Ride Out to Newlands Corner, 29 May 2019

Surrey Section Ride Out to Newlands Corner, 29 May 2019

left to right, Chris Barraclough, Patrick Bullimore, Ken Rawlinson, Rod Daniels, and John Hirst

The Surrey section arranged a ride out to Newlands Corner on 29 May 2019, with the Velocette Owners Club, who we were to meet there.  This was arranged with our secretary, Ken Rawlinson, and the chairman of the VOC, Dave Catt.  We had arranged for some of us to meet at Tattenham Corner in Epsom, for 9.30am. I arrived at 9.15am to find the car park full of trucks, and as I had never been, there before I was unsure that I was at the correct location. I sat there for a while until, a lady on a pedal bike arrived and I asked her if I was at Tattenham Corner. She informed me that I was, and the reason the car park was so crowded was because it was the Epsom Derby on the Saturday.

I met up with Ken Rawlinson and Rod Daniels at Tattenham Corner just after 9.30 am, no one else turned up, and the – coffee “shop” was closed. We left at 10am and went on to Newlands Corner with Rod in the lead as he has been there before many times. Thanks to John Blades for his routes, which I think, we mainly took. The three of us were the first to arrive at Newlands Corner, and then we had a cup of coffee and tea, and a bacon roll. There were many of the Velo fellows who arrived at 11.15am and three more Norton lads, Patrick Bullimore, Chris Barraclough and John Hirst. Also came along was John Telford, an AJS & MOC member on his Matchless G80CS inspired bike. The weather was not too bad, but it was a bit cold and dampish. This I did not mind so much as the 500 Nomad has a new engine that I am still running in.

Atlas with Patrick Bullimore

The route that Rod Daniels took was through the back roads of Tadworth, where Rods 600cc Dominator and Ken’s 750 Atlas were not troubled by the narrow and twisting lanes. At one, stage on the ride, on a hill, that was narrow, a pickup truck came storming up the hill oblivious to any thing coming the other way. As I was on the Nomad I was not too bothered, but you have to wonder what may have transpired if I had been in a car.

Commando, with John Hirst

The afternoon became cloudy, and then it started to rain on and off, so I decided to leave, and head off on the A25 via Dorking and home. It was a good day out, and to meet up with other club member’s and other like minded souls.

Anthony Curzon, Press Officer, Surrey section