Meet up in March

Depends on where/when. Rykas, Wessons or Oakdene would be good for me.

I could make Rykas but is does get a bit swamped on good weather days. Perhaps not so much in March.

The Ace Cafe would probably welcome a visit.

Hi all,I'm collecting my new 961 late March ,& intend to put the miles on,received an email today suggesting 5/6 weeks , so will attend a late March meet ,I live in east Kent,cheers richard

If you are in Surrey and want a place to go to,you could come over to the Surreybranches meeting place the Stepping Stones.

Hi Graham, Surrey Branch meet regularly at The Stepping Stones pub which is about 500 yards away from Rykas Box Hill etc. We have two 961's on the books, so if you wanted to use that pub as a base for your meet I am sure I can get something arranged with the landlady. Are you talking weekday? Evenings or Weekend? Also from my own personal point of view I get friendly ribbing from other members about my 961 but at the last Norton Day at Brooklands we had 6 lined up .......... would be excellent to see a whole lot more in one place! I reckon with a bit of publicising we could get a good and varied turnout? So in essence let me know if our meeting place is of interest and when you fancy meeting and I am happy to do some liasing! Cheers Steve (Surrey Branch) 07545 347377

The Stones gets my vote as it has bags of room inside, hot food available and bikers are welcome.

Graham.........one for the future .....the London Motorcycle Museum is a good place to meet up and it has a small cafe. Though rumours of it closing are in the air.

Anthony.........I shall be expecting a brown envelope to be coming my way, asap.

Previously steven_eccleshall wrote:

Hi Graham, Surrey Branch meet regularly at The Stepping Stones pub which is about 500 yards away from Rykas Box Hill etc. We have two 961's on the books, so if you wanted to use that pub as a base for your meet I am sure I can get something arranged with the landlady. Are you talking weekday? Evenings or Weekend? Also from my own personal point of view I get friendly ribbing from other members about my 961 but at the last Norton Day at Brooklands we had 6 lined up .......... would be excellent to see a whole lot more in one place! I reckon with a bit of publicising we could get a good and varied turnout? So in essence let me know if our meeting place is of interest and when you fancy meeting and I am happy to do some liasing! Cheers Steve (Surrey Branch) 07545 347377

Hi Steve mine was one of the six lined up at Brooklands but I couldn't climb the hill due to a gearbox issue you may recall. Terry

Hi graham , re 20th March I'm away then & bike border line for that date , but will catch no doubt in April with yourself& other members,cheers Richard

For those of you who are not aware the 20th March is this yearâs date for the Pioneer Run.

This is the premier event for pre-1915 veteran machines and is organised by the Sunbeam Motorcycle club.

Details can be found here

http://www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/runs-and-events/pioneer-run/

Briefly, the event starts at Tattenham Corner by Epsom race course and travels down to Madeira Drive in Brighton. The first bikes leave Epsom at 8:00 and arrive in Brighton about 10:00.

It attracts a variety of bikes right across the spectrum from both entrants and spectators. Some say the only way to see the run is on the move.

I thought this might be an alternative to a cafe/pub run and give some purpose to the meet for those in the area and interested. It could mean a lack of activity at the places already mentioned if the 20th is chosen.

Itâs a 150 mile round trip for me broken down into 4 journeys during the day stopping off at Epsom, Hand Cross (with a look around Verralls showroom) and Brighton

Anyway, just thought I'd mention it.

Mike

The following week-end would be in the schools holiday slot. This might suit more people. If all the Sundays are already reserved for other events, how about a Saturday meet instead.?

This meet on the 20th could work out ok Graham, with a bit more planning Norton owners could meet a bit earlier and then tag onto the Pioneer run down to Brighton.

I would definitely be up for it, must be some more positivity for this out there ! COME ON !!

Terry

Hi Graham

I stop off in Handcross en route for a coffee from the nice Ladies who collect for Cancer Research and visit Verrallâs as part of the break.

Verrallâs web site doesnât have an opening time for Sundayâs so I assume they open especially for the Pioneer Run. They are located behind the Spar at the south end of the high street

Handcross is a good vantage point to watch the entrants on their way to Brighton although it can get quite busy with the amount of traffic trying to get through the village.

