ACE Cafe Norton Day September 2023
ACE Cafe Norton Day(s)
A small band of SNOC members braved the weather and traffic conditions to join up with others bikers attending the ACE Cafe Norton Day(s) on 23rd & 24th September. A very heavy downpour delayed my own departure for an hour but after that my 2 hour ride to London was on dry roads. The route took me along long stretches of London roads plagued with 20mph speed limits. There were associated signs all around claiming that the low speed limit was to save air pollution. Personally I cannot see how hundreds of lorries and buses crawling along for miles in low gears helps to cut the amount of CO2 and NO2 filling the atmosphere. Are you serious Mr Khan???
Finally I got to the Ace at 11.30am where I counted 45 Norton of various models on view. Plus just over 100 other visitor machines. More bikes coming and going during the 4 hours I was at the cafe.
TVS had brought along 2 new 961s to give test rides to those interested in trying one of these bikes out. As I arrived at the ACE, an NOC member (who you all know well) had failed to make the 20 yards to the exit onto the North Circular. Was he trying to do a wheelie to impress or just lost control after dumping the clutch.???
Alongside the TVS pagoda was another representing Andover Norton and a third promoting
the NOC. The temptation to play’ ‘spot the crooks’ was very great but declined. The three wise men representing the NOC were Tim Harrison, Rich Thomas and Paul Smith. Mike Jackson turned up and tried to give a short address followed by the bike award ceremony. He was unfortunately drowned out by the Cafe lunchtime meal service and rock music coming over the audio system.
I was asked to help with the bike judging of the heavy non-Commando Twins category.
My vote went to a Cafe Race style Dominator which was very tidy and more in keeping with the bikes that I remember frequented such places as the ACE Cafe in the 60s and 70s.
Phil H