Can’t believe it is that time of the year again. Just a few days earlier l was in the shed sorting out tables, chairs and other stuff. While Pat was concentrating on food and all the utensils and table ware that would be required for the journey.
I collected the van on Saturday evening around 5 O’clock, Steve came around to help with loading up of the van. As it is usually a very early start say around 4:30am we normally boil the water in the canister so that we can have teas on the go quickly.
This time we left home at around 5:40am arriving in Brighton just after 7:15am. We immediately claimed our space on the side walk. It is very important to arrive early as each year other clubs tend to take over your bit of the pitch. Thus leaving us with less space for the gazebo and the van.
By 9am our gazebo was up and tea on the go ready for the Bee’s members to arrive.
The weather was quite warm again this year. The whole place was soon buzzing with loads of people and bikes of all makes started rolling in. The noise was quite loud and great to hear.
One could distinguish between classics to twins to Morden engines. They were all parked up on Madeira Drive for all to see and admire. Some great bikes old and new were on display.
Also, there were the usual selling all sorts of biker related gear and much more. There were the regular club stands such as the Ace Cafe London, 59 club, AJS, and the Matchless just to mention a few. Rock & Roll group playing on the Ace Café stage in the distance.
Our club stand was well attended once again as is every year and Vinnie’s samosas were a great success.
Thanks to Vinnie who spent quite a long time cooking them for everyone and Steve for keeping the kettles topped up with hot water all day long so that teas and coffees can be enjoyed.
This is also a great place to meet and speak to quite a few members who we only see here once a year. We would like to welcome to our club three new members who joined up on the day. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our members and friends who support us all year around. We really enjoyed the day with great company.
With the weather being so good we decided to stay a bit longer and went for fish & chips supper before going home.
Very good journey back with not much traffic and so arrived home in the light. What a brilliant day out and we always look forward to this event each year.
This was the 50th year of the Busy Bee Cafe closing from 1968 to 2018
Could not have wished for a better day as the sun shone all day and it was a very pleasant day.
The Hilton Hotel done us proud as always but it was Nicola’s turn to serve us food and drinks this year. She did this so well all day long without a break and kept all the members happy and content. The BQ was first rate.
The turnout this year was very good with some splendid bikes on show. Quite a few of the original Busy Bee boys and girls who use to meet at the cafe in the 60s also came even though some had made the journey by car. This is mainly because they no longer ride or own a bike or through health reasons.
Thank you to all that helped to make this year so special. The bike show was well attended but unfortunately some bikes were out of view as Hilton hotel had a function on and as a result the car that we use was occupied by hotel guest. For this reason we may have missed few bike for judging purposes. Please try and park nearer the front next year so that we can all enjoy these wonderful bikes.
Results of all the winners this year in the following categories were:-
Maroon Triumph sprung HUB speed twin 1st British
One of ladies by the name of Hiroko who attends our re-union every year.
Velo Evv 821 was 2nd
Trident X U E 488H was 3rd belonged to Graham
Club member trophy went to Dave Geary for Enfield Constellation
Steve received Aldenham trophy for his Yamaha 250
50 trophy went to Melvin for his Ariel Arrow.
And finally Reunion trophy went Richard Viner for his Triumph
Our raffle was very successful with some great prizes and we raised a total of £200.
Well done every one for your generosity. It was lovely to see many old and new faces.
Brian and l always enjoy this show and as you the members and friends make this show a great success. Looking forward to seeing you all next year, happy biking and ride safe.
The weather was promising and therefore I was looking forward to going on this run. Pat had left for sunnier climates to be with her grandson in California few days earlier hence Brian was riding solo.
Turned up at Otterspool Way only to meet up with Brian and Chris. This was a very poor attendance with just three of us. The weather forecast was good however, there were lots of other events taking place locally.
We set off promptly at 9am for Rose’s café with Brian taking the lead. I had my Satnav setup just in case Brian had a relapse. Although the café is not too far from the museum it is the turn off at the roundabout that always confuses us in the past. Anyway as it happens Brian got us there without mistakes and in good time.
On arrival Laurie was waiting for us and so we all decided to have a breakfast. The sun was shining therefore breakfast outside made sense before continuing our short journey to the Museum. We were directed to park-up with the other bikes. The weather was getting very hot luckily I has frozen water bottles with me which were very refreshing.
