I joined the VMCC (Vintage Motor Cycle Club) so that I could have a few runs with bike of equal age and older - bikes need to be 25 years old or older to be eligible for membership.
I have never entered one of these events and so there was a degree of trepidation having read the "regs" (regulations) - anyhow I duly completed the form and sent it in. Luck would have it - there was a place left in the already almost full entry - a popular event I discovered later.
I prepped the bike, with its shining new pipes and engine tune up and set off on the Saturday morning for the Trial. 25 miles of A road from Carmarthen to the lovely seaside town of Saundersfoot was idyllic, a bit too fast probably for the bike but it wanted to fly in the wind so hey who am I to stop her!
I arrived "early" as I always do - such a bad habit, I do wish I could just sometimes be on time or even late. Greetings and friendships were made in seconds and then over to the caf' for a full cooked brekkie (I do like biking!)
Stomach full and number 81 firmly attached to the headlight (I was so jealous of those bods with route sheet holders - so professional, and there was I with mine taped to the tank (I went and bought one a week later !!!)
Bikes leave in pairs on the minute to tackle a challenging route through they byeways around West Wales - the average speed was a choice of 21 or 24 miles per hour. Now I know what you are thinking "how slow is that!" Well yes it is slowish but remember this is about maintaining a constant speed, route reading, keeping some very very old bikes going and so it was quite difficult. I was too quick in the first half and too slow in the second so it just goes to show. Also you cannot have any electronic gadgets, Sat Nav. etc so you really have to do it by guesswork and experience.
To say I enjoyed the day is an understatement - if you like classic and vintage bikes then this is the way to experience it - such a range of bikes and charactures and all with the same interests. It is surprising how enthralled you can become listening to some of the more mature members discussing whether or not a particular manufacturer polished a bolt and if they did was it all through manufacture or perhaps just for a 3 month trial period to test some hair brained idea about streamlining - good fun indeed, these guys (and ladies) really know their stuff.
The half way was at a very good pub and we all tucked in to some inexpensive lunch before setting off again through the lanes. When we got to a ford I thought the route planner was having a laugh but I as told later that previous years had 3 or more fords and some where quite deep - the moral here is - these bikes were made for these roads and made to be ridden not polished and shown.
The end of the rally in Saunderfoot was a sight to see - the harbour was busy and it was full of old, hot and oily bikes. Visitors to the town could not believe their eyes. I had at least 3 conversations with some retired older gents who went to great lengths to tell me how they used to have a Triumph in their youth and how they used it for work all week and raced it weekends. I wonder what we will be saying in 50 years time - I somehow think the tales will be something like "Well sonny I used to have a Motorcycle - you won't remember those of course since they banned them, mine was a Japanese Suzuki Hayabusa that did 200mph, I rode it 3 times before I lost my licence - I kept the bike though but left it in the sun and it melted!!!!" Tee Hee (Don't get me wrong, I have Japanese bikes as well and they are very good but very different - I think I can sum it up like this - If my Japanese bike breaks down (they hardly ever do mind) then I suppose I would sell or scrap it, my 1972 Triumph often malfunctions but I fix it every time and just when I think that is it no more money to be spent on it I take it for a ride and go all soft and buy the parts needed! What is that about eh! Classic Bike Ownership - thats what it is about and if you don't understand it is because you haven't got one .... yet!
Click on the photo below to see the full web album of my ride - if anyone has a good photo of number 81 let me have a copy for the album - I never have pics of me because I am always the one behind the camera!
