Local sidecar crew Ian Reavley and Colin Goode from Blyth, Northumberland, didn’t even have to leave the county to compete in the 45th Beamish Trophy Trial on September 17 – and on their 1935 Norton combination they beat their fellow sidecar competitors and all the solo riders as well to take home the Richard Hoare Memorial Trophy for the best overall performance, writes John McCrink, who also took the photographs.
Organised by the South Durham section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, the Beamish is one of the few specialised events still around that allows such a wide range of machinery and age groups to compete against each other. It closely resembles a typical, pre-war reliability trial.
Thankfully the wet conditions the area had experienced earlier in the week subsided, and around 120 enthusiastic entrants assembled in dry, sunny conditions at The New Board Inn near the village of Esh, County Durham, keen to tackle more than 100 miles of spectacular Cumbrian and Northumbrian dales, including some enjoyable but challenging off-road sections.
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It has become customary for a fair number of folk to camp at the ‘Board’ on the Saturday evening to partake of the excellent, hearty grub and fine ales on offer. Such warm camaraderie also affords the opportunity (which no self-respecting classic biker can resist) to exchange endless motorbike yarns – all great fun.
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