This year’s event had attracted a variety of British machines, mainly from the classic era. There was a daily opportunity to ride and briefly display bikes in the arena, provided the riders were brave enough to tackle the ruts left by the traction-engines.
Within the motorcycle entry, possibly the most imposing bike was the 1918 Royal Enfield outfit, owned by the Claude Jessett Trust, that administers the Tinker’s Park collection and had also organised the Enfield’s restoration from derelict condition.
Derek Harper’s 1904 Buchet was far older and required extremely comprehensive restoration. The design of this extremely rare French machine was very advanced. Apparently built as a racer, the engine was 90mm bore and 90mm stroke, for 572cc, with both valves overhead and camshaft operated. The work is nearly complete after 10 years, the research even included a trip to Australia to meet the owner of a similar model.
