Surrey Branch at the Ardingly Classic Bike show 29 October 2023

     Surrey Branch at the Ardingly Classic Bike show 29 October 2023

John Blades’ 1970 Mercury 650cc previously featured in Frank Westworth’s RealClassic magazine

The Surrey Branch represented the NOC at the October 29 2023 Ardingly Classic Bike Show. The day before it had rained, and earlier that morning it had also rained. I set out, on my 500cc Nomad desert racer, with wet roads, and very large puddles all over South Croydon. Riding in those conditions can be treacherous, so I was taking my time. The 500cc Nomad’s Dominator twin was all new with about 350 miles on its bores. It has new pistons and rings rings, with all new valve guides, as well as valves. The rest of the motor was also all new, so I was only doing between 30 and 40 mph. I was also using in the motor, Morris running in oil, as this helps to bed in the pistons rings. On the straight parts of the A22, the Nomad hounds along, but it does struggle on the steeper parts of that road. It only rained the once on me, and that was on the road, past the Mormon Temple on the B2028 as I rode in to a huge down pour. There are many trees on that road, so I did not get too wet.

I arrived at the Ardingly show, and the lady on the gate waved me though, and I pushed the bike into the main hall. Our part of the hall was a hive of much activity, with some of the earlier arrivals busily erecting our gazebo. Phil Hannam and I then set about getting the bikes into some sort of organized order.  We like to have some space between the bikes, so that visitors can walk around them to get a better view of them all.

A very special mention must be given to Robert Tuck, who with his van had collected all our stands equipment from Simon Smith. Simon and his wife were going to Australia, so he could not bring our stands equipment, to the show. With out Robert, the Surrey branch would not have had a gazebo, or any thing else, but just two rows of members bikes on display.

Simon Warren and his award winning 1960 500cc Model 30 Manx Norton

To Robert we all give a huge amount of thanks for his endeavours on behalf of the Surrey branch. We had Oscar Frieslaar, Graham Holcombe and Bill Plummer who come along to support us as always and to help with the set up of the stand. David Brown, Malcolm King, and David Cooper, were there also busily setting up the stand, as well as our chairs and tables. Phil Hannam managed to get another table from one of the other stallholders, as they did not require it. We then had enough room to put our kettle with the tea and coffee as well as the biscuits out for all our members.

Malcolm King with his 1965 750cc Norton Atlas

Julie Diplock and her wonderful team of helpers must have had a very difficult time, due to the horrendous weather conditions. Julie team, made the show even with these very bad distraction, an event that all classic bike owners should be attending.

We had 14 bikes on display for the Surrey branch, and we also had two members from the West Kent branch arrive to put their bikes on our stand and swell our numbers. The Surrey branch collected two awards on the day for our member’s bikes. Simon Warren was award a first place in the competition section, for his immaculate, and amazingly presented 1960 Manx Norton. Ken Rawlinson was also awarded a rosette for his 1965 Atlas.

Ken Rawlinson’s first prize 1965 Norton Atlas 750cc is a beautiful example

The out side weather turned into huge down pours through out the day, and I felt so sorry for the out side stall holders. This has been the forth Ardingly show that it has rained. Robert Tuck and I went into the large hall to look at the auto-jumble, and when we came out it was raining very heavily. Robert and I were dodging in and out of the covered stall, and then we made a dash into the main display hall.

The Surrey section stand had many visitor’s, admiring the bikes on display. We had many asking about where we meet, and Graham Holcombe was handing out the SNOC cards to many prospective members.

We had many questions from visiting owners of Norton’s for help with their own bikes, and restorations, of which the SNOC branch members have a wealth of knowledge. I saw three visitors intrigued by my 500cc Nomad, as one of them said to me, that he never knew that Norton had actual constructed such a bike. I then proceed to tell them some of the history about the Norton Nomads, as well as about the restoration of my own Nomad on display. As the weather turned very unpleasant, with very heavy torrential rain, the show hall was filled with so many more visitors.

Peter Sparrowhawk and his 1969 Mercury 650cc

As I like to ask our members about their bikes, I spoke to Peter Sparrowhawk about his 1969 Mercury. Peter had purchased this bike in 2011, and the bike has a 1971 registration number. The last owner had lived in Bolton, and it came from a private dealer. Peter explained that all the bikes parts were original, and it has the all-important matching engine, frame and gearbox numbers. Peter went on to say that it came from Plumstead in the colours it has now in silver and black. The gearbox has the letter N stamped after the gearbox number. It had when Peter bought the bike, a standard 1966 Norton dual seat, but it has now been changed and fitted with the correct dual seat. The Petrol tank still has the original Mercury logo transfer on the top front of the petrol tank. Peter has rebuilt the engine this year, as well as installing new pistons. The front forks have rebound and compression damping inside of them. The bike has been used for many of the West Kent section runs.

Those members that brought along and displayed their bikes are as follows

Max Groves and his 1964 750cc Norton Atlas

I rode back accompanied by Robert Tuck’s son Phillip on his 1968 Atlas, but I did explain to him that I was running in the Nomad, so I was only going to be going along at 30 to 40 mph. The ride home was with out the torrential rain that had hampered the show earlier. It was a joy to watch Phillip ride, as his riding, is like poetry in motion, when he comes up to the bends, and powers around them. For me, I was taking my time, as the wet weather conditions, may put the bike and myself down in the road.

To all those that attended the Surrey Branch stand, who brought along your bikes for display, for all your hard work, in its erection, and dismantling, we give to you a huge amount of thanks and our appreciation. Without you and our member’s bikes, and their enthusiasm, the Surrey branch would be the poorer with out you all.

Anthony Curzon

Surrey Branch Events Coordinator.