Well, I Didn't See Him.
Tarka that is: I suspect he flounced because Bay Watch Brogan was chosen as the lead rider this year and I couldn't find a Ural Combo anywhere.
There was lots of other stuff about though:
K2924, in the background, was ridden to the start line by this fine chap:
It's not the real Michael Winner but he has owned the bike for over 30 years and tells me it was built in 1914 (I think that's what he said), and he also owns two Brough's, as well as AJS's, BSA's, etc, in fact a fleet of bikes with a waiting list of those who wish to ride them.
This arrived quite late for the 11:00am start but managed to push-in to the front, and rightly so:
Again it was piloted by a salty old geezer wearing his Dad's clothes.
There was lots of classic bikes on show. I suspect most of these are only run a couple of times a year to preserve their original equipment although I suspect the exhaust system on this one has been replaced:
The Triumph gang stayed together and seemed to keep themselves to themselves
:
All era was catered for and the yellow one is what made me want a motorcycle:
I don't know what this is but I wish it had been my learner bike. A KMX125 was okay but this is a racers' learner bike for sure:
When I was a lad, my mates big brother spent the best part of a year in a wheelchair because of one of these:
These are just two examples of the many airhead boxers I spotted but I don't know what the black one is:
Speaking of Boxers, obviously there were several examples of synchronised parking and riding of GS's...unfortunately I ruined the riding pictures by not paying attention to camera settings. They were adjusted by operating with gloved hands.
And finally a 1200 rider standing on his pegs
Overall it was a good ride out, and the curry and chips at Clatterbridge Hospital was worth the effort of 20 miles in 2nd gear, mostly, and of course the donations made for some children, and adults, with greater needs than ours. It felt like I hadn't been with as many motorcyles in one place since Foggy was doing the business in WSB at Brands Hatch in the 90's.
. I met riders from as far away as Warrington...and that's saying something about the UK's rights of freedom laws.
