Every May the grubby but practical little Cheshire town of Northwich hosts the Thundersprint motorcycle festival devised by our Frank Melling. The main event is a GP in the car park, with 440 yards of endless right-hand bends on a dreadful surface but in the morning a cavalcade of motorycles around the town takes place where there is at least one left turn not counting the exit from the Tesco roundabout. There are also trade stands and other attractions over the weekend such as the stealth spitfire and greasy burger vans. Andrew English gives a near factual account of the event here.
Participation in the cavalcade of Northwich town centre (closed off specially for the event) is now in its 4th year for Highwaylass and me: we (and Clarky) were invited to this event by Frank Melling through our Daily Telegraph Motoring Section blogging activities for the first time some 5 years ago (and indeed Highwaylass became a DT MS guest blogger for a brief but golden period).
Highwaylass and Ruby pose next to Ferguson Doodlebug in the cavalcader's paddock.
It's Ferguson Doodlebug's third year at the event but my 4th. Every machine requires a technical inspection - even race machines that are not road legal are permitted to cavalcade but must be scrutineered first. The race machines feature heavily in the time trial later on - that is the ones that survive 3 laps of Northwich town centre.
Here is the riders perspective of the cavalcade (warning - it's long...).
The main attraction appears to be the scantily clad Bennetts Babes supplied by one of the sponsors - the only way an old letch like me can get good frontal shots of them is by asking them to hold up a map showing where Jack Riepe lives.
This is the GP in the car park bit: here in the car park various classes of classic machine run a time trial over 440 yards. This is scooter number 98 seen outpacing a portaloo.
No. 287 appears to have a rather large engine (or is it a domestic appliance on wheels?).
Glorious noise from the 2 stroke in front of you Nikos - must have been hard on him to stop the plugs from fouling. Was it a racing Aerial Arrow or something more modern?
Oh how I wish I was there! Knew the Northwich area fairly well - did a consultancy job just down the road at Sandbach.
Interesting read Nikos, here in South Africa scooter GP has become something of a fad, they get permission to use a large super market car park after hours and set up a track bordered with car tyres. I haven't been to one yet but I hear that the racing is hectic and very popular.
Miss Scarlet, I've been assuming that the GP is a General Practitioner (i.e. doctor) who has set up in the car park in case the worst comes to the worst, which it sounds like it probably will. That Portaloo has hit a tree, so it may be a steering problem rather than a lack of power or aerodynamic efficiency.
That's a particularly lovely Fanny Barnett* lurking next to the (equally lovely) HighwayLass in pic 2. I suspect it could reach places that a Ferguson might only dream of!
I have read and reread this blog several times so that I might get the full benefit of any subliminal messages in the videos. As with most of your communications, this one raises more questions than it answers.
For example, with beautiful women in attendance (like the Bennett Girls), why did GP management let some old geezer (Mr. English, I presume) walk around with a sign saying "the Cavalcade would commence in 10 minutes." Think of how that message might have been emphasized had the first Bennett Girl on the left carried the sign.
Then there is a person squatting next to the "Port-o-Loo" on the outside. Perhaps the directions on the appropriate use of this convenience, complete with illustrations, would be more effective if taped on the outside of the door.
Was the Cavalcade a timed event? If not, please explain why you did not "lap" the lawnmower on your immediate left.
If the picture of the Bennett Girls is from a catalogue, I'd lie the first one on the left, and number 5 from the left as well. Thought they are not quite twins, they'll do for what I have in mind.
Please be advised that the seminar I will be conducting at the BMW MOA's International Rally (in Bloomsburg, Pa, USA) is scheduled for 9:30am (to 10:30am) on Friday, July 22, in the room under the grandstand. I will be wearing a red poinsettia in my lapel.
PS: There are several misspellings in the above post. Thios is because I am exhausted from trying to find subliminal messages. Was the sign carried by the old geezer some kind of code?
That Funny Burnett caused Highwaylass all sorts of problems due to its inability to run without producing more smoke than Fukishima. In the end it failed to make the cavalcade.
I anticipate your comments with considerable trepidation in case I have not caused offence in some little way. I am indeed touched by the degree of scrutiny that you have given both to the Bennett babes and to my shaky attempt as video filming and post production.
1.The lawn mower appeared to have a more favourable power to weight ratio and so it was a tough call overtaking it.
2.The trouble with portaloos is that they stink even more inside than out and I can quite understand the squatter's actions.
How long will it take to drive from Manhattan to Bloomsberg early on a Friday morning?
I thought you were getting in on Thursday? Bloomsburg is 150 miles from Manhattan. The legal driving time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. You'd have to leave by 6am. And that's if there is no construction on the tunnell or on Rt.3 (Fat chance.)
This rally is going to be huge for a BMW event... They are expecting over 10,000 registrants.
