Gloucester Branch

            The Line-up begins

            The line-up continues

                        And there’s more

                The marshals are in control

             The Club’s van, we wish it was ours

           Stan Dibben & Ally Gillingham

The featured marque at Prescot for 2017 was Nortons and Gloucester Branch invited NOC members from all over the UK to come along and take part and this is what happened

On the day there were 75 Norton`s from 691`s to CS1`s the Bike Feast raised some £40,000 pounds. Gloucester Branch was the organising Club. This became a National event with members attending from all over the country. The NOC donated £200 towards the Blood Bike Charities. Some 7,000 attended it turned out to be very successful .

A good spot right next to the Blood Riders

Two Commando engines in different frames

Our Marquee, still looking good after a lot of use

Chris on his way to the start of his session ‘On The Hill’

This was the second time that the Blood Riders has held this event at this venue and the Branch supported them with a good mix of bikes, those attending were Ian & Rose 1930 16H, Roger’s Featherbed Commando Yellow Special, Colin’s DOHC Manx, Dave’s Fastback Commando and Ian’s Dominator Deluxe.  Due to barely making a profit at this event the Blood Riders will not be returning to this venue

Gloucester Branch at Tewkesbury

It cost a fiver to get Jill in

Following the cancellation of this show last year due to atrocious weather 2016’s Festival was blessed with excellent weather and as a result the Branch was able to attend for the first time and put on a display of members bikes, those attending and their bikes were as follows;   Colin’s Manx & Yellow Peril, Roger’s Yellow Special, Dave’s fastback Commando, Ian’s Blackburn engined Hemming, Chris & Jill’s B3T Trials Outfit and Mikes Model 19.  Mike unfortunately had a puncture on the way home and had to call out the RAC

It was also nice to be able to meet up with our old Chairman Jim Rendell (who is on the mend following his recent illness) and Ray who only brought his A35 Van along as his 99ss had had an engine seizure whilst on the NOC National Rally

The Twigworth contingent prior to starting their epic ride!

First Arrivals get the best seat!

Crafty Chris catches the Worcester Mob who cut out the middle bit of the run

The Twigworth bikes having a rest

This year’s run saw the club members arriving from different directions as the Worcester lads saved a bit of time by cutting out the Tewkesbury to Twigworth leg and Twigworth back to Tewkesbury part of the run – we’re not daft in Black Pear County

Excellent weather, a good turn out and a nice spot near the old flour mill

         The early arrivals get the driest spot

Best performer in the mud – Mike’s Model 19

Another excellent day at Prescott in support of the Blood Riders despite the extremely muddy conditions following the atrocious weather prior to the event

Our Stand at the first Blood Riders event at Shelsley Walsh 2015

Norvil and DomCom

            Manx Norton

     Dominator 88 & 850 Commando Interstate

Following on from the very successful fund raising events held by the Blood Riders at Prescott in recent years 2015 saw their debut at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb venue in Worcestershire which we hope will be repeated in the future.

Don Tovey receiving his award for Best Inter

Rick Slaymaker receiving the award for best 961

Ian Dettmer receiving his award for his  Dominator 99 Deluxe

Only four members of the Branch were able to attend Norton day due to commitments elsewhere by other branch members, for three of them to achieve awards was amazing

The run was led by Rick who was able to thread his way through the Coventry Maze

Another very enjoyable evening starting from the Oakwood as a group but a large tractor and trailer soon had us all stretched out along the A38 due to the lack of overtaking points (safe ones that is)

The Fish & Chips in Tewkesbury were as good as our previous visit, a good find by Ian

Inter of Geoff Smithers

Malcolm’s Interstate

Maurice’s Bike

Gloucester Branch Marquee & Display

Being the fourth year that Gloucester Branch have attended this event, which again is held to raise funds for the Blood Riders, we enjoyed a day of watching some very interesting machines both in the paddock and on the hill.

A big thank you to Geoff Smithers and Barry Stickland for bringing along their bikes to enable us to add some variety to our display, well done lads much appreciated.

Another vote of thanks to Colin,  Chris & Jill for getting it all set up for us, sorry we pinched your breakfast!