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Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club
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VJMC - The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. The Classic
Motorcycle Club for all classic and vintage Japanese motorcycles from the 1950s to the 1990s. Expertise in all
Japanese marques.
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Devon Riviera 9th Bike Weekend
September 17th -
19th
Brent Westbrook E3717
I"m so sorry to everyone that joined in the weekend. How was I
supposed to know it was going to be so hot? At least during the day.
Friday arrives and so do my good friends that make this
weekend so successful. It's my birthday too that very day. What an ideal way to spend a birthday.
The pitches we have soon become the notorious "tented
village". Alan, Tracey and Brian Ford grace us with a huge marquee. Between four of us, we have a working "HQ"
within a short space of time. Bob and Jackie Jarman put up the VJMC flags outside the marquee. We"re looking
quite the showground.
Several people on various bikes, classic and modern, arrive
throughout the afternoon creating suburbs to our tented village. Before long kettles are whistling and the
conversations start. Several people have lengthy rides to get to the site in Devon. Its always interesting to
hear about their journeys just from the pure point of view of the utter joy of riding a
motorcycle.
The Friday afternoon is traditionally a chilled-out affair so
that everyone can get their accommodation arranged and relax after their respective journeys. Its not long
before the "ffsssshhhhhh" of the first beer cans are opened. No more riding today!
There was a slight change in plan this year. The meal in the
clubhouse was arranged to be on the Friday night instead of the Saturday as it clashes with the Jazz Festival
at Coast View Holiday Park. Therefore it was compulsory that fancy-dress be worn for dinner. Typically, there
were various takes on the theme which, this year, was "Space". So we had astronauts, Star Wars and Star Trek
characters. As usual the standard was high. That's fairly typical of folks who restore Japanese
motorcycles.
Naturally, judging was opened to the massed crowd. It was
close. Simon Walsh (Star Trek Generations) was runner-up to Bob Jarman (astronaut). Bob clinched the top prize
in the men's category by the simple expedient of his life-support backpack being a Yamaha RS200 fuel tank! Val
Matheson (Princess Leia) was runner-up to Jackie Jarman (Star Trek - Lieutenant Uhura (at least in my eyes)).
Each received VJMC regalia for their valiant efforts.
The evening progressed in its normal format of a few after
dinner drinks, much chatting and joking, plenty of dancing (thanks Princess Leia) and games of
pool.
Then the quiz. Construction of the quiz is reasonably
straightforward in terms of general knowledge. The bike section is somewhat more difficult. That's because many
people have knowledge of bikes in general and some have marque and, even, specific model knowledge. It turned
out more difficult than anticipated. Given that guests of Coast View do join in, it"ll be dropped next year
you"ll be glad to know! Top prize went to Herts, Beds and Bucks with a score of 32/50.
Just to mention, thanks to the VJMC for supplying the prizes
and particularly to Steve Foster and Jayne Robinson who carted it all down to Devon on their week's holiday
prior to the event. It was great catching up with you and having a drink.
On Saturday morning, people were up and about quite early. I
know - its exciting! Following breakfast in the clubhouse, full use of the showers and so on was made in
preparation for the ride.
Eighteen bike came on the ride which gave us quite a presence
around the Devon coast. This year's ride was just that, a trip around the coast. We took the road south out of
Coast View and made towards Torquay and Paignton. The towns were quite busy with traffic. Once beyond that the
roads cleared as we headed for Dartmouth. At Dartmouth, there are only two ways across the River Dart, the
Higher Ferry and the Lower Ferry. There's your choice. We used the Lower Ferry. The estuary is a bit wider
there so there's a little more time to take in the views up and down stream. Once on the other side are the
glorious coast roads down to Torcross. The road into Torcross twists and turns, uphill and downhill until the
road cuts between the sea and lake to the right. We stopped in the bike parking area and people wandered off
for refreshments and a look at the war memorial which is a WWII Sherman Tank. The whole area was used for
practice for the D-Day landings.
Having spent a couple of hours there, we strode our machines
and went inland on some equally fine wide, sweeping A and B roads to Totnes. From Totnes the are more and
similar roads to Newton Abbot. We then followed the road by the River Teign to Teignmouth and back to Coast
View.
Once back at site, "ffssshhhhhh" went the cans. No more riding
today either. This brings us to Saturday afternoon's bike show. Those who"ve been before know the format: Vote
for the bike which you believe matches the closest description within the remit of the "Space" theme. There are
four categories in descending order of merit:
After totting-up, the winners were:
Each received a prize of VJMC regalia. Very shorlty afterwards
it was time to fire up the barbeques. Dinner was superbly prepared and presented by Bob and Jackie Jarman. I
must also mention that Bob and Jackie (with a couple of willing assistants) took orders and went shopping.
There was most certainly plenty of food. A number of us went to the clubhouse to see the Jazz Festival and
"join in" - the less said, the better! We returned to the tented village and joined the others that stayed. As
the evening cooled, the marquee was a grand place to be. We all fitted in there with space to spare. It was a
great atmosphere. Ideas were bandied about concerning next year's fancy-dress theme. These were put in a hat
and one drawn. It's "Witches and Wizards" next year.
Sunday morning came around and breakfast served in the
clubhouse and then it was all over too soon. Everyone packed up, said their goodbyes and planned to meet at The
CCC Rally in Dorset next spring.
Until then, good folks.
Thanks to everyone that came, particularly those who come a
long way to be there. Including the lads that came from the distant North West.
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Copyright © VJMC Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club (UK) Ltd 2010. All rights reserved.
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VJMC - The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. The Classic Motorcycle Club for all classic and vintage Japanese motorcycles from the 1950s to the 1990s. Expertise in all Japanese marques.