Readers of this august journal will, no doubt, be fully aware of the two shows that grace the Staffordshire County Showground each year. Dave Manning attempts to avoid the queues, and fails.
The October Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show had a different vibe, and different content, from the April Classic Motorcycle event, but both are of great interest to anyone who has even just a passing interest in historic motorcycles – from bargain basement trail bike projects at a couple of hundred quid to the Brough Superior Overhead 680 project motorcycle that was the top lot at the weekend’s Bonhams auction – selling for £92,000 – the variety is incredible.
As mentioned, the October show is slightly different from the April one, with the content leaning more towards the focus of the sponsoring magazine, with classic Japanese machinery to the fore, not only in the privately owned show bikes and club stands, but also in the auction too, with oil-cooled Suzuki GSX-R models in particular reaching impressive figures.
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With the expansive autojumble taking up a large part of the outdoor area of the showground, the race paddock and trials display are somewhat tucked away to the west of the show halls, but certainly worth a visit before the rain came in, although I sadly didn’t get to see John McCrink’s interviews in the off-road hall, which is always a calming, relaxed escape from the packed mayhem of the other halls!
I also didn’t get to see all of the ’jumble, nor all of the indoor halls, nor John Reynolds and the Classic Suzuki display, nor any of the interviews with Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle or Steve Webster, thanks to being waylaid by conversations with old mates, acquaintances, club stands and stall holders.
To be frank, it takes a very full day to be able to see everything, and a full weekend would be better!
View more images and read more News and Features in the November 2019 issue of Old Bike Mart – on sale
