The Scottish Classic M/C Club Autumn Gathering at St. Fillans on 22nd September 2013
I wrote this for the Ariel Owners Club Forum - But it may be of interest here.
I've put it in the 'Classic' Section rather than the 'events' as its primarily a 'Classic' event.
The Scottish Classic Motorcycle Club holds an annual event at the Achray House Hotel, St. Fillans in September. This is the final event of the year, designed to tempt Classic bikes out before the winter road salt is spread. The SCMCC view of a ‘Classic’ is any bike of 15 years or older – so it attracts a wide clientele.
It usually attracts a good turnout, which can include everything from original, unrestored machines from the 1930s to the latest Ducatis; this year was no exception.
I decided to take my 1958 Ariel ‘VH’ rather than my 1988 BMW R100GS. It’s a 122 mile round trip for me which is an easy day out on the Ariel.
I have put 112 pictures on ‘Photobucket’ and I’ll post the link at the end of this missive. This will be just a taster rather than the full gallery. If you are keen to look at Ariels you will be disappointed – mine was the only one there.
The Achray House Hotel is situated on the A85, West of Crieff at the Eastern end of Loch Earn. It is in a very picturesque setting:
The club had laid on tea & coffee with rolls with bacon or Lorne Sausage (that’s a square slab of deep-fried sausage meat for you non-Scots !). They did a roaring trade . . If you can spot anyone under 65 you’ll be doing well (I’m no exception). What’s going to happen to Classic Bikes when we’ve all died out ??
I’ll start with the lone representative of the Iron Horse stud. I had a good run up and back with only an intermittent mis-fire to mar things. It cleared on the way home thankfully. These things sure ‘bark’ don’t they – I’m sure I was waking up everything for miles around. It must be like riding a Ducati.
I had to pass a group of horses & riders at Rumbling Bridge . . now, we have two horses so I know about not spooking them, so, motor on retard and slink past in a high gear. I think the Motorhome driver behind was wondering what I was doing.
65mph on the M90 heading for the Forth Road Bridge, with my left thumb jamming the advance/retard to full advance, felt heroic – pity I was being passed by everything else.
There were loads of Nortons of all shapes & sizes (also Triumphs & Beezers). Commandos seem very popular . .
Moving on – there were too many Triumphs to shake a stick at; but here’s most of them:
And, finally (for Triumphs), I think this is GORGEOUS!
I suppose I’d better cover the BSAs before moving on to the rarer models:
SCMCC Treasurer, John Shabashow, was there on his A10:
And now for Ducatis, Something I fancy but have never ridden.
I guess this is the equivalent of a “Showman’s Engine” in steam circles:
Why do I keep hankering after a ‘Multistrada’ ??? it would be quite impractical for me but there’s just something about them . . . .
Harleys anyone ???
Velocettes were well represented:
There was a solitary, modified, Sunbeam S8:
And a solitary AJS model 16 – 350cc:
Some interesting Moto Guzzis:
I was wondering why the Falcone’s toolbox was camouflaged . . Closer inspection revealed . . . .
This is the first time I’ve seen a Honda DN-01 in the flesh, interesting, I think it has the 650cc ‘V-twin’ from the Deauville (but I may be wrong):
There was a very nice Indian there. I’m afraid I don’t have any details as to year or model. A fine restoration job though:
Naturally there were Beemers by the bucket-load!
And finally – keeping the best for last – how about an unrestored 1939 350cc New Imperial ?? It doesn’t appear to have had even an oily rag applied (and neither has the owner!):
Well, I got a bit carried away there, it’s a dull, damp Sunday afternoon and I should be renovating an old and very tatty pair of Craven Panniers I just bought – or re-building the front suspension on my Toyota Landcruiser after a lower balljoint gave way whilst I was towing two large horses ! but I thought I’d entertain you instead.
There are some more pics on my Photobucket public account here if anyone wants to log-in and view them:
http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Be...2&page=1&_suid=138107603959307910999945261479
Winter arrives early in Scotland so I doubt there’ll be more classic events to photograph this year. Roll-on next season.