Your route should be I-495 out of the Lincoln tunnel to Rt. 3 (NJ), to US-46 (NJ), to I-80 NJ), to the Bloomsburg exit off I-80 in PA.
Glorious noise from the 2 stroke in front of you Nikos - must have been hard on him to stop the plugs from fouling. Was it a racing Aerial Arrow or something more modern?
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I was there! Knew the Northwich area fairly well - did a consultancy job just down the road at Sandbach.
Greetings from sunny Coromandel!
Good videos and, as usual, great comments under the photos. Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteGP? Please explain before I write something silly.
ReplyDeleteSx
Interesting read Nikos, here in South Africa scooter GP has become something of a fad, they get permission to use a large super market car park after hours and set up a track bordered with car tyres. I haven't been to one yet but I hear that the racing is hectic and very popular.
ReplyDeleteMiss Scarlet, I've been assuming that the GP is a General Practitioner (i.e. doctor) who has set up in the car park in case the worst comes to the worst, which it sounds like it probably will. That Portaloo has hit a tree, so it may be a steering problem rather than a lack of power or aerodynamic efficiency.
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff
ReplyDeleteHard to say about the Aerial - I don't recall seeing one - there was so much noise there my ears are still ringing - 2 stroke or not!
Best wishes from breezy and pumice laden smoggy England , N
Ulrika
ReplyDeleteThanks for your words of encouragement and advice about photoshop!
N
Miss Scarlet
ReplyDeletePlease please please write something silly - it would not be out of place on this blogette
xsN
Dear Gadjo
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming to my rescue at the hands of Miss S's difficult questioning.
N
That's a particularly lovely Fanny Barnett* lurking next to the (equally lovely) HighwayLass in pic 2. I suspect it could reach places that a Ferguson might only dream of!
ReplyDelete* That's not a reference to a ladygarden.
Dear Nikos:
ReplyDeleteI have read and reread this blog several times so that I might get the full benefit of any subliminal messages in the videos. As with most of your communications, this one raises more questions than it answers.
For example, with beautiful women in attendance (like the Bennett Girls), why did GP management let some old geezer (Mr. English, I presume) walk around with a sign saying "the Cavalcade would commence in 10 minutes." Think of how that message might have been emphasized had the first Bennett Girl on the left carried the sign.
Then there is a person squatting next to the "Port-o-Loo" on the outside. Perhaps the directions on the appropriate use of this convenience, complete with illustrations, would be more effective if taped on the outside of the door.
Was the Cavalcade a timed event? If not, please explain why you did not "lap" the lawnmower on your immediate left.
If the picture of the Bennett Girls is from a catalogue, I'd lie the first one on the left, and number 5 from the left as well. Thought they are not quite twins, they'll do for what I have in mind.
Please be advised that the seminar I will be conducting at the BMW MOA's International Rally (in Bloomsburg, Pa, USA) is scheduled for 9:30am (to 10:30am) on Friday, July 22, in the room under the grandstand. I will be wearing a red poinsettia in my lapel.
Fondest regards,
Jack/reep
Twisted Roads
PS: There are several misspellings in the above post. Thios is because I am exhausted from trying to find subliminal messages. Was the sign carried by the old geezer some kind of code?
ReplyDeleteJR/TW
Dear the Rider
ReplyDeleteAt least they get permission to use the car park! Over here we are plagued with hot hatch herberts burning their tyres out most evenings!
Thanks for commenting, N
Dear Affer
ReplyDeleteThat Funny Burnett caused Highwaylass all sorts of problems due to its inability to run without producing more smoke than Fukishima. In the end it failed to make the cavalcade.
N
Dear Jack
ReplyDeleteI anticipate your comments with considerable trepidation in case I have not caused offence in some little way. I am indeed touched by the degree of scrutiny that you have given both to the Bennett babes and to my shaky attempt as video filming and post production.
1.The lawn mower appeared to have a more favourable power to weight ratio and so it was a tough call overtaking it.
2.The trouble with portaloos is that they stink even more inside than out and I can quite understand the squatter's actions.
How long will it take to drive from Manhattan to Bloomsberg early on a Friday morning?
Thanks for writing again on my humble blogette,
N the involuntary BMW mechanic of note
Dear Nikos:
ReplyDeleteI thought you were getting in on Thursday? Bloomsburg is 150 miles from Manhattan. The legal driving time is 2 hours and 45 minutes. You'd have to leave by 6am. And that's if there is no construction on the tunnell or on Rt.3 (Fat chance.)
This rally is going to be huge for a BMW event... They are expecting over 10,000 registrants.
Your route should be I-495 out of the Lincoln tunnel to Rt. 3 (NJ), to US-46 (NJ), to I-80 NJ), to the Bloomsburg exit off I-80 in PA.