Bicycle gang

This motley bunch of lads are all on identical cycles. I would take a guess that they are hire bikes and they are on holiday. Going wild for a week at Butlins perhaps?

Bicycle bingo back in the fifties.

Out and about on the AG bike

A rare day free of rain and it seemed like a good opportunity to give the Yamaha AG its first outing since the Exeter Trial. The going was wet and a few 'water splashes' threatened to swallow the bike but overall very refreshing for bike and rider to get some exercise!

First lane I planned to hit was Pimperne Down.
On arrival I was greeted by this. Tree trunk, big
gate and no explanation. I got my phone out to try
and check if this was legitimate or not and couldn't
find out so headed to the other end of the lane to discover
that it has recently been converted to a restricted byway.
This however doesn't excuse completely blocking it
up in this way. Just another example of lack of funds
and will to keep ancient rights of way open combined
with landowners trying to keep the peasants of what they
think is their land...

At Wyn Green overlooking the Vale of Wardour. Thankfully
this beautiful lane along the Dorset Ridgeway is still open .

Very deep water holes that I had to negotiate my way around.

The pond at Tollard Royal.

Vintage, Veteran and Classic Motorcycle Events in Europe 2020

_______________________

Update: obviously a massive hammer has come down on many of these events so more than ever check what's running where and what's not for yourself via the links. Most likely at time of writing this update the best use for this year's events list is as planning to make the most of 2021.
____________________________________

The 2020 listings. Hopefully this inspires a few folks to get out and put some serious miles on their old clunkers. Myself, I'm hoping to get out to Santander for the MC Piston event in September and to also ride out to something in May or July. Chimay again perhaps...

The original reason behind this listing was that I and several other good friends take enjoyment in riding our old nails to events abroad at least once a year: as we already did the research in to what was going on it seemed a good idea to share the knowledge and save others having to do the same. Most of the events below are those I have been to or have secondhand knowledge of. This year I hope to make it to at least one, perhaps two. As ever the listing is heavy on events in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy and very lacking in ones in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Scandinavia. If you can help me rectify that error with events to add to the list then please get in touch. 

There's the usual caveat that only a rash fool would use this page as the sole information source before heading off into the sunset. Check details for yourself, dates change, events get cancelled.  

Get out there and enjoy, don't be scared to take something old on a long trip, they were made for it, breakdown cover is a cheap and wonderful thing and there's a great joy to be had riding with friends on machines you've put together yourselves.

5 to 9 February 2020: Salon Retromobile, Paris, France.
- A sumptuous display of exotic two and four wheelers.

8 and 9 February 2020: Moto Retro Wieze, Wieze, Belgium.
- Billed as Belgium's biggest old bike autojumble.

15 and 16 February 2020: Retro Auto Moto Galicia, Vigo, Spain.
- Car and bike show in Northern Spain 

7 and 8 March 2020: Old Time Show, Forli, Italy.
- Mixed car and bike show.

7 and 8 March 2020: Salon de Reims, Reims, France.
- Mixed car and bike show.

13 to 15 March 2020: Auto Moto Retro, Dijon, France.
- Mixed car and bike show.

25 to 29 March 2020: Techno Classica Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Large car and bike show.

27 to 29 March 2020: Retro Motor Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Good excuse for a trip to Barcelona.

3 to 5 April 2020: Veterama, Hockenheim, Germany.
- Very big autojumble.

19 April 2020: Circuito di S.Pietro in Trento, S Pietro in Trento, Italy.
- Pre 1930 motorcycle event.

19 April 2020: Horsepower Run, Veenhuisen, Holland.
- Dutch equivalent of the Pioneer Run.

26 April 2020: Ventoux Classic, Mont Ventoux, France.
- Classic and vintage motorcycles racing up Mont Ventoux. What more could you want?

1 to 3 May 2020: John Bull Rally, Belgium.
- Organised by the BSA Owners Club Belgium but open to all old British bikes. Gets great reviews.

8 to 10 May 2020: ASI motoshow, Parma, Italy.
- Popular track based Italian show.

14 to 17 May 2020: IVVMCC Slievenamon pre-31 Rally. Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
- Gets very good reports.

