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Arbuthnot 2016.


jon v8
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90 riders were entered in the programme for this years Arbuthnot, a great day out in the sunshine. Considering the rain beforehand it wasn't too slippery in the sections,but the tracks in between were a real challenge at times and would have made great sections in their own right.I did feel for those hardy types riding the Colonial route on road tyres ! It really is a great day out,more an adventure than a trial at times,you see some amazing bikes and ride through some very beautiful countryside.post-3125-0-73579200-1473704363_thumb.jpg

Legs and shoulders were more than stiff this morning, over 80 miles,mostly off road on a rigid take their toll.

Anyone got any links to photo's, there were plenty of people taking pics and videos ?

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You did ride past me at one point in the afternoon. We had stopped at the top of opne of the climbs and you rode past. I too am suffering with stiff bits . I did have a massive fuel leak so didn't stop for the sections as I didn't know if I had a enough fuel to get round. Plus people were worried at me catching fire. I have stuck some shots up on facebook if you use it

 

https://www.facebook.com/TheTavernersSection/photos

 

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Hi,

 

I have many happy memories of the Arbuthnot, including quite a few years arriving at the finish on my pre-war BSA girder/rigid with what felt distinct like terminal numb bumb, or discussing with Viscount Head when we approached him for permission to use many of the areas that were on his land and being greeted like old friends and reminded to give him a call a few days before the event "because the grand-children love watching all the old bikes......." 

 

If anyone has images I will happily put a feature in our digital magazine. Just email me with details and I'll do the rest.

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We thoroughly enjoyed it. I managed not to drown the Norton this year! We only had one puncture and managed to get to the lunch stop before changing the tube. Thanks to all those who lent me their tyre pumps to keep going after mine broke.We managed to attempt every section and didn't get lost. I rate this as my favourite trial as everything is right: great atmosphere, fantastic route, sensible sections and stunning views. We will be back next year.

Rod

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I did see you on your Panther Kev,(Several times) think I called out to you at one stage... As you know its often difficult to stop on some of those paths,especially if your eyesight is struggling through scratched goggles like mine.Must get some new ones.

Deryk, it would be great if you could get some pictures for a report in ORRE, there were people who I saw taking pics in more than one place,so were clearly following the trial around. Don't really know who to suggest,other than contacting the club ?

Roadster, I was one of the three clowns on AMC's who stopped and leant you a pump when you were by that big barn,well done for keeping going,that must have been hard work at times, in those overgrown lanes where you had no choice but to keep going in whatever rut you were in. 

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Jon,

 

On the first few Arbuthnots we had quite sizeable entries from Morganatic three-wheelers and one BSA Scout,  I don't know how they got round, but I spent several hours helping push them down the two-ply narrow lanes, then left them to it at the lunch stop.  I still have one of the small Robert Arbuthnot statuettes to remind me of the hours Ian Rennie and I spent with County Surveyors working out where the route should go, all we had to go on was a route card that said, starting from the Green Dragon at Barford St Martin, go down the road for 440 yards then take the narrow lane on the left........

 

That referred to 1929 and we were in the late 1970s, people had built motorways, dual carriageways, roundabouts, houses, in the intervening period........

 

At the end of the day we were satisfied we had the correct route, then started gaining permissions.  We dressed smartly and went on a gleaming old Norton and equally shiny Matchless and were treated as royalty by all the landowners, without exception.  We then went round ten days or so before the event and saw them all personally and checked that all was still OK.  It made us a lot of friends and made organising the events a real pleasure, if time consuming (I was living in Hertfordshire at the time, so it meant fair travelling)

 

Now I would like to see similar events in a British Bikes series - but afraid the A-CU will kill it - even if we got it started.

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My team mate, one of the Steve's forwarded them to me by Email. They make interesting reading, I wonder,when they ask about boosting entries if maybe the lap could be made shorter. I'm sure several of the older riders find the length of the trial just too much. I was absolutely cream crackered after - I'm only 51...

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