Brooklands Motorcycle Show, Sunday 30th June 2019
Surrey Section at the Brooklands Motorcycle Show, Sunday 30th June 2019
The Surrey section represented the NOC at the Brooklands Motorcycle Show on Sunday 30 June 2019. The Campbell gates opened from 9am for exhibitors and traders, so I was there at just after 9am, ready to go in. The Sunbeam Café opened at 9.30am so tea, coffee, as well as sandwiches could be enjoyed by all. On the way there, by the side of the A3 was Patrick Bulimore, with his Norton Atlas. The kick-start lever was loose, when I pulled along side him, to see if I could be of any assistance. Patrick then tied it back so it was not flapping about in the wind. We both then rode along the A3 to the Brooklands Show.
The Surrey section was allocated a section of the parking area at H in the Campbell car park. We were allocated a large section of the green at the back of the car park, so that our members had adequate space to display their bikes on. The event was expertly and very ably run, and organized, by Donna Marshall, the events manager for the Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd.
There were many clubs at this event, and there were demonstration parades, as well as the usual test hill ascents. The event had many visitors and it very crowded. The Surrey section had many visitors as well as those asking about membership, and those asking questions about their own bikes. The Surrey section has a very good in-depth knowledge of the bikes on display so those that came with their technical questions, went away with an answer to their queries. We gave out many of our section cards, so that any prospective members would know how to locate us if they wanted to be part of the Surrey section in the future.
The weather was very kind, and the sun shone brightly all day, making this event, very well attended, by both exhibitors and traders. The members that came along to our stand and displayed their bikes on our stand at the Brooklands Day consisted of the following models
Commando: 5
Manx Norton: 6
Dominator: 5
Commando 961 1. Mike Petryszyn’s Commando is from the first batch made
Norton Jubilee 1
Norton 500cc Nomad 1
Norton Model 18: 3 and these were from 1928 to 1932
In all we had 22 Norton’s of different types on display.
John Summerfield and his 1928 Model 18
Barry Stickland and his Manx that he rode to the event.
Two of our members, John Hirst and Nigel Heugh, both ascended the test hill on their Commando’s. I managed to get a picture of John Hirst on the test hill, even though it was crowded with spectators. I used the fighter pilot art of the deflection shot. So just before John came in to the shot, on the hill, I hit the camera button, and got what I think was the perfect picture.
John Summerfield brought along his 1928 Model 18, and John had a large poster on display in front of his Model 18 explaining the bikes history, of this particular immaculate single. John’s Model 18 was first registered on the 9th September 1929, and it was the first model to have a saddle tank fitted to it. John has been restoring this amazing Norton, and it will be ready soon to be used more upon the Queens highway.
Another visitor to our stand was the very dapper Barry Stickland with his road going Manx Norton that he rode to the event to park on our stand. We also had from the Solent section of the NOC, Simon Carver with his 1951 Model 30 Beart International Norton that he rode up to the event from the south coast. Simon has had this Manx along time, and he displayed on the front of the machine, the history and his families involvement with it. Max Groves brought along his immaculate ex Isle of Man TT raced 1953 Manx Norton and his Norton Atlas. Max then went out with the Manx, on the road in front of our stand. After a small run and bump, and the motor fired, and Max sat on it very contented that it had done so.
We had another member arrive on what appeared to be a Steve Tonkin built for the road Manx Norton. It was beautifully constructed machine and we all hoped that when the owner left it would start for him. This it did after a few kicks on the kick-starter and away he went, bringing that beautiful noise to all those he passed, on the way out.
Paul Smith and his beautiful Commando creation
Another visitor to the Surrey section stand was Paul Smith. Paul had built from a 1974 Interpol 850cc Mk2A a truly remarkable Commando with S type parts, and many RGM custom-made components. This bike is an amazing build by Paul, and it attracted a huge amount of attention from all those that visited our stand. Paul had also added a large board to the front of this bike so that those that came to view it could read about its history and the restoration. The alloy petrol tank was hand made by a company in Wales called Tab 11 Classics. This petrol tank is a remarkable example of the metalworker’s art from this company in Wales. The list of parts, and those that supplied them was extensive.
Dave Carpenter brought along with his son two Manx Norton’s. One of them was the ex Dennis Jenkinson 1946 Manx Norton. This particular Manx Norton had only just been completed after a very extensive restoration by them both. This was the actual machine that Dennis raced. There was also a board on display at the front of this particular bike, with a picture of Dennis and the bike. This bike was also featured in the You Tube documentary that was filmed by the Brooklands Museum’s personnel of the show and I had to try to talk about it. Dave Carpenter at this point in time, was nowhere to be found. I explained to the interviewer, that I did not know that much about it, but I could give him an in-depth explanation about my 500cc Nomad.
Nigel Heugh did the parade lap along the old Brooklands racetrack finish straight. They rode 3 to 4 at a time, for five minutes. Nigel was riding his 1971 Commando Roadster Mk2. On the original finish, straight there was a selection of Brooklands Museum bikes on display.
We have to give a huge amount of thanks to Simon Smith, as with out his pickup truck and trailer the Surrey section would have not had a stand, to display. Simon brings all that the section requires to all our events. Mike Petryszyn, as always was organizing all of us when we put up the gazebo, with his normal military procession, and for the over all lay out of the stand.
To all those came along, and displayed their bikes can we give a huge amount of thanks for helping us have such a large selections of Norton for our public display.
Anthony Curzon, Press Officer for the Surrey section.
UPDATE: HERE IS LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE 2019 BROOKLANDS EVENT.
SURREY NOC IS COVERED AT ABOUT 33 MINUTES WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY ABOUT MANX NORTONS AND THE NOMAD.
