Stafford Classic Bike Show

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org 

Stafford Classic Motorcycle Show

27^th and 28^th April 2013.

Part one.

As usual a big event takes some planning even if you are only going to exhibit. Living in London I had two options, one to ride the bike there or trailer it.  I have to use my kit car as the other car has no towing facilities. I have a single bike trailer that I have not used for years so I needed to test everything out including a trial towing run. I was at the museum for my Monday stint and picked up the required mega-wad of fliers. The LE was running OK although it overheated and boiled after a few miles, a problem to be discussed when I meet up with the people from the LE owners club. Tuesday I checked the trailer over and put some fresh grease in the wheel bearings. Both were dry and felt just a little rough. Wednesday I had all the bits together, loaded the LE with Gita’s help and went for a test run. 

  
My strapping down was fine and the bike did not move. I went out in the evening to the West London Harley meeting at the Angel on the Uxbridge road Hayes End. This is when I discovered I had a problem with the Buell as I heard some clunking sounds from the rear end. This sounded ominously of bearing trouble. I would have to check that when I returned from Stafford. It rained during the evening and that didn’t put a damper on a good evening out with the lads. I gave a short talk about the museum and what we could do for the club and what the club could do for us. I have been invited back to tell people about the routes I have done on ROG’s runs. I was due to go out on a ROG’s run the next day but because of the noises I decided not to chance and spent the Thursday packing all the bits I thought I would need for car and bike and trailer. Friday we had a lazy morning, loaded the LE on the trailer and finally left for Stafford about mid-day. The run was slow with a head wind and a traffic jam at the end on the M6. Just before Oxford I saw the LE move a little on the trailer so I stopped at the services to check and found anew strap had broken, not a problem as it was the one that when over the bike and was only a safety measure. I carried a spare which was much heavier constructions and fitted that. We arrived at Stafford have got caught on the toll for an extra £4.50. I was miffed about that because there is no price to be warned of only trailers extra at the bottom of the sign that is easily missed.  Needless to say I didn’t go home that way. When we got to Stafford show ground they would not let Gita in because there was no second security strap for her and I had to pay another £26 for one. I am not impressed with Mortons’ profiteering but other than that the organisation, security and control were very good. Once in, I found the LE stand on foot leaving Gita stranded in the car for ages.

 The stand was on the balcony so I had to use the ramp at the other end of the building. On the way to the ramp I received some abuse from a car driver who thought I could reverse a trailer. I tried, made a “horlicks” of it and he finally reversed out of the way after I completely blocked the road. With the LE off the trailer I was hoping to ride it up the ramp but it refused to start so I had to push it. I managed to get it to the stand, then checked the plugs which looked a little dark and then it fired up. There were some select expressions used. But another guy I met on the way in said he had had the same problem. Must be something to do with Stafford. 

The stand was pretty much set up so we left them to it and went off to Rugeley to find our Travelodge and get something to eat. We found the Travelodge unloaded the car, hid the trailer behind a hedge and went to sample the delights of the high street to see what they had. I was slightly disappointed in that only 2 pubs had any real ale and only one did food. Eventually after strolling around avoiding the cold showers we found a pub that had some real ale. It was the Albion but no food was available. Not too much of a problem but we were starting to get a bit peckish when someone on a table near arrived with a bag of chips. The people on the table said it was OK but I thought I had better ask to be sure and we could go and get some food and eat it in the bar and that is what we did. We were even told which chip shop to use 5 doors down, but we had to clear up our own mess before leaving. It was the Albion fish and chip and pizza shop. They do kebabs as well. Back in the pub we shared a large cod and chips and along with a pint of Hobgoblin. It was the best fish and chips I had had for ages and something that I had never done before. Back to the Travelodge to sleep and get ready for tomorrow.

Drive It Day

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org 

Sunday April 21^st 2013

Back at the Museum for another Monday on the LE after another busy weekend. It started on Friday with the MoT for the LE. I had checked it over last Sunday, changing the oil, a rare occasion, for some Valvoline Racing SAE 0-60 which I have found really good for old engines. I also fitted a new battery. It was a cheapy that cooked itself from the word go with an initial charge of 6amp. I stopped the charging and then put it on a low level top up charge. It fizzed away far too much so I left it to settle over night. At a thought I checked the voltage and it only produced 8.3volts. It would never charge properly and was cooking itself. It was faulty! It still worked but the lights and horn were shadows of their former selves. I contacted M&P where I had bought the battery this morning and they said there was no warranty on it! They said “there was no warranty on any electrical goods now” I pointed out the error! The representative I spoke to would not give me a replacement battery. This has to go further. So after fitting the duff battery I headed off to Jack Lilys for the MoT. I arrive far too early and I take some time to talk to passing customers and hand out fliers.

 I have been there so many times promoting the museum they all know me and I feel part of their family. Some even want to know what I have been up to. I leave more fliers at the tea bar and head home missing the few spots of rain that fell as the LE boiled its way back to Hayes. Saturday was a shopping day and final checks of the car for Sundays’ Drive It Day. Up early with camera and fliers in hand we go to the starting point at Denby’s Vineyard near Dorking and meet up with old friends in the car park there. Its 10am and rows of Citroen are assembling, representatives from the Citroen Car Club, Traction Owners and 2CV. Gita does a little shopping and I leave fliers at the reception.