15 to 17 May 2020: Tour du Calvados, Normandy, France.

17 to 23 May 2020: Motogiro D'Italia, Italy.
- Hooning around Italy on small bikes! Touring event for big cc lovers too. Finishing the near 1000 mile course on a pre-57 sub 175cc is quite an achievement. 

21 to 24 May 2020: Oostblocktreffen, Friesland, Netherlands.
- Eastern Bloc bike rally.

22 May 2020: Boulogne Bicycle Rally, Boulogne, France.
- A leisurely and tipple fuelled trundle around the former Boulogne Grand Prix Circuit. There's no official website, the whole event is informal. There are vintage cycle happenings in Boulogne the whole bank holiday weekend. A good account of it and some tips here.

22 and 23 May 2020: Antique Motorcycle Club of America Europe International Meet, Raalte, Netherlands.
- Held at the American Motorcycle Museum.

24 to 26 May 2020: Paris Dunkerque Rally, France.
- An event for adventure bike types rather than classics but no reason not to take your old nail along. Non-competitive and looks like fun.

28 to 24 May 2020: International FIVA Rally, Athens, Greece.
- Annual roving rally.

29 May to 1 June 2020: Tour de Bretagne, Bretagne, France.
- Large gathering of old vehicles in Brittany. Several days of routes through the local countryside.

29 May to 1 June 2020: Ibbenbürener Veteranen Rallye, Ibbenbürener, Germany.
- Large riding event for pre-1939 machines.

30 and 31 May 2020: Coupes Moto Legende, Dijon, France.
- All old bike enthusiasts should visit at least once.

4 to 7 June 2020: Vuelta a Cantabria, Cantabria Spain.
- MC Piston organised. Sure to be a fine event.

7 June 2020: Rando Cyclo, Sars Poteries, France.
- Event for those who favour fewer horsepower. Looks great, search it yourself online, there are no details currently posted though the date should be correct. There's an account of the 2015 event here.

6 & 7 June 2020: Festival of Slowth 8, Burgandy, France.
- From the good folks that brought you the biennial Vintage Revival at Montlhery. This is what they do on the Montlhery off years, the Slowth is a biennial event for early and underpowered machinery held in the grounds of a beautiful chateau. Entry is by invite (though you can get in touch to check the suitability of your machinery and check out possibilities) and it is an entrant only event (ie no spectators).

10 to 14 June 2020: Wheels and Waves, Biarritz, France.
- New wave custom and classic event. Fully corporate and sponsored to the hilt, never been but several mates have and it gets great reports.

13 June 2020: VFV Niedersachsen Pioneer Run, Niedersachsen, Germany.
- Pre 1914 event. No web details available yet. Contact details on the events page of the VMC site.

14 June 2020: Antique Motorcycle Run, Laarne Castle, Belgium.
- Very promising looking pre-1940 run.

19 to 21 June 2020: Grand Prix de Tours, Tours, France.
- Glamorous vintage car parade held around the scenic city of Tours.

20 and 21 June 2020: Cafe Racer Festival: Montlhery, France.
- Popular does what it says on the tin bike event at the fantastic Montlhery circuit near Paris.

21 June 2020: International Rallye / Fete de la moto a Luc Sur Mer

27 and 28 June 2020: Grand Prix Historique de Bressuire: Bressuire, France

3 to 5 July 2020: Track Race Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
- Vintage board track style racing. The link goes to the event flyer hosted on the American Cycles blog.

3 to 5 July 2020: BMW Motorrad Days, Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.
- Huge corporate Beemer fest. 

3 to 5 July 2020: Biker's Classics, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
- Racing for more recent classics.

5 to 11 July 2020: Milano-Taranto, Italy
- Like the Moto G but lower key and possibly more hardcore.

12 July 2020: Stella Alpina Rally, Bardonecchia, Italy.
- Ride up a mountain with fellow enthusiasts.

17 to 19 July 2020: Windmill Rally, Hobro, Denmark.
- Biennial International Rally for pre-1940 machines run as a regularity trial.

17 to 20 July 2020: Classic Bikes Chimay, Chimay, Belgium.
- Belgian vintage street racing. I went along a few of years ago. Great fun, proper street racing, Belgian beer. Close to the town. Camp at the circuit for the full experience.