The Handcross Parish Hall has a large parking area that could be used as a meeting point. This is located on the right as you enter the village heading for Brighton just after the football pitches.

As an opening gambit could I suggest that for those intending to pass through congregate here for say 11:00

Mike

The Handcross meeting point would be a good choice plus the added bonus of having an interesting museum worth visiting just a few miles away at Balcombe.

Spring Re-opening 5th March 2016Open every Sat & Sun thereafter 10am - 5pmNow taking weekday & weekend group bookings for 2016Welcome to the Wings Museum

World War Two Remembrance Museum

The ideal family day out in Sussex come rain or shine!

More info at ............... http://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/

Weather permitting I'll try and join you from Handcross onwards.

Well done Graham, (and all participants) I had to laugh as the thread unfolded, in that its never simple to get a ride out organised when people are spread out all over the place - but you have cracked it! Well Done! I will circulate this message to Surrey Branch members - I think theres only two of us with 961's but you never know. All things being equal see you on the 20th March! Regards Steve

Madeira Drive is normally open for bike parking - along the sea front and down the ramp(watch out for speed cameras along the sea front - and everywhere else in Brighton!) And parking wardens may be on the prowl, doing their best to discourage trade. Some years there can be huge numbers of bikes on Madeira Drive - though maybe not so many in recent years.Cannot promise good weather, but it's very often sunnier in Brighton than inland.I have driver assistance problems but if I can persuade my wife to join my son in the tender, I should be on the run (1902 Quadrant - sorry not a Norton). I have to take a trailer to get the ancient machine back home.The first bikes leave Epsom at 8am. So don't leave it too late. I hope I should be well past Handcross by 11, and a lot of machines go past mine on the way. The village High Street gets very crowded - not much chance of the pub car park should say!It's not easy threading a single speed bike with no clutch through the traffic there sometimes.The arrival paddock in Brighton opens to the public at 12. But it's easy to see the bikes anyway.Most years (sadly) there is no more than one Norton on the entry list - and I'm not sure I've ever seen one at the end.Hope to see a few Nortons on the way!David Cooper

I usually try and get out to the Pioneer. Will try and make Rykas before you leave.....not sure if I will keep up with you 961 guys!! Here's hoping the sun shines

Ha ha. Look forward to it also. Roll on spring!!

Ha ha. Look forward to it also. Roll on spring!!

There were about 6 Nortons at the cafe (just south of Brands Hatch) this morning (Sunday) ,mostly 99's and a 961. There is a good crowd of classics there every Sunday if its not peeing.

Graham

You can purchase a NOC bib complete with logo from the clubs online store, we will then all be able to recognize you.

Previously graham_leblond wrote:

Just a quick thank you for all that braved the temperature to attend the ride. A reasonable turn out which sort of fragmented on reaching Verrall's as not everyone parked in the pub car park. Apart from that I met and put faces to names. Whilst chatting found that I knew one of the other members as twenty years ago (almost to the day) I attended to opening night of one of his bike dealerships. `Its a small world sometimes. If anyone else would like to put something together almost anywhere in the southern half of the country I will be happy to attend.

Hi Graham

Nice to meet you and thanks for your efforts to get 961 er's together, sorry due to a chain malfunction I had to attend on a non Norton! I decided to scoot up the A23 after leaving you as I decided on the fast route at the last minute, sorry, I should have stopped to liaise with you, bad form!

Regards

Nigel

I thought that the whole plan came together very well. Rykas was a good starting point with food, drink, toilets and parking space available. The run to Handcross was straigtforward and did not take too long and Verralls is just amazing.

Well done Graham.........a few photos attached.

Attachments
Embarrassing%20961.JPG
Old%20-%20New.JPG
noc-ride

That 961 definately needs a nappy! The 99(?) in the 3rd photo could use one also.

And a thanks from me. Not a local branch member but it was good to get out and chew some fat and the 'Group' ride was safe enough! Here's a couple of mine.....at least that 961 is a proper Norton, my Commando didn't lose any till near home (emergency homemade rocker cover gaskets).

Attachments
20160320_094528-jpg
20160320_094602.jpg