out and about: It’s bigger and better

Published: 08:52AM Nov 7th, 2011
By: Tim Britton; Pics: Joe Dick

The 18th Carole Nash Classic and Motorcycle Mechanics Show - Can it really be 18 years since the brave decision was taken to try a classic show for the more modern element of the old bike scene. We think it’s worked out pretty well.

The 18th Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show was the first airing for the freshly restored SAM 1N works development Honda of Sammy Miller.

Once upon a time it was enough to just line a few old bikes up in a hall, put a willing – or un-willing – volunteer on the gate to take the money and a show was had. Then a lad called Alan Whitehead felt things could be a little better and proved it at Belle Vue in Manchester of all places.

When Belle Vue was destined for redevelopment Alan shifted the Classic MotorCycle Show to Stafford County Showground where it could spread out a bit more.

Amid growing requests for a similar show for the Japanese machines that were, by their age, now classic and with the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics magazine catering for their needs, what better peg to hang a show on. The 2011 event shows just how far things have developed in 18 years.

Classic Dirt Bike Experience

Relatively new to the Stafford show scene is the Classic Dirt Bike magazine, our quarterly title devoted to the best in off-road action on two or three wheels, whether those wheels have originated in Europe or the orient. Most people will know that the editor of Old Bike Mart also wears the Classic Dirt Bike flat cap too and is responsible for keeping things running smoothly in the Staffordshire Life Hall that has become the home for all things ‘dirty’.

This year we were lucky to have the freshly refurbished 305 Honda that Sammy Miller designed and built for Honda Japan. In an era when works exotica and rarities seem to be commonplace, this particular Honda is worthy of the name exotica. It bristles with special parts and the hand of an engineer who knew what he was doing. Sadly, though, until some way is found of dealing with ethanol in petrol and its effects on used glass fibre petrol tanks, it won’t be possible to ride the bike. Luckily Sammy Miller himself was on hand to tell how the bike came about.

Sammy also offered to pass on a tip or two to the average club trials rider Britton. Under his expert tutelage even the editor of Old Bike Mart was able to ride a Bultaco over a car and make it look like he knew what he was doing.

Inside the hall there were all sorts of off-road bikes, from the classic British Victor BSA MX of Andy Williams to the rip snorting ISDT Triumph of Bill Hall, the TL250 Honda of Terry Brown and the Bultaco Frontera of Pete Davies.

One of the popular line-ups of machines was the Vinduro, vintage enduro selection and Nigel Heath also brought along the video of the latest twinshock enduro which played through the weekend.

It seems as though this aspect of off-road is getting bigger as time goes on. It’s not surprising as the sport is less intense than MX, less technical than trials and longer than both. Anyway, Nigel reported an encouraging level of interest in Vinduro.

Interest in the Classic Dirt Bike hall is growing each time we are at a show and we’re always looking for interesting machines to feature. So if your restoration is going to be finished in time for the April show then let us know, maybe we can get it into our display.

Video from the weekend

Comment on our videos: register or login to add your comments to our video features below.

Video hosted by ©YouTube