Tyres back on tarmac for NW Vintage Club

These have been warmly welcomed, well supported and accompanied by good motorcycling weather. The traditional pipe-opener, Danny Leighton’s Run, saw 12 riders set off on the road to Ballintoy in threatening weather which, fortunately, was to improve as the day progressed.

Ballintoy was also the goal for Trevor Scott’s Run. This attracted some 40 riders, including visitors from Sligo, who first attended the opening of Trevor’s display at Rectory Road. Hospitality at the opening and, indeed, after the run when some people returned to view the exhibits, was excellent.

Trevor has been collecting Scott machinery and memorabilia for five years and has amassed a veritable treasure trove which he is generously prepared to make available for view.

These Saturday runs, complemented by the traditional Wednesday night events, have whetted the appetite for things to come. Alfie Blair’s popular Sperrin Run will leave the Strand Road at 10.00am on Saturday, May 1; the ‘Danny Boy’ Festival at Limavady, on Saturday, May 8 and the John Blair’s ‘Rockers’ Reunion’ on Sunday, May 9.

For this event participants, preferably in period costume, should assemble at Strand Road at 1.30pm. Having navigated the triangle, riders will congregate at the pits area for the customary socialising.

A new event is planned for the evening of Friday, May 21 when club members, thanks to the good offices of Reggie Gilchrist, will visit the Causeway School on the ‘Short Trousers Run’. Reggie will explain how the school functions as a working museum, supper will be provided and the NEELB will film the event. Assembly will be at Strand Road at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.

Advance notice is given of the Kilbroney gathering on May 19, the AOVC Day at Ballymena on May 26, the Raft Race Run on the evening of May 29 and of Ralph McElfatrick’s Velocity Run on June 12.

This event will link with the Ballintoy Vintage Day. Anyone with an interest in aeronautics might wish to liase with Danny Leighton who has offered to organise a run to the Ulster Aviation Museum later in the season.

With the NW 200 only weeks away, the North West Vintage Motor Cycle club is turning its thoughts towards the events which precede race day. Support and assistance are requested for the two major vintage events - Ralph McElfatrick’s Vintage Show in Portstewart Town Hall and the vintage cavalcade.

Ralph and his team will accept bikes for show from 10am until 10pm on Monday, May 10 and the show will be open daily thereafter until Friday, May 14, when owners can collect their machinery from 3.00pm.

The cavalcade team will be on duty at the pits area from 2.00pm on Friday, May 14 and will welcome as many assistants as possible. This event, the highlight of the year, attracts large numbers of motorcyclists so it is imperative that marshalling before and during the run is sufficient to maintain good standards of organisation and safety.

On Thursday of race week there will be a motorcycling chat show at 8.00pm in Portrush Town Hall when the panel will include Liam Beckett and Jackie Fullerton.

On the administrative side of vintage motorcycling, the Association of Old Vehicle Clubs (AOVC) has appointed Danny Leighton as a Director.

NWVMCC congratulates Danny on this honour which is a tribute to his knowledge of and enthusiasm for the club and for the old vehicle movement in general.

Michael Patton is yet another who holds NWVMCC dear in support. In his role as webmaster Michael requests relevant, fresh material for the website.

Guest speaker at the April meeting of NWVMCC was John Hughes of PH Shotblasting. John explained how Sodablasting was relevant to the owners of old vehicles and showed through several examples of wheels, cylinder heads and carburretors, the results of the process. Considerable interest was shown in his work.