Comments always welcome.
Bob.
I wrote this for the Ariel Owners Club Forum - But it may be of interest here.
I've put it in the 'Classic' Section rather than the 'events' as its primarily a 'Classic' event.
The Scottish Classic Motorcycle Club holds an annual event at the Achray House Hotel, St. Fillans in September. This is the final event of the year, designed to tempt Classic bikes out before the winter road salt is spread. The SCMCC view of a ‘Classic’ is any bike of 15 years or older – so it attracts a wide clientele.
It usually attracts a good turnout, which can include everything from original, unrestored machines from the 1930s to the latest Ducatis; this year was no exception.
I decided to take my 1958 Ariel ‘VH’ rather than my 1988 BMW R100GS. It’s a 122 mile round trip for me which is an easy day out on the Ariel.
I have put 112 pictures on ‘Photobucket’ and I’ll post the link at the end of this missive. This will be just a taster rather than the full gallery. If you are keen to look at Ariels you will be disappointed – mine was the only one there.
The Achray House Hotel is situated on the A85, West of Crieff at the Eastern end of Loch Earn. It is in a very picturesque setting:
The club had laid on tea & coffee with rolls with bacon or Lorne Sausage (that’s a square slab of deep-fried sausage meat for you non-Scots !). They did a roaring trade . . If you can spot anyone under 65 you’ll be doing well (I’m no exception). What’s going to happen to Classic Bikes when we’ve all died out ??
I’ll start with the lone representative of the Iron Horse stud. I had a good run up and back with only an intermittent mis-fire to mar things. It cleared on the way home thankfully. These things sure ‘bark’ don’t they – I’m sure I was waking up everything for miles around. It must be like riding a Ducati.
I had to pass a group of horses & riders at Rumbling Bridge . . now, we have two horses so I know about not spooking them, so, motor on retard and slink past in a high gear. I think the Motorhome driver behind was wondering what I was doing.
65mph on the M90 heading for the Forth Road Bridge, with my left thumb jamming the advance/retard to full advance, felt heroic – pity I was being passed by everything else.
There were loads of Nortons of all shapes & sizes (also Triumphs & Beezers). Commandos seem very popular . .
Moving on – there were too many Triumphs to shake a stick at; but here’s most of them:
And, finally (for Triumphs), I think this is GORGEOUS!
I suppose I’d better cover the BSAs before moving on to the rarer models:
SCMCC Treasurer, John Shabashow, was there on his A10:
And now for Ducatis, Something I fancy but have never ridden.
I guess this is the equivalent of a “Showman’s Engine” in steam circles:
Why do I keep hankering after a ‘Multistrada’ ??? it would be quite impractical for me but there’s just something about them . . . .
Harleys anyone ???
Velocettes were well represented:
There was a solitary, modified, Sunbeam S8:
And a solitary AJS model 16 – 350cc:
Some interesting Moto Guzzis:
I was wondering why the Falcone’s toolbox was camouflaged . . Closer inspection revealed . . . .
This is the first time I’ve seen a Honda DN-01 in the flesh, interesting, I think it has the 650cc ‘V-twin’ from the Deauville (but I may be wrong):
There was a very nice Indian there. I’m afraid I don’t have any details as to year or model. A fine restoration job though:
Naturally there were Beemers by the bucket-load!
And finally – keeping the best for last – how about an unrestored 1939 350cc New Imperial ?? It doesn’t appear to have had even an oily rag applied (and neither has the owner!):
Well, I got a bit carried away there, it’s a dull, damp Sunday afternoon and I should be renovating an old and very tatty pair of Craven Panniers I just bought – or re-building the front suspension on my Toyota Landcruiser after a lower balljoint gave way whilst I was towing two large horses ! but I thought I’d entertain you instead.
There are some more pics on my Photobucket public account here if anyone wants to log-in and view them:
http://s227.photobucket.com/user/Be...2&page=1&_suid=138107603959307910999945261479
Winter arrives early in Scotland so I doubt there’ll be more classic events to photograph this year. Roll-on next season.
Comments always welcome.
Bob.
!
. 
