The Surrey branch of the NOC joined in with a Motorcycle Day at their club room location at the Stepping Stones public house on Saturday 5 October 2024. This was organised by the publican’s landlady Tina, who had asked all the motorcycle clubs that used the pub, for their own club room. This included, the Triumph OC, the Velocette OC, the AJS&M OC, the AMOC (or the American Motorcycle OC), the Suzuki OC, and the SNOC.

The Surrey section had nine members ride their bikes come along to display them. Seven with Norton’s and two members who came along to support us with their Japanese and a new Triumph. The weather was better than expected and was good for us all though out the day. There was a good turnout of bikes from all the other clubs that attended this event. over 70 throughout the day. Tina laid on extra food for those that wanted to eat and the bar was crammed with their respective motorcycle owners.

I rode down with Robert and Phil Tuck to the Stepping Stones and when we got there the reserved bike parking area it was beginning to fill up with all the owner’s club’s bikes. The AJS &MOC had some very good-looking older bikes on display. One such bike was a V twin AJS which looked like it was built in the 1920’s. The owners granddaughter came on the back and when it was started she got on the back and off they went with many admirers looking on. There was very well restored Sunbeam Model 90, as well many other vintage bikes on display.

Those of the Surrey branch that brought along their bikes were: –

Robert Tuck 1960 600cc Dominator De-luxe

Phil Tuck 1968 Atlas

Anthony Curzon 1968 P11A Ranger 750

Phil Hannam 1961 650 with a Manxman engine

David Cooper 1932 Model 30 500cc International

Max Groves 1964 Atlas

Nick What 2024 TVS 961 Commando

John Summerfield came on his Yamaha XT660X, Paul Smith on his Laverda Jota and Martin came on his more modern Triumph.

We were asked to display our bikes at the back of the car park and this is covered in a very deep layer of shingles. This made moving bikes around difficult. Robert and Phil Tuck did manage to find some pieces of wood to go under our prop stands. There was a good mix of different motorcycles and cultures and it was a very relaxed and social gathering. The weather was kind to us and this looks like it will be a yearly event for the Stepping Stones public house.

The ride home was uneventful, apart from when I thought I had hit a pot hole, causing the whole of my Ranger jumped to one side. The bike being a desert racer, with the high and wide handle bars, I held on tight and gave a bit of throttle. She shook the front end briefly and off she proceeded. Robert later informed me it was some piece of large debris that I had run over on the road, which he saw behind me.

 Anthony  – September 2024