Surrey Branch at the Ardingly Classic Bike show on Sunday 27 July 2025

The Surrey branch represented the NOC at the Ardingly Classic Bike show on the Sunday 27th July 2025. This was the first time that Surrey branch had officially come along to display at this summer event. The branch did not have the gazebo to erect, as Simon Smith who brings all our equipment was away on holiday. John Summerfield stepped in, and went along to Simon’s house to collect what he could put into his estate car, which he then brought along for us. As the gazebo was not erected, we had far more space, and the bikes on display had far more light to show them all off to so much more better effect. There was also in attendance the official NOC who were showing the legacy of the Featherbed frame, with a bare frame at the front of their display. We at the Surrey branch also had a display of featherbed bikes for the show goers to come and look at. The models covered were from the 1950’s through to the late 1960’s. This gave great scope to feature many different models with different permutations that featured this very iconic frame to the visitors to the show.

The only troublesome situation that we all encountered, being that the Bromley Pageant of Motoring was being held at the same time on the same day. This caused a three mile tail back of cars and vans trying to access both shows. I was informed later on that it had taken some of our members and visitors over an hour to get into the show. Phil Tuck and I got caught in the long queue that went from Turners Hill up to the entrance to the Ardingly show, and beyond to the entrance to the car event. This Phil I then had to dodge in and out of the line of traffic to get into the Ardingly bike show. The road was so very narrow, which made this a very hazardous a manoeuvre on such a heavy bike as my Commando Roadster being very hazardous to perform. The car event had been moved to Ardingly due to the emission rules or the ULEZ that had come into force, so therefore many of those that would have gone to the event in Bromley never did.

The show hall was not as filled out as normal, with club stands, as there were many empty spaces in the large hall that we were displayed in. There were so many interesting bikes that were on display. We had so many of the public come along to look at our display, and as we did not have a gazebo erected, then they could move around the bikes so much more freely than when it was erected. The consensus of opinion being that may be in future we will only erect the gazebo when we have to attend an outside event. The lighting inside the hall illuminated the bikes with the over head lighting to high light the bikes when being viewed by the general public. Without the gazebo, there was much more space for us all. The Surrey branch assembled 16 bikes for display, for all those came along to view them all. We had many membership enquires, as well as all those who with questions about the bikes that they owned. I helped a P11 owner with his bike that was parked outside, for me to help him with its restoration for the future.

Simon Warren took along his Melbray Supertwin racer which competed and came 3^rd in this year’s Isle of Man TT Supertwins race. Simon asked me if we had a sticker that he could have so that he could put one on both sides of his fairing. We have Bill Plummer, who did the graphic design, and John Summerfield found a company to print them for him. So, Simon’s race bikes will have both of our Surrey Branch as well as the NOC logos on his Manx race bikes for this year’s Classic TT (August 17^th to 29^th). This was all arranged by our own John Summerfield.

The day was a very enjoyable experience for all our members, The start up paddock was just behind us, and Max Groves, had his Manx Model 40 run up outside. Simon Warren’s Supertwin racer was also run up in the paddock, and the sound that these bikes produced, gladden the hearts of all those that attended this spectacle of speed.

The Surrey branch along with the NOC also won the converted Best Branch stand award at the show. Rich Thomas our chairman came over to inform us that we had won this award. We then had a photo taken with Rich Thomas, and the branch.  Max Groves was awarded a first place for the best Military bike, and Ken Rawlinson, a second place for the 1950’s section for his 1959 Dominator 99 Sport.

To all those that brought along your bikes to this show we give our thanks for your support for the Surrey branch. The next event for the Surrey branch will be the Ardingly show on the 26 October 2025, and all are welcome to attend this event with us.