Steve Elston is a show regular and as well as his 1926 Norton racer he also brought a 1902 Minerva, a more recent acquisition. However, it earned him yet another winner’s rosette as best of the pre-1950 bikes and Steve muses on whether to ride the Minerva in next year’s Pioneer Run. Second place went to Francis-Barnett enthusiast Arthur Walls with his fine 1932 Condor. Of the bikes from the Fifties, a gleaming Vincent Black Knight was a recent restoration and had been ridden in by Paul Adams, who returned home with a well-merited rosette.
There were many contenders for the awards for the Sixties bikes, but Derek Mulley’s B44 Shooting Star was a superb example of what is now a less than common model. That put Brian Howard’s even less common Norton ES400 into second place. The Competiton/Special category inevitably turns up something unusual, John Gales’ Rotrax speedway bike is a previous winner, but this time around, R. Murray’s 350 Norton Inter was a 1946 Garden Gate model that had been updated with a McCandless swinging arm conversion.
Anita Dray’s Indian Scout was Best Heavyweight, but John Bonugli turned bad luck into good when he received the award for Best Lightweight. He was entered on a Featherbed Norton, but after this gave trouble he brought along his 1925 Levis T3. The 211cc bike is used on local club runs, where the controls are, apparently, an acquired technique. The Levis captured Best Lightweight at Ardingly. With British bikes easily in the majority, establishing the best of them was a tough call, but AMC stalwart Pete Gibson was pleased with recognition of his Matchless P11.
The show certainly did not have a monopoly on unsual machinery. Among a sprinkling of pre-war models was a JAP-engined P&P. The initials stood for Packman & Poppe, the company was a short-lived Coventry manufacturer, aalthough Erling Poppe later designed the Sunnnbeam S7.
The Bantam Owners dominated the nearby ‘Stockman’s’ building with a long line of Small Heath strokers. Pride of place went to Ray Leggett who has a Bantam that was among the last to be supplied to the Post Office for telegram delivery. This one was first stationed at Falkirk and Ray has taken care to get the details right.
The prizes were awarded by Rowena Hoseason of RealClassic magazine.
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RESULTS
Best pre-1950
1. Steve Elston, 1902 Minerva
2. Arthur Walls, 1932 Francis Barnett Condor 90
Best 1950-59
1. Paul Adams, 1955 Vincent Black Knight
2. RJ Woolford, 1955 Matchless G9 Super Clubman
Best 1960-69
1, Derek Mulley, 1968 BSA B44 Shooting Star
2. Brian Howard, 1965 Norton ES400
Best 1970-on
1. Alan Ferguson, 1974 Kawasaki 900
2. Piers Richardson, 1971 BSA A75R Rocket Three
Best Competition/Special
1. R. Murray, 1949 Norton M40 Inter 35
2. John Gales, c.1940 Rotrax-JAP Speedway
Best Heavyweight
1. Anita Dray, 1930 Indian 101 Scout
2. G. Page, 1969 BSA A65 Firebird Scrambler
Best Lightweight
1. John Bonugli, 1925 Levis T3
2. Brian Fowler, 1964 Francis-Barnett 91 Cruiser
Best British
1. Pete Gibson, 1967 Matchless P11
2. Ian Neve, 1960 Royal Enfield Constellation
Best Overseas
1. Murray Freeman, 1956 NSU Super Max
2. AR Murphy, 1959 Harley-Davidson FLH Duo-Glide
Best Club Stand
BSA Owners Club, Surrey Branch
Best Cafe Racer
Don Hiscock, 1958 BSA A7
Real Classic
M. Brinkley, 1952 Triumph Trophy TR5 ISDT