 They are happy to put them on display. We are off at 10:45 heading out on the A25 through Reigate and Godstone to Chartwell where we assemble again in rows at the National Trust car park. It was very busy, the nice weather seems to have brought everyone out and I would have preferred to have been on my bike to enjoy this Sunday sunshine. I have remembered our National Trust cards and we have avoided a long queue to get in. Today it is so busy we are given an entry time to view the house so we have enough time to have lunch in the cafeteria. Richard did offer to share his picnic with us as he had brought enough for a coach load. If the cafeteria had been full we would have been back! After lunch we walked around the grounds and back for our time slot for entry to the house. The house had been the home of Winston Churchill and viewing the collection of recent history I can remember some of it from my childhood. Churchill was an avid painter and after viewing some of his 500 paintings in the studio we were in need of a “nice cup of tea” at the cafeteria. I left some fliers with one of the staff who would have to check with someone first but thought it would be OK to display them. 

We headed home in a short convoy with Richard who has a 2CV around the M25 as the quickest route home. In all it had been a very pleasant day with friends and like minded people.

Meridian Chapter visit

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org 

Saturday 13^th April 2013

This week I made the effort to get out to Wycombe MAG, not only to hand out more £1 off Monday fliers but to keep contact with the guys there. This group is very active and their attitude and friendliness suits me and Gita. There are more women in that club! Gita has a cold so I head out on my own. It is damp and cold with a few spots of rain to add to experience. I have a great time and get to know another guy from West London Harleys who meet up each Wednesday at the Angel Hayes End. Another place to visit. I get home late and feel that my cold is returning and I am losing my voice. Wednesday we are out to the Black Horse pub at Greenford not to see the AJS and Matchless Club this time but for the live music. My Friday is disrupted, I have plans for DIY, a small walnut stained bookcase for the kitchen, when I get a call from John Braddick editor of the Wey Valley bike club magazine “Intercom” asking if I had any photos of me, my bike and Warrs HD at Mottingham for my article “Not a ROG’s run” where my day changes from a riding disaster to a successful warranty plea! My thanks to Sean for all him help in this. A couple of days earlier I had received an e-mail inviting me to meet the Chapter on Saturday lunch time with “Dogs for the Hogs”  So what better to do with a grey Saturday than to pay them a visit and get some photos at the same time. I am a bit slow on getting going this Saturday morning after completing the bookcase rubbing down and varnishing, I head off to Mottingham. I get there just after 1pm have a chat with a few people and leave a large wad of fliers as the Chapter is doing the Meridian run to Greenwich tomorrow. 

I talk too much and miss the “Dogs”. Just before I leave I meet a young lady at the service counter. She has passed her test just a week ago and now has a Sportster.  I take the opportunity to tell her about doing an advanced riding course and she is keen to improve her skills. I give her a Wey Valley flier more to enlighten than anything else. I have one of the sales staff take a photo of me and my bike just before I leave. 

 

I need some fuel for the Buell. I had done 30.3 miles on reserve and there was not much left in the tank. I fill up at the BP station just across the road from Warrs. 15.62L still about another 10 miles of riding left in the tank.  It is spitting with rain and before I get to the M25 I put my waterproof oversuit on as the rain is coming down harder. The trip home is through heavy rain and the M25 is a fog of spray. I make it home safely with only my gloves a little soggy. I have heated handlebar grips and these have kept my fingers warm and mostly dry. I have covered 132 miles on this outing and have the required photos for the article.

Wey Valley Bike Club Run

www.london-motorcycle-museum.org 

Bike Club Run to the London Motorcycle Museum

Monday 8^th April 2013.

Monday morning and the weather is fine if a little on the cold side. Today I am to lead my first social run for the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club to the London Motorcycle Museum. I had practiced the route and had an idea how to mark the awkward junctions. I have enough £1 off Monday fliers for an army, best to be prepared. I left home in plenty of time to fill up with fuel and arrive well before the scheduled start time of 10:30. It was still school holiday time and today the M25 was flowing well and I arrive at Newlands Corner well before 10. I waited for people to arrive. 

No one had said they were coming although a few did express interest as time crept on I waited. I had a mug of tea and took some pictures of the view and the Buell. I sat at a table near where I parked the Buell and waited. I saw a bike on the main road but he went on by. 10:30 and no one had arrived. Then another biker turned up on his Yamaha Tenere. I said I was pleased to see someone this morning. However he was not a member of the club. He lived locally and knew about it. We chatted for a bit and I asked if he would like to join me on a run to the London Motorcycle Museum. The route would take us through villages and avoid motorways other than the last few miles down the A40.  He said it was a nice day and would enjoy a ride to put some miles on his new bike. I was very happy to be leading a run. Ride on! We introduced ourselves and then filled Rob in on the route we would take. After a comfort break we were ready to roll. I spotted some wheels and keeping Rob on hold while I went around the car park to investigate. The wheels turned out to be mountain bikes and nothing with an engine.  Now on our way we turn right out of Newlands Corner, down the hill to Shere then left to East Clandon along the lanes. On to Ripley, Old Woking, Chobham, through Egham, Old Windsor, Datchet and Langley. A pretty route through some pleasing countryside with a dash along the Thames. We went on through Iver Heath to Denham and Harefield before joining the A40 at Hillingdon. On the A40 to Greenford roundabout and up Oldfield lane south to the Museum. The journey had taken about one and a half hours covering just over 40 miles. 

 

Rob and me at the LMM

I gave Rob a guided tour and we joked with the guys on duty today that I was going out and dragging people in off the street!  The tour was somewhat shorter than usual as Rob had to get home to pick up his wife at 3pm. He had about an hour at the museum and he said it was not long enough and would come back again. He had not realised there was so much to see. He thanked me very much for the day and fortunately for me was happy to find his own way home. I was home just before 2pm and had covered 86 miles for the day. The original route would have taken the group via the Ace Cafe and that would have added another one and a half hours to the day leaving not much time for a museum visit. If I do this again we would need to leave Newlands Corner at 10am and be progressive in our riding.