Long Weekend Up North Part 1

Last Friday a few of us headed North for a long weekend. We met up near Perth at my mates house. Seeing as the weather was good we took route A, B being the direct route(A9) to Inverness and the road to Ullapool. Heading west we were soon at Lochearnhead, then on to the road north past Crianlarich and Tyndrum. The first stop we had was in the lay by over looking Loch Tulla, streched our legs and a few pics (below)

The good weather seemed to get even better as we entered Glencoe, one of the few times I've been there and the suns out, the views were fantastic!

Just a few miles down the road we stopped at Glencoe Village for a bite to eat.. we had our own picnic with us

Back on to the A82, and soon we passed through Fort William. Just at the junction for the Mallaig road I noticed the Nevis Distillery (one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland), although we weren't stopping in this time, I do remember a very wet Saturday afternoon spent there with the Z1oc guys, well we had to go in to get out of the rain!

Photo from the Z1oc visit (08)

One thing I noticed, for this time of year, was the traffic it was certainly not as busy as expected and moving along at a descent pace. The only hold up was at Fort Augustus, just as we arrived the swing bridge had just started to open to allow a couple of boat from the Caledonian canal side in to Loch Ness. Everyone that had stop got out/ off their vehicals and went for look at the boats going through.

We turned off the A82 at Drumnadrochit to get onto the A883 for Beauly, just as we turned off we notice Nessie looking over a fence at Loch Ness Lodge Hotel, so it was a quick photo then off again.

The road to Beauly was used to miss out a trip through Inverness and also to give us some great scenery. In no time we were on the main A835 and a fuel stop at Garve, plus too many choc bars!! Our B&B for the next few nights was only ten minutes (or was it less ;-)) up the road at the Aultguish Inn, which is at the south end of Loch Glascarnoch.
Got say this is one place they look after you, and the food is first class. If your ever up this way they have B&B rooms, a Bunk House and is a good base to see this part of the World....

the first view of the Inn heading north, the Dam is about a mile back from it!!

Moto Melee 2011

In May I put up a post about the Moto Melee, a three day on the road event. It was held on June 25-27. I asked Stacie B London of the ESMB (East Side Moto Babes), who along with some friends took part in the event, about using some of their pics. Heres some pics from the ESMB site, thanks for letting me use them.

Ezra and her CB450, Stacie with her BMW R60

CRMC at Knockhill

The CRMC were at Knockhill race circuit on June 4th and 5th for their 5th round. I had heard from a few friends about how much they had enjoyed the meeting the year before, so I thought I'd go up for a few hours on the Saturday. I arrived just before 10am to a dry but overcast Knockhill, for those that don't know his place it has a weather system all of its own, the sun could be out a few miles down the the road, but when you get to the track it could be wet and windy (usually is!!!).
A not so quick look round the pit area, with so many interesting machines to view, people to talk to the time flew in.

I love the look of the Tri/ BSA triples

P&M Kawas :-)

Main reason to be there was to watch the racing so I headed down to the hairpin. No sooner than I got there I spotted two people in the distance jumping up and down, it was none other than Bill and Kat, whos tales of last year had lured me here today.
An hour or so of watching some great racing was followed by a bite to eat then a look at the pits again. Its good being able to have a close up look at the bikes and talk to the owners/ riders, so different from the "modern" race meetings.

Just doing a quick crankshaft change in a Suzuki 200T

The afternoons racing went well, with only a few "offs" and nothing serious.

Watching the sidecar nutters was one of the days highlights, these guys were putting 110% into it, the race at the front between the BMW and NRE was fantastic, I never knew an old BMW twin could go so quick.

No7 is the NRE Triumph and No8 the BMW

The plan to head home at five ended up streching out till eight... and the one day visit turned into two as I head up the next day for another Classic Racing fix.

