The 23rd Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show was held at the Staffordshire Showground on the 15th and 16th of October and for the Shenstone Branch this was our ninth successive year at the show.

Fortunately we had the same sized stand as last year which allowed us to use our gazebo again with ample space to exhibit the bikes.

The Stafford show is the largest of it’s kind in the world, so it was no surprise when reports say more than 15,000 people attended the show on the Saturday alone, this showed on our stand which at times was ‘hectic’ with some people waiting for up to 15 minutes to ask a question of one of our branch members manning the stand.

On Saturday we were pleased to see our vice president Ken Sprayson and on Sunday our president Mike Jackson. They both commented how good they thought our stand was. Peter White, a member of the NOC executive also came to see us at our stand on the Saturday.

On Sunday we were visited by a Norton owner who lives in Texas, he has a Commando ‘High Rider’ back in the United States and said that he was now looking to sell the Commando and acquire a 1950’s Norton single.

All the Norton’s on show were Shenstone branch members bikes. Dave Kington’s 750 Commando, Bob Johnson’s  650SS, Nick Meakin’s Fastback Commando, Martin White’s Big 4, Sandy Johnson’s Fireflake Roman Purple 750 Commando, Barry Owen’s Navigator and Bunny Kyd’s Dominator 88.

With the larger stand it enabled us to better space the bikes allowing more people to look around, with branch members constantly answering questions about their bikes.

Many thanks to all who came along to help man the stand and promote the club throughout the weekend and make it an enjoyable event.

The Shenstone Branch had a stand at the 19th Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle and Mechanics Show at Stafford on the 20th & 21st October. This was the fifth year the branch has organised the stand and as in previous years we were able  to exhibit a selection of Nortons which were all different models.

We had Sandy Johnson’s ‘Fireflake Roman Purple’ 750 Commando, Brian Glover’s M30 Manx,
Barry Owen’s Navigator, Darren Coggins’s new 961 Cafe Racer, Bunny Kyd’s ‘Dommie 88’ and
Ray Wildman’s ES2.

After the weather we have had this year, luck gave a hand, and the weather was dry and mild which
certainly helped to bring in a large number of people and kept the stand busy. We were very pleased
to  be able to meet NOC members from France and New Zealand who came to visit the stand.
The highlight of the show, for the branch, was when on the Sunday morning a show official visited the
stand to award a rossette ( highly commended ) for our branch chairman and the NOC’s vice chairman Barry Owen’s Navigator.

Barry has only just acquired the bike and was adamant he had not even had time to clean it before the show!.
Thank you to all the branch members and others who came along and helped man the stand and for
promoting the club. I am sure we have gained some new members thanks to your efforts.

Ray Wildman, Shenstone Branch

This was the fourth year the Shenstone Branch had a stand at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show held at the Stafford Showground on the 15th and 16th October. Despite some sceptism of how many would be at the show the number of people there seemed to be more than last year – perhaps the sunny weekend helped.

Nortons at D-Day 2008

The Norton stand at the Uttoxeter show this year was organised by the Shenstone (formerly South Staffs) Branch. We had a very good turnout of 13 bikes ranging from a Big4 to the trusty Commando’s.

Myself and Geoff Horne arrived early on Friday morning to setup the Norton banners, desk and lighting. We thought this would only take an hour or so…wrong. Some confusion ruled for a while being that we had no idea what the backdrop should look like when together.

Some kind friend from another club had an announcement put out over the speaker system for volunteers to help us out being that the show was only for two days.

This of course was not needed and our corner position in the Premier Hall was soon looking the part.

One of the problems we did have was naming the race circuit in the Norton club banners. This situation was solved when Mick Grant stopped to have a look around the bikes and started to name the actual riders in the pictures. So I asked him if he knew where the actual race was being held, he said Oliver’s mount isn’t it, problem solved thanks Mick.

Various members of the Branch took turns at manning the desk to answer any questions during the weekend giving time for everyone to have a look around the rest of the show, Martin Stones from the Birmingham Branch can be seen in one of the pictures taking a turn as well .

We had a good amount of interest from people about the club and handed out a few membership forms and web site details.

The corner plot we had was excellent giving us good access for electricity and more important water for the kettle. We have asked for the same place next year.

Bob Francis’s 650ss won second best in show, a fabulous looking bike, well done Bob. He can be seen in the picture shaking hands with Mick Grant.

A very quick strip down was done on Sunday afternoon by all, thank you everyone for that.

The bikes supplied were Ian Ryder’s 750 Commando, Bob Johnson’s 750 Fastback and 650ss, Geoff Horn’s Interpol 11 Classic, Terry Ansell’s 600 Dommie, Ray Wildman’s ES2, Bob Hill’s Big4, Barry Owen’s 750 Commando, William Donaldson’s Jubilee, Bob Francis’s 650ss, Tony Brown’s Module 18, Jeff Norrie’s 850 Command, Dave Bennett’s 850 roadster.

A nice selection of bikes and again a thank you to all the Branch and none Branch members that helped out with these bikes.