A day at the Museum
and it's free!
John Newman
This would be the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM), and they will be hosting a 'Live' open day on Saturday 31st October, following the success of a similar event last year; and it's free.
The museum's relatively new director, James Hewing, has raised the profile of the NMM by organising a more dynamic events programme, which includes taking parts of their magnificent collection 'on the road'. They shipped a superb group of thirty-two racing Nortons from every era to the Classic TT, including a brace of the rotary-engined bikes.
The rotaries featured on the short track at the
Jurby festival (sponsored by Wemoto) and were ridden by luminaries such as John McGuiness and Michael Rutter. One was prepared for and entered into the Formula One race on the mountain course, ridden by William Dunlop. Unfortunately, the bike did not finish.
The free open day will see frequent stalwarts of the bike show scene, Carl Fogarty and Jamie Whitham, hosting a 'stars on stage' show at 11.00am and 2.00pm, which will include a firing up of some of the race bikes from the museum's collection.
There'll also be an autojumble, plus a whole host of trade stands and specialist suppliers. Members of the museum restoration team will be on hand to pass on tips and expertise and answer questions.
One of the afternoon's highlights will involve Fogarty and Whitham dipping their hands into the proverbial hat to draw the winning ticket for the 'best classic motorcycle raffle in the world'. The prize will be a 1947 Vincent Series B Rapide that has been “Shadowised” - classic buffs will no doubt understand what this has entailed. There's a second prize of a 1967 BSA Bantam, and a third of a luxury weekend for two at a hotel including spas and golf!
Tickets are £2.
It all sounds like a grand day out. If you can't make it, Wemoto News will be there to glide around the exhibits, cruise the trade stands, report on proceedings, and snap some pictures for your enjoyment.
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