25 and 26 July 2020: Grand Prix Retro au Puy Notre Dame, Puy Notre Dame, France.
- Sounds superb, gets great reports. Hope I can make it along this year or next.

31 July to 2 August 2020: Schloss Dyck Classic Days, Jüchen, Germany.
- The German equivalent of the Goodwood Revival.

1 and 2 August 2020: Kaiserseitausfahrt, Munich, Germany.
- Pre-1918 motorcycle run based around a Munich beer garden. Sounds excellent!

8 and 9 August 2020: Journées Coyote: Nogaro Circuit, France.
- Weekend track event. Looks like mostly more recent classics.

15 August 2020: Oldtimerdag Ruinerwold, Ruinerwold, Netherlands.
- Old vehicles take over Dutch town.

20 to 23 August 2020: Irish National Rally, Munster, Ireland.
- Perenially popular jaunt through Irish countryside. Dates tbc.

21 to 23 August 2020: Belgian Classic TT, Gedinne, Belgium.
- Belgian road racing.

22 August 2020: Rømø Motor Festival, Fanø Island, Denmark.
- Historic beach speed racing, car and bike.

22 and 23 August 2020: Oude Klepper Parade, De Haan, Holland.
- Pre-21 motorcycle parade. Dates tbc

29 and 30 August 2020: International Hengelo Rally, Hengelo, Holland.
- Large pre-41 bike rally.

4 to 6 September 2020: Glemseck 101, Glemseck, nr Stuttgart, Germany.

- New wave customs and cafe-racers, corporate sponsorship and hipster drag racing.

4 to 6 September 2020: Imola Mostra Scambio, Imola, Italy.
- Huge Italian autojumble.

5 and 6 September 2020: International Rally Sweden Skåne Rund, Sweden.
- 500km touring event for pre-1946 bikes. Looks great.

11 and 12 September 2020: Hindenburg Dirt Track Races, Lubbenau, Germany.
- American flavoured two and four wheeled retro dirt tack racing. Looks fantastic.

11 to 13 September 2020: Moto Guzzi Open House, Mandello del Lario, Italy.
- The Guzzi factory opens its doors for the weekend and thousands of Guzzisti descend. Can't find a web link at time of writing but this is the publicised weekend.

12 September 2020: Bielefeld Trackracer Treffen, Bielefeld, Germany.
- Vintage board track style racing. The link goes to the event flyer hosted on the American Cycles blog.

11 to 13 September 2020: Trophees Gerard Jumeaux, Circuit Carole, North of Paris, France.
- Classic racing French style.

13 September 2020: Veteranentreffen Oostende, Oostende, Belgium.

13 September 2020: Oldtimerrit Gullegem, Gullegem, Belgium. Date tbc

18 to 20 September 2020: Circuit des Ramparts d'Angouleme, Angouleme, France.
- Glamorous vintage cars racing around medieval town.

18 to 20 September 2020: Bol D'Or Classic, Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France.

- Good if classic endurance racing is your bag.

19 September 2020: Nationaal Veteraan Treffen, Woerden, Holland

- large and longstanding gathering for all old two wheelers.

20 to 27 September 2020: International Piston Rally, Santander, Spain.
- I've had the pleasure of riding this event a couple of times. Brilliant. The MC Piston lads put on a great, friendly and efficiently run event. Not only that but it is fantastic value. If you like to use your old bike this is an event you will definitely enjoy.

25 to 27 September 2020: Normandy Beach Races, Caen, France.
- Fantastic looking beach drag racing for pre-47 cars and bikes. Dates tbc.

27 September 2020: Montée historique Maurice Violland, Coligny, France.
- Promising looking historic hill climb.

3 October 2020: Motorrad-Klassikertreffen, Technik Museum Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Germany.

4 to 11 October 2020: Rally de Colombres, Colombres, Spain.
- This is what the MC Piston event started out as. MC Piston moved the rally to Santander and some guys formed a club called Moto Club Indianos and carried on running it as it was.

9 to 11 October 2020: Veterama, Mannheim, Germany.