There were lots of bikes on display as well as wide representation of club stands displaying a good selection of vintage to classics to modern bikes. The usual stalls selling all kind of goods.
There was a live band playing Rock ‘n’ Roll music throughout the day. We were also treated to couple of ‘Burlesque dances’ by the ladies. As we walked around Brian purchased few different herbal teas and I managed to buy some freshly roasted coffee beans.
We made our way to the cafeteria for a drink when we bumped into Colin Roberts. Had a quick catch-up then onwards to look at all the exhibits and then back to the bikes. Brian had to go back early in order to do a bit more packing as he was fly to Los Angeles the next morning to join Pat.
Brian, Chris and myself decided to call it a day and headed for home. It was a fantastic day’s ride with perfect weather, free entry to the museum, live music band and the lovely Burlesque dancers.
In fact if remember it correctly it was this particular run with the Bee’s was my very first almost nine years ago. Where does the time go?
What a brilliant day and just perfect for the short ride to the Chiltern Open Air museum.
Laurie, Steve, Bill and Ray were already there enjoying the first drink of the day. Complementary drinks were supplied by the museum as always making us very welcome.
There were many interesting and unusual cars and vehicles including the classics on show.
Going around visiting all the exhibits l met a very interesting man who for his hobby made and designed mini caravans over many years. He had designed three different models and one of which was on display. It even had its own flushing loo, this design was clearly well before its time.
His caravans would have being on many of the old TV programs such as tiny homes. His caravan would have complemented well. Arriving back to the bikes we saw Ian Bullion and George soon turned up after a few more minutes. Peter arrived who had just joined our club a few days ago but he had payed £10 entrance fee and parked his bike in the field!
Brian told him to get his bike over and display it at our club, tell them he was with the Busy Bee Club, which he did.
As a result he was given his £10 back and two commentary tickets for the drinks, well worth his £10 joining fee. Welcome to the gang Peter.
Brian and l have been most years so being so hot we had a quick look around the museum bought some second hand books and a lovely homemade banana and walnut cake which we shared with the gang after our lunch.
The cake was so nice and so I decided to go back to buy another one but they had sold out.
Went over to the prefab house to look at the allotments which was new to the museum. l have never seen such a huge pumpkin growing very impressive.
On the way back to the bikes we bumped into some of our friends from walking club. Enjoyed a quick chat with them which is when we also saw Harry from the Busy Bee who had travelled by his classic car.
What we like most about this show is you tend to meet some very interesting people who have so much history and stories to share about their vehicles and classics cars.
Also at the museum there is always so many new and interesting things to do and see, it was a very pleasant lazy day out with great company.
Met up at Otterspool way with Vinnie, Roger and Sue, Ian, Chris and Rob which was his first time to Jacks Hill. We waited for an extra five minutes or so in case someone would turn up but it was not to be.
Good journey down despite being told that there could be road closures through Towcester but fortunately it was open however, they are due to be closed for the following weekend.
Arrived just after 10.30 and could not believe how many bikes had already parked at the front. Steven was one of the Marshalls once again and he was directing traffic. He had arrived at around 7.30am.
We also met up with Laurie, George, Gordon, Richard, Bob and many more old friends who turn up each year. The weather was so hot again and explains why the whole place was packed.
We have asked Rob to do a write up for this Ton-up day as it was his first time there. So looking forward to reading about you first impression and experience of the whole event.
The day was a great susses with following winners of the bike show which is held each year and the trophies donated by us the Busy Bee Motorcycle Club as usual.
Chester Dowling trophy went to George Gunthorpe for his gold star 514 CRA. This bike was originally owned by Tony Evens better known as wiggy. One of the original Busy Bee boys who were well known in the sixties.
Jack’s Hill trophy went to Neil Lane for his fantastic Indian bike YWG 679.
Best British went to Geoff Skinner a 1961 Triumph Bonny 400 AWK
Busy Bee trophy went to Paul for his Norton 850 MK3.
Well done to all and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.
Brian Beasely
PS. Bike trophy had to be given out by one o’clock because of the tight schedule. Other bikes of interest was an Ariel Arrow twin engine 4 cylinder 500 sounded great and Trinney’s 500 Triumph. I must talk to him about it at Brighton.
