Westhoughton Motorcycle Club

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Ride Out Reports

Stafford 27th April 2008

Once again it was ride out day and once again it was raining. Despite this seven 'real' bikers met at Lane Head at 10.00 am and headed south for Prees Heath and a nice warm breakfast. A hazard these days is the presence of lots of horse boxes on the A49 and today was no exception so progress was not as quick as expected. When we got to Prees Heath we found that the Vintage Transport people were having a ride out as well so the car park was stuffed with old lorries. There were some magnificent restored lorries which brought back many memories from my childhood ( yes, I can remember that far back).

Following a breakfast and a look around the lorries we carried on to our destination at Stafford. By now the rain had stopped and the sun was shining so we had a pleasant ride and were glad we had turned out in the rain.

I had never been to this show before and was taken aback by the size of it. There was a huge auto jumble and three halls packed with stands and even more auto jumble. Agostini and Korky Ballington were there signing calendars (£15.00 a time and its out of date already).

After three hours of tramping round the stalls my ankles and legs were aching so I decided to head home. The weather looked threatening so I opted for the quick route home and hit the M6. As usual it started raining at Thelwall but it didn't matter it was a good day out and I am glad that I went.

Thanks must go to Mo Weaver for leading the ride.

Bob McC.

Linda's Report

Well now I know how a lobster feels, having been drowned, boiled and baked all in one day. We arrived at Toby [raining] to find Yvonne, Mark, and Jimmy [our friend and new biker] already there and taking shelter in the porch.

With the arrival of Bob and then John and his wife [from Hindley] we set off on the usual route to Prees for brekkie. As we were parking up at the cafe [drowned], lots of classic and lovingly restored large vehicles were pulling up onto the middle car park so after breakfast [rain now stopped] we went to check them out. Lorries, cement mixers, trucks and motor caravans [one had toured France 2500 miles at 22 miles to the gallon] were all there, doing the Cheshire Run. Next stop Stafford.

At the showground we were each given a side stand puck on entrance, and we needed it as the field was wet and soggy, but there was a surprising number of bikes and cars there .As it was still dry we wandered around the mass of outside trade stands selling clothing, bike parts, old bikes or frames from 1900s [From £2900, no engine] until it started to rain and then we went inside.

There were a lot more halls than I remember, all interlinked and holding every sort of restored bike you can imagine, some well known some not, and Mo was checking the reg of the BSA, Bonnies and Nortons to see if one might once have been his, no luck. It was hot in the halls and after looking around  only half of them  we went outside for ice cream and sat in the sun [hot sun, damp clothes = boiled]

Back into the main hall and old restored racing bikes [so tiny], club stands, and the John Mc Guinness race bike [sponsored by Manx gas] were all on display. Then there was a huge thunderstorm and it went very humid [damp, boiled, hot, humid, = baked]. The sun then reappeared so as it was 4-30pm we decided to make a dash for home. Mark and Yvonne were waiting near the bikes, some had already left, so we gathered up the side stand pucks and hit the motorway [stayed dry].

Highlights-- dropping on the classic vehicle display at Prees, memories of riding and owning some of the bikes now regarded as classics, the little red James bike with picnic basket on seat, riding my bike with friends.

Low points--drowned, boiled, baked, remembering riding and owning the bikes now regarded as classics [makes me feel ancient] Bike boots are not made for walking, so sore feet.

see you soon

Linda xx