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"Hot Off The Press" reports
on recent runs. Eventually these details together with the associated article
from 'Buzzing' will find their way into the Archives, following publication.
That can be two months away so this page will provide a much quicker service.
(Subject of course to the Webmaster getting the details from the organisers in
a timely fashion).
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Nick D's Day Out @ Audruicq Autojumble 28 February
2010
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Nestling in the hinterland
of the Pas de Calais between Calais and Dunquerque is Audruicq, a little town
typical of many in the area and unremarkable for the British cyclemotorist
apart from the last weekend in February when the salle polyvalente plays host
to the Tacot Club Calaisien's annual autojumble. It's been a regular event on
my calendar for several years and this was the second time I'd taken a stall in
an attempt to clear out unwanted garage crap - sorry, treasures - and sell them
to the French.
Last year was a winner and this year was no
different with many of my models and car accessories finding new homes, some to
the dealers when I was setting up on the day before the event. Unlike similar
events here where dealers are often aggressive in their bartering, I found the
local breed pleasant to deal with and made some useful contacts for future
reference.
I'd made the trip
with a friend in a camper van so after setting up, we found the local LeClercq
and a bar where we succumbed to the delights of the friterie opposite a very
convivial bar in the town centre. The rain drummed on the van roof all night
but the bottle of red wine assured a good night's sleep.
The hall opened its'
doors to the public at 0900 and trade was brisk from the off. Unfortunately
temptation seemed to beckon at every stall I looked at and it would have been
easy to spend my takings as soon as they hit my pocket. I managed to limit my
expenditure to three panniers for future projects and found several parts for
another friend's Solex restoration. My stall was augmented by a Wisp for sale,
the property of Mike Hele who was visiting for the day. I met the guy who ended
up the winner of my Peugeot BB at Sars Poteries 2009 and he assured me that
he's progressing with the restoration. It won't be there this year but SP2011
is a distinct possibility.
The photos give an
idea of the temptations on offer, a blue 1975 Solex 5000 at 500 and a
1965 3300 at 450 both competently restored by members of the Solex Club
Spirales. The 3300 was successfully re-homed but the 5000, the nicer machine in
my opinion, was still there when we left. Maybe 500 is a bit steep for a
5000 no matter how good a condition it's in. Members of the same Club are known
for the inventiveness of their creations and the yellow twin-engined 3800
caused a stir. Badged a 7600 and sporting a two-metre aerial, it was a marvel
of Heath-Robinson style engineering. Other stalls offered a variety of Solexes
and Mobylettes - a barn-find AU32 rubbing shoulders incongruously with a superb
Velocette, a far from special Speciale 98 with more duct tape than saddle and
some other reasonably tidy Solexes.
The Tacot Club is
primarily a car-related outfit and has a different theme each year. This time
it was the 1960s and there were some mouth-watering vehicles on display
including a Renault Estafette camper and a Panhard to get the editor's juices
flowing. Had I been weaker-willed I could have blown a substantial part of the
day's takings on a Mobylette Cady in running order for 140 and the siren
voices of three so-called "mates" did their best to ensure that I did just that
but, being in a relatively new relationship where "Don't bring back any more
mopeds" just might mean "Don't bring back any more mopeds or else" I mustered
all my willpower and walked away from it.
A
furious drive back to Dunquerque saw us on the 1800 sailing where we pronounced
the day a resounding success despite the French being able to resist the charms
of the Wisp.
Nick Devonport |
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| A
non NACC step-thru' on offer |
Centre display 1960s theme |
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| Mobylette AU32
dans son jus |
Rat-look Speciale
98 and Solex |
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| Rear
engine. |
Solex 5000
80500 |
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| Sports
mopeds |
The best
2x2xfar |
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| Tidy 3800 seeks
good home |
The Bristol Show, 20 - 21st February
2010
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| Bob, Steve Wayte & Co put a great show on
at Bristol this weekend, several lapsed members re-joined and a number of new
members signed up - looks great I wish I had gone along. |
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East Coast Pedalers Valentines Day Run, February
2010
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| As usual the first East Coast Pedalers event
of the year was very well supported, despite the dodgy weather forecast and the
other obvious distractions that February 14th offers, 16 hardy riders turned
out plus two recovery vehicles and a couple of members turned up in their cars
to see what the attractions of Pedaler events are. |



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The machines started to form
alongside "Bert " - Prince Albert to you and me ( Picture 1) and others soon
joined the line. (Picture 2) Inside there was Coffee and Tea on offer together
with some delicious heart shaped biscuits,there had been a concert on the
previous night but we weren't strong enough to lift Debbie's Fizzy onto the
stage itself so we left it standing at the front . (Picture 3).