Talking to few of my mates about the weekend I think there might be a few more of us up there next year... even plans of a few bikes going ouy on the parade laps... more of that later

Best pic of the weekend, get them started young, working on Dads Ducati !

click title to see a few more (lots) pics

Kempton Park

The Redmax Norton


Kev from Backstreet Thunder has been out and about with his camers again, this time at Kempton Park, click on title to take you to his site and a link to his photos

Moto Melee 2011

There seems to an increasing amount of events around the World that I've never heard of, so now and again I'll post a bit about the ones I think are interesting.
Belows a bit on the history of the event that I copied from their site, link in the title. its worth looking around in the photo section

So what exactly is this "Moto Melee?"

"Well, it's three-days & ~850 miles of back-roads adventure for pre-1971 motorcycles with a START/FINISH in San Francisco. Established in 1998 by enthusiasts Jeff Guzaitis and Harley Welch, the Moto Melee was the natural progression from their wildly successful California Melee classic sports car rally.

On the Melee you'll get the opportunity to dodge suicidal squirrels, splash through stagnant water, stay at a seedy motel, possibly run out of gas and maybe... just maybe win a recycled trophy and the sweet taste of Melee fame.

What's that you say? You ride your old bike but are ashamed of its shabby appearance. Maybe it has 3 different shades of primer, or pipes that are made out of old coffee cans? Hey... we understand, a lot of us ride those too. We welcome everything from the pedigreed to the proletariat, a wide diversity of machinery is represented at the Moto Melee. So dust off that Indian bobber, put new tires on that Heinkel scooter or slap a Yamaha tank on that Zundapp, what ever it takes to have your machine ready for the ride. Just be there, because the Moto Melee is only ONCE a year, and if you miss it you have 362 days of waiting until we ride again!

Stop being a spectator... saddle up and BE THERE. The only requirements are a good attitude and of course any pre-1971 motorbike. Entry is limited and priority is always given to early entries and unusual bikes. So contact us and together we'll RIDE!"

Fleet Lions

Just seen Kevs latest post on his Blog, Backstreet Thunder, about his day out on the Fleet Lions Charity Run. He has posted a link to photos he took on the day, well worth a look at! Click title as usual for link.

VINTAGE REVIVAL MONTLHERY

I was just looking at some blogs I follow and noticed on the excellent Vintagent site (click on title) there is the start of a report on this years event, which is taking place now (May 7-8) at the famous Linas-Montlhéry circuit. "On the track will be 250 pre-1940 vehicles (sports and racing cars and motorcycles, cyclecars and three-wheelers), while in a vintage car and bike park there will be a similar number of pre-1940 vehicles on display. Come and join us for a trip into history, whether on the circuit, in the vintage park or simply as a spectator."

A bit about the background of the event from the offical site.

"The circuit and its surroundings are an outstanding monument to French motor sport. The "Vintage Revival" Association was created by Vincent Chamon (a vintage enthusiast) and Laurent Poulain (a lover of the circuit) who had realised with sadness that the calendar of events at Montlhéry did not include anything which was purely pre-war. 2011 was selected for the initial event in agreement with our Honorary President, Mrs Jacqueline Potherat, being ten years after the death of her husband, who was such a friend to us all. The "Vintage Revival" Association will bring together enthusiasts and clubs with their cars for a private weekend, embracing vintage runs on the circuit, period clothing and even demonstrations on the track by vintage bicycles behind pacemaker motorcycles."

http://www.vintage-revival.fr/index.php5?page=accueil&lang=en

Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza 2011

I hadn't heard of Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza show before, its held just outside Melbourne (Australia) over the easter weekend. I only came across it will looking throught the ADVriders site and spotted a post about it. It's not just a static Classic bike show, it has bikes running on the Motocross, Speedway and Road track.
I'd like to thank Richard for letting me use his photos, cheers











Click on title to go to slide show

Motorcycling Australia site
http://www.ma.org.au/index.php?id=1560

Kawa Day at the Ace

This was one event I didn't want to miss this year, but sods law popped up and I couldn't make it. Theres a few pics from Sunday that Karen and Steve from the Z1oc took and let me post, thanks

Race Retro 2011

I got this email from the ACE Cafe, you can too if you sign up with them, and it sounds like an interesting event, covering Classic cars and Motorcycles.
Wouldn't mind going myself but theres bikes to get ready for the Scottish Bike Show in March...

