Surrey Branch NOC at the Ardingly Classic Bike Show 27 March 2022
Surrey Branch NOC at the Ardingly Classic Bike Show 27 March 2022
The Surrey section represented the NOC at the Ardingly show and we had twelve bikes attending. The display of Nortons was breath taking, as we had so many of the show goers coming over to admire the assembled bikes. We had many enquires for membership, and also to ask questions about our branches activities, as well as where we meet. We had many of those that attended asking us many different technical questions that we all managed to answer to the satisfaction of those that were asking. The P11 question that was asked of me, made me laugh. I had taken some SNOC club business cards with me, so that any prospective members to the Surrey branch would know of our location in Dorking. They can then come along to one of our monthly club night meetings.
The day started with Robert Tuck on his 1960 Slimline Dominator, who came over to me, as a ride along companion. We left before 8am, and set off via Selsdon. The roads were empty at that time of day, but it was a drizzling sort of rain, that only stopped when we got to Whyteleafe. The ride from there on was very pleasant, as the roads were all-dry, and with hardly any traffic on the A22 and we rode on at a brisk pace. When we arrived, the stand was almost set up, and after a few more tweaks, we were all ready to welcome our first visitors at 10am.
Julie Diplock, and all her staff at this event, makes this and her other shows and events ones to go to. They are all very efficient, and Julie is so very helpful with all our enquiries, and for any thing that we may need. Nothing is too much trouble for her and all those that assist her.
While I was at the show, I thought that it would be a good idea to get some insights into our member’s bikes and what they were rebuilding, and riding.
David Brown has an ex race bike with a 1958 600cc Dominator engine that he is restoring back to being a road bike once more. The engine is stamped with a 15N, number, which could be a Nomad, but the first Nomads began at 77996 numbers, so Dave’s engine is from a 1958 Model 77. This is still a very rare engine. This has always been a race bike, and it was only registered for the road in 1991. The frame being of the wideline featherbed type. The bike will require all new wiring as there is nothing there at the moment. David is one of our newest members, and he is a very valuable member of the Surrey section team, as he is always ready and willing to help with all that is required for the putting up and taking down of our stand. We are all looking forward to the day that David’s Dominator can be exhibited on our stand at one of our up and coming shows.
Bob Mathews’ immaculate 1959 600cc Dominator was original painted white, and it was this colour when he bought it in a dismantled state. He totally rebuilt the bike, and he has only just fitted a Norton 650ss cylinder head, and he explained to me that it has made a huge difference to the bikes performance. The dual seat is the one, which he fabricated himself, and it really is a work of art. With all this performance he has added, Bob has fitted a later Commando twin leading shoe front brake to help stop all that extra rampaging horsepower.
Robert Tuck’s 1960 Slimline Dominator De-Lux was originally sold from Harold Daniels shop in Forest Hill. This particular bike was ridden all over Europe as a press hack, to report on Grand Prix events. Robert has completed a lot of work on the particular Dominator with some ingenious extras that make his life riding it so much easier.
Phil Hannam managed to get to this event on his Manxman Dominator. Phil had a very nasty and severe fall from a ladder, and he was in hospital for a while. Phil has been in a lot of pain, so riding his Dominator to our event, was so very painful for him, but a remarkable achievement for him to do so to support us.
Rod Daniels brought along his immaculate 1959 Dominator and Max Groves brought along two of his bikes to swell our numbers on our stand.
Rod Daniels and his Dominator
Max Groves and his 1964 Norton Atlas
Malcolm King rode his 850 Commando to the show for our stand for the first time, and it may be an 850 Mk2A. He has had this particular bike since 2017, when he bought it as a rolling wreck. Malcolm has totally rebuilt the engine and gearbox, and he has added electronic ignition, and converted the engine to use a single carburettor.
One must also give a very special mention our very own Simon Smith, as with out Simon we would not have our stand and equipment on site. Simon is so very important and an integral part to the running of all our events as without him bringing and storing all our stand’s equipment we would not be able to have a display of bikes that we have been able to put together for so many years.
At the Ardingly show was the late Chris Grimmett’s brother Andy, along with his friend Roger, who had a stall in the large sawdust floored hall. Many of the Surrey section visited this stall, and we bought some very much-needed items for our own restorations.
Those that exhibited their bikes on the day were as follows
Rod Daniels: 1959 600cc 99 Dominator
Robert Tuck: 1960 600cc Slimline 99 Dominator
Max Groves: 1940/41 ex WD Norton 16H
Max Groves: 1964 750cc Norton Atlas
Phil Hannam: 1962 Dominator 650 Manxman
Malcolm King: 1973 850 Commando
Bob Mathews: 1959 600cc 99 Dominator
Mike Petryszyn: 1993 Norton Commander, Rotary, Krauser
Ken Rawlinson: 1967 650ss Dominator
Simon Smith: 1972 750cc Norton Commando Roadster
Henry Dulate: 1960 600cc 99 Dominator
Anthony Curzon: 1958 600cc Norton Nomad, desert racer
I would like to give a huge thank you to all the members of the Surrey branch who made our showing at the Ardingly show such a memorable event.
The Surrey branch this year, will be attending the next Ardingly Classic bike show on Sunday 30 October. We shall also have a stand at the Warlingham Rugby Club, classic car and bike show on Sunday 17th July.
All Norton owners are welcome to come along, and be part of our stand. We are also trying to organize an event at the Warren, the Police club in Coney Hall, but we still have to sort out dates, as well as how we shall be organizing this day.
Henry Dulate our ride leader will be organizing many more ride outs for us, and every one is welcome to come along and enjoy the ride around the Surrey countryside. We normally meet at Henfold Lakes, which is off the A24 to the left of the Dorking roundabout and the turn off for Stonebridge, and Blackbrook. There is a very good café there, where we all meet for breakfast before we all leave to follow Henry our ride leader.
Our new chairman Phil Hannam has many new and exciting ideas for the branch for the coming year. These will be submitted to the branch for our members for these up and coming and very exciting events for us to be able to participate in.
Anthony Curzon