Despite having to
wait for Dave Watson to arrive who had been delayed as he had been busy
fettling the Puch's carburettor during the morning we still managed to leave at
the appointed time of 11.30.
All was going
well for 4 miles then Terry Keable decided to take his own shorter route as he
was feeling the cold in his old bones and all but 5 of us decided to follow his
example, the remaining five, Roly, Dave, Geoff Daw, Alan Bloys and myself
followed the route sheet to the letter and enjoyed a fine ride UNTIL after
riding through Loudham woods I got a Puncture in the rear tyre of the PC50
outfit, as we were so close to Blaxhall I told the others to carry onto to the
pub and I would fit my spare tube and meet them there, Dave elected to stay and
help me and we set to fitting said tube, a few minutes later we were done, so
we set off again only for 3/4 mile later to have a flat tyre again !
We were getting really close to the Pub by
now so Dave carried on ahead and I had took the wheel out again, Roly was then
summoned to supply his better quality tube ( mine was a Cheap Autojumble
purchase !!) and by the time he arrived the wheel was out and ready for the
tube to be refitted, job was soon done and we made it to the Pub, together with
punctured tubes hanging from the handlebar (Picture 4).
Obviously everyone was tucking in to
their food, so Roly and myself grabbed a packet of crisps and a quick pint and
we were soon ready to go, then it started SNOWING ! Undaunted everyone got
their gear on and set off for the return leg. (Pictures5, 6,7 &8)
Trevor's NSU
Quickly caused much amusement with the size of his rear number plate (Picture
9) it didn't slow his Quickly down though and it was a damn sight faster than
Terry's recently acquired Honda Camino !!
Most riders took a shorter route
back in deference to the weather conditions but a few of us - well Roly, the 2
Daves (Arnott & Watson) and myself did the full course.
Everyone made it back to the college
and were soon tucking into the fantastic Valentine's Day cakes that Debs had
made (Pictures 10 & 11).
There was much chatting and dealing going on, but we interupted
this to present our special award for the most glamourous pillion passenger
which went to Val Dearsley because a) she WAS going to ride Pillion on partner
Barry Lewis's machine but our resident recovery driver Margaret Bloys was minus
a navigator so we press ganged Val into the role ! and b) I though she had an
appropiate name .....
Eventually we managed to get everyone to leave the stately grounds
of Framlingham College and went home to wash our bikes off or attend to other
Valentines Day duties (My bike remains unwashed !!!).
Thanks to Debbie for the wonderful
catering, Roly for organising everything at the College for us, Michelle for
washing up, Margaret and Dick for recovery driver duties (where were you when I
needed you ? ) and to everyone else for turning up to enjoy the day.
Once again we have
to thank Framlingham College for allowing us to use their facilities completely
free of charge - they did nick some of our biscuits though !!!
Riders were: Billy Doy - Norman Nippy, Mark Gibb,Roly, Ray Hatt Honda
PC50s, Terry Keable - Honda Camino "Sport" (Not very sporty were the reports I
got back !), Barry Lewis, Neil Ridgeon -Honda C90s, Brian Barley - Tomos A3M,
Barrie Holland, Trevor Seymour - NSU Quickly's, Alan Bloys - Super Moby, Geoff
Daw- Garelli Bimatic, Dave Arnott - Motobecane, Dave Watson - Puch MS50, Lisa
Smith (Temporary member) - Honda C50. Carl Squirrell - Honda PC50 combo. Static
exhibits: Debbie Doy - Yamaha FS1-E, Trevor Seymour - New Hudson, Barry Lewis -
Raleigh Runabout, Carl Squirrell - "Le Mobchop", ECP "Track Spare" Honda Novio
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Nick D's Birthday Bash, January 2010
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First run of the year, unfortunately the
format of the write up that comes with the pictures is not one that I can open.
Suggesting to me that ND's computer is probably as old as he is.
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