Brackley Festival of Motorcycling

Three years in and the festival just gets better and better.  This event is pretty much unique: attendance this year was in the region of 12,000 to 15,000; it is run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of charity and is designed to promote the family side of motorcycling.  Brackley High Street is closed to form one arena with the local school fields providing space for fun fair, food stalls, displays and traders stalls.  Attractions include stunt shows by the likes of Kevin Carmichael, custom bike show and historic racers to name but a few.  You'll find major manufacturers like Harley Davidson, Yamaha and Ducati displaying their wares and offering test rides as well.  All in all it is a massively successful event with something for everybody.  It is my pleasure to volunteer as a marshal every year as well as being related to one of the organising committee.  If you want a great day out for all the family you could do a lot worse that get the date in your diary for next year (19th of August in case your curious!).  If in doubt as to how much people enjoy the event, take a look at the Facebook page.

With any luck I'll see you there.

Silverstone WSBK

Last weekend was magic.  Silverstone World Super Bikes and messing with great company on the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling (www.bfom.co.uk) stand.
It struck me that my re-awakening to the joys of motorcycling took place one year ago at the very same event.  This year was marked by fantastic conversations with bike fanatics from all over the UK.  Awsome !  It does constantly amaze me that just about every biker out there is such a friendly, warm human being.  It re-affirms my faith in the human race to know that wherever I go, so long as there are bikers there, I have friends.  What a wonderful world it is.

Oh and by the way, it's the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling on Sunday 21st August.  It's a brilliant family event all in aid of charity with thousands of lovely people and loads of bikes.  Check it out and I hope to see you there.

Out on the road again

After a few weeks where life managed to get thoroughly in the way of my play activities I finally managed to get out on Jessica again today.  Some might say it was not the best thing I could have done, it was our 22nd wedding anniversary after all, but what the hell, herself was working anyway.
Todays trip was down to the coast again, this time to Lulworth Cove in Dorset.  I sure I went there as a kid but can't say I really sure.  What a gorgeous place it is though.  Riding down some great roads from Salisbury to Blandford Forum with characteristically little traffic was a joy.  It went a bit pear shaped at that point when I managed to get lost but that only added to the fun trying to find myself again.  The cove itself is stunning.  The facilities great and the rum and raisin ice cream a rare treat.  Jessica performed flawlessly as usual but I can't believe how much I ache now..and it was only a 160 mile round trip !

and the Numpty of the month prize goes too....

ME !

OK I admit it.  It was me who filled the bike up with diesel.  The result being nearly two hours at the side of the road draining the tank and a beautiful blue cloud of smoke when I did eventually got it started again.  Fortunately draining the fuel filter and having good old fashioned carburetors without a fuel pump meant it was not too difficult a job to fix.  So before anybody else officially nominates me I thought I had better do it myself !