- Huge autojumble.

17 and 18 October 2020: Franz Josefs Fahrt, Bad Ischl, Germany. Dates tbc
- Large pre-1929 run.

18 October 2020: Moto Retro Leuven, Leuven, Holland. Date tbc
- One day bike jumble. 

22 to 25 October 2020: Auto Moto d'Epoca, Padova, Italy.

24 and 25 October 2020: Reims Retro Pieces, Reims, France. Dates tbc
- Mixed car and bike show.

20 to 22 November 2020: Salon Moto Legende, Paris, France.
- French show. The dates are provisional. No exact dates available at time of writing.

Finally, other useful listings: 
- The Dutch Veteraan Motoren Club has a good listing with some extra small scale local events too which may be work checking out.
- The Solexia site has a very comprehensive listing of French events, for all machines, not just Velosolexes.
- The Motards Montmorrillonnais site also has a long listing of French events.
- For Italian events (car and bike are listed) check the ASI site.
- Belgian events at the Oldtimerweb events page.
- The Scandinavian Vincent Club has events listings covering Scandinavia.

The family Beesa

It's a late thirties B series model. Not sure of the exact identification. Note the soap box cart on the left.

Everyone loves a Beesa.

Panel tank Norton Model 18

'Your loving Les' is astride a Norton Model 18. I'm not exactly sure of the year of the bike but it sports the rare instrument panel tank which, I believe, was an option. The handlebar levers are of the inverted type which would date it to very early thirties. An interesting accessory is the pneumatic air bag type strap on pillion saddle (made by Camden?).

Old time riding gear intrigues me and this chap's outfit is no different. He has a very cosy looking storm coat and a great pair of gauntlets but on the bottom half regular slacks and shoes. Riding my old nails I usually find that a good pair of boots is one of my most important bits of riding kit, if only to keep the oil splashes away from the rest of my clothes. Was it any different back in the day? Of course the bike was newer but it still had open valves and leaky pushrod tubes..

Lovely early thirties Norton Model 18.

Velocette Venom vinyl petrol tank cover

Well farkled '55 Velocette Venom.

I've got a bit of a thing for period correct farkles and my '55 Venom has been the recipient of several. The latest of which is this petrol tank cover. The need to farkle is an enduring one for the motorcyclist as tank covers remain popular accessories, though modern ones such as the Baglux are infinitely more useful with their capacity to clip on a useful tank bag. The fifties version has rather less utility, it's purpose is really as a tank protector though they  are derided by many as a moisture collector that can rot your precious tank away.

The Velo tank is greased underneath the new cover so rot shouldn't be much of a problem, even if it is the bike currently runs with an Indian repro tank so it's not a big loss either way. Personally I like the look of the cover and it adds a touch of authenticity and individuality.

I'm not sure who the maker of these tank covers was, at one time they were fairly frequently found and produced for most makes and models. Midland is my guess for the brand though if there are any old timers reading who can remember them from new please do let me know.

The Velo is a bit more understated with its new tank cover.

The cover required a bit of remedial work before fitting.
The straps were missing and needed to be replaced with stitched
on black cotton tape and buckles.

The Midland map case is another period accessory and,
frankly, equally as useless as the tank cover!

Rocker's Thunderbird

A cracking photo courtesy of James Kelly. So many neat details in the photo. The bike is a pre-unit Triumph 6T Thunderbird and customised in a very period evocative way - whitewall tyres, leopard print seat and chromed headlamp peak. All we know about the photo is the chap aboard the Triumph goes by the name of 'Gray Bailey', his outfit is of a level of awesomeness to match his bike: drainpipes, turn ups, snazzy socks, pointed toe loafers and, hard to say from the photo, but that could well be a velvet jacket.

And compare our chap Gray and his Triumph to the background. The bike is a colourful ton up flying machine, he is a snappy dresser. In the background are dull fifties steel box cars merely capable of wheezing along at 40mph whilst the Triumph flies past them and their dull grey occupants. Post war fifties optimism and youth culture in one crinkled old snap.

Gray Bailey and his Triumph Thunderbird.
By the way the numberplate is a
Portsmouth one and the location may
well be Bournemouth.