Race Retro 2011 - Ace Cafe London & Coventry Transport Museum

The iconic Ace Cafe London returns to Race Retro 2011 with a bang when the three day historic motorsport event returns to Stoneleigh Park from 25-27 February as the sponsor of the new "Fire Up Paddock". Classic cafe and road racing bikes will be brought back to life giving visitors the opportunity to hear the motorcycles, as well as see them in all their glory, to include some unique Italian legends raced by esteemed guests such as Giacomo Agostini.


Joining the Ace stand in Hall 3 at Race Retro along with Mick Duckworth, author of the soon to be available seminal book "Ace Times", is Coventry Transport Museum. The two world famous transport attractions, are working together to produce an historic exhibition entitlted "Coming of Age at the Ace Cafe", telling the story of the Ace and the era, opening at the Coventry Transport Museum on Friday 3rd June and running to Sunday 3rd October 2011. More info clive.skelhon@transport-museum.co.uk

Included in the line up of machines on the Ace stand is the Ace 904S Thruxton Special, built by T3 Racing in conjunction with Ace Cafe London's Stonebridge Motor Company. This stunning bike brings together the timeless lines of the classic British motorcycle with state-of-the-art hi-tech and modern high performance.

Ace Cafe London will also be choosing the Best Cafe Racer in the concours competition at Race Retro as well as awarding prizes for Best Mod Scooter and Best 'Rockers' Bike, with all the finalists on display on Ace Cafe London's Mods and Rockers themed stand.

To enter a bike in the Cafe Racer concours, contact David Alderson on tel: 07770 626 173 or by email at david@livepromotions.co.uk for more details and an entry form. To enter a Scooter or Rockers Bike in the Ace concours, contact Darren Williams at Ace Cafe London on Tel: 020 8961 1000 or email: Darren@acecafeevents.com

www.transport-museum.co.uk
www.raceretro.com (click title to go there)

Talmag trial 30th Jan 2011

The Talmag trial was held 30th Jan 2011 at Hungry Hill, Aldershot, Hampshire.
Its held for pre 65 4 stroke bikes and sidecar outfits
The Trial is held on MOD land and there are usually 15 section marked out, which are run twice giving 30 section through out the day.
I'd like to thank Kev for letting me use his video, cheers mate

Kevs sites
http://englandkev.wordpress.com/
http://backstreetthunder.wordpress.com/

Motogiro d'Italia 2011

"This year the event, June 6th-11th, will be departing from Bologna, the heart of the land of motors. The event will pass through Cinque Terre, Lunigiana, will stop in Livorno and then go onto Terre Senesi, Garfagnana to finish in Bologna. A riding trip through the provinces of Emilia, Liguria and Tuscany. Yet again Dream Engine2 offers a new itinerary that includes the legendary roads of Italian motor tradition, over five days, every day you can ride 250 kilometres of enjoyable route. Excellent food and comfortable hotels accompany form an integral part of the package. You can enter the event with little Italian vintage bikes, with foreign legendary bikes or follow the event with a modern bike (entry criteria are available on the website for motorcycles); in addition passengers are very welcome on modern bikes. Feel free to bring along your friends and family because a bus will take them along the route with a tailor made itinerary to discover a fantastic part of Italy."



Its one of those events that I think I'll have to enter at sometime, all the reports on it make it sound fantastic.
There are four classes run at the same time, but its the vintage class that appeals to me.
What better than riding a small, up to 175cc and pre 58, bike round some great Italian roads with like minded nutters. Click on the title to their web site