Winter Bikers. 10 to 12 January 2020. Faenza, Italy.

Wintertreffen Augustusburg. 11  January 2020. Schloss Augustusburg, Augustusburg,Germany.

Agnellotreffen. 24 to 26 January 2020. Pontechianale, Italy.

Mad Cow Rally. 24 to 26 January 2020. Bury St Edmonds, UK. MAG.

Kickstart Rally, 24 to 26 January 2020. Cirencester. UK. Ogri MCC

Hot Rod Rally. 24 to 26 January 2020. Genemuiden, Holland.

Tauerntreffen. 23 to 26 January 2020. Austrian Alps.

Elefantentreffen / Elefant Rally. 31 January to 2 February 2020. Loh / Thurmansbang-Solla near Passau, Germany. The original Elefant Rally.

Fjord Rally. 4 to 7 February 2020. Jostedal Hotel, Jostedal, Norway.

Frozen Nuts Rally. 7 to 9 February 2020. Stoke-on-Trent, UK. Danger Mouse Rally Club. The last one apparently.

Dragon Rally. 8 & 9 February 2020, Wales. The British Elefant and a grand tradition. 

Krystall Rally. 6 to 9 February 2020, Oset Høyfjellshotell, Gol, Norway. Just because it is in a hotel don't think that this is an easy option. Temperatures this time of year can drop to minus 20 degrees.

Altes Elefantentreffen. 14 to 16 February 2020, Nurburgring, Germany. Confusingly the 'Old Elefant Rally' is in fact the upstart new Elefant Rally and held at the Nurburgring.

Primus Rally. 21 to 23 February 2020, Velmunden near Bjøneroa, Norway.

Oddballs Frozen Balls Up. 21 to 23 February 2020, Shropshire, England. Odballs MCC.

Primus Borealis Rally. Mid February. Just South of the North Cape, Norway. Not sure if this one is still running but it merits inclusion by nature of being the most extreme.

Also check out this listing by the Leicester Phoenix MCC for a few other options.

New, unused 1908 FN 4

New, unused 1908 FN.

Without doubt one of the most remarkable motorcycles I've ever seen for sale. A 1908 FN 4, never run, all original and excellently preserved. Apparently it was owned by the FN factory museum from new and sold to an employee in the 80s. It's not often that I think a motorcycle is better off in a museum, but please let this amazing artefact be preserved and on public display.

The FN is offered by HD-Classic in Belgium, more details here.

Saroléa brochure 1955

1955 Brochure for Belgian made Sarolea motorcycles. A very jolly piece of fifties advertising art. Sarolea were one of the earliest motorcycle manufacturers: having started bicycle production in 1892, they began to sell motor bicycles in the early 1900s.

A brand largely unknown in Britain Sarolea had a stab at selling in the UK in the mid fifties, as this brochure attests to. It wasn't the first time Saroleas had been offered in Britain though, as from 1902 to 1906 they were imported by the London Rubber Company of Shoreditch and sold under the Kerry brand. The British connection continued in the twenties as Sarolea fitted several British components to their machines such as AMAC carbs and Sturmey Archer gearboxes.

The 1955 range was quite broad and I have to admit that I was not aware of most of the models previously. As seen from all the crosses in the brochure only a limited range was imported to the UK. The Atlantic is rather gorgeous and a great European take on the British parallel twin theme. I'm also drawn to the scooters, I've a soft spot for Moto Rumis and the Sarolea offering is a Rumi made under license.

The Sarolea marque has been revived recently and offers one of the nicest electric motorcycles there is out there, but with a very high price tag to match.

Sarolea brochure front cover.

Sarolea brochure page 1.

Sarolea brochure page 2.

Sarolea brochure page 3.

Sarolea brochure page 4.

Sarolea brochure page 5.

Sarolea brochure page 6.

Sarolea brochure page 7.

Sarolea brochure page 8.

Sarolea brochure page 9.

Sarolea brochure page 10.

Sarolea brochure page 11.

Sarolea brochure page 12.

Sarolea brochure page 13.

Sarolea brochure page 14.

Sarolea brochure rear cover.