Scorton Vintage & Country Fair 2010 – Report

You couldn’t have asked for better weather during this years Scorton vintage and country fair. The sunshine was constant on both days with just a few clouds to keep burnt skin at bay. Stuart, Elizabeth and William, the Dalmatian, arrived early on the Friday morning to set up camp in a suitable spot, ensuring enough room was available to receive the main camping party due later in the day. An early bird on the field, in an unrecognised 

 motor home, towing not one but two GoldWings, was Jim and Chandra who we hadn’t seen on the GoldWing scene for quite a while. They arrived with a rather splendid motor home and trailer set up for their GL1800 and GL1500 GoldWings. It was also good to see John & Olive Taylor who had arrived without their GoldWing, due to John’s injured arm, but seeing as they had a pass they were allowed onto the exhibitor’s site without an actual exhibit. Good for you John. So by early evening 4 motor homes, 3 caravans and 1 trailer tent had all arrived and set up on the exhibitors camping field.   

Good to see Jim & Chandra again.

The evening was spent watching the event unfold and a tide of exhibitors arrive and set up their individual stalls and displays. The event field slowly took shape as cherry pickers, cranes and tractors erected fencing and moved the larger exhibits into place. Meanwhile lots of wine, beer and spirits were being drunk in a noisy corner of the field that will be forever England. Or maybe not, Jackie held audience for those wanting to see the England Algeria world cup game but within 30 minutes of kick off more fun was being had in the gazebo village and the pitiful 0-0 final result was hardly noticed.   

Saturday morning started early with our happy band of wingers slowly coming to life and getting their GoldWings onto our allotted display area. This year we had pride of place opposite the main event ring and outside the beer tent, not bad considering the main motorcycle display area was well away from the central display arena. Pete Rogers arrived early to spend the day with us and was already on display and sampling the magnificent bacon butties as the rest of the group parked up. We managed to get the GoldWings North West banners erected and the 12 bikes and trikes organised without too much difficulty.   

The amazing John Colley

The morning was spent relaxing around the camp site, visiting the trade stalls and seeing the many classic vehicles and displays around the show, that was until 11:00am when we had our turn to ride the GoldWings around the central display area, whilst our very own Stuart Ormerod provided a tirade of suitable commentary to the delight of the show master, who had no idea about GoldWings, and the entertainment of the crowds. Chandra, who had only ridden Jim’s GoldWing once before, had a real baptism of fire as she rode around the ring several times in front of hundreds of spectators and the personal commentary from Stuart. She did remarkably well. The main arena was in use throughout the day with the highlight of the show being Steve Colley, a motorcycle skilled riding show, the things he does with a Gas Gas trials bike have to be seen to be believed. He ends up riding around the arena and climbing over his van on his bike with no front wheel or forks, how does he do that?   

Saturday evening started with a bar-b-cue with everyone enjoying the last of the day’s sunshine and having a great time in the gazebo village. We also promised to do a short light display in the arena after dark. Which at this time of the year is quite late? We were met with the site of a stunning Tractor Pulling machine which was driven by two Rolls Royce Griffon engines, absolutely amazing stuff. As it got darker the flames coming from the 24 exhaust pipes light up the entire arena. Our puny LED lights just didn’t seem to hack it. The ride back to the camping field was met with more interest as our fellow campers came out to see the spectacle.   

It was a late night when Ian & Lynette Duxbury left the party for the short ride home and the rest of us went to bed.   

Sunday was a very similar affair, but today the public came in their thousands. Attendance was at record levels as the weather did its stuff and the car parks got steadily busier, it really was a very busy show. The club display attracted quite a few interested motorcyclists with questions about the GoldWing and the club in general. The big success of the day was meeting a couple who had introduced themselves two years previous at Fleetwood Tram Sunday, they had both now purchased motorcycles, one of them a Pan European and the other a rather splendid GL1500 and were intending to join the club at the earliest opportunity. Success!   

Ted Rogerson, tired but victorious.

Sunday was also for visiting members, Graham Brookfield, Roger Fogg and Cheryl both arrived during the day to say hello and see the show. The premier moment of the day however was confirmation that our GoldWings North West RBLR1000 miles team had safely completed their ordeal and had all returned, tired but jubilant. Ted Rodgerson, representing the team, turned up at Scorton to raucous applause from the guys. We immediately informed the organisers what they had achieved and promptly had Ted in the arena for a couple of celebratory laps and applause from the crowd followed by an explanation of the RBLR Poppy appeal. It was a proud moment, congratulations to all the team.   

The show started to wind down around 4:00pm as those who had to be at work the following morning packed up and made their way home. Quite a few had already decided to stay for the Sunday evening. The remaining party enjoying a Jacobs join bar-b-cue from the remnants of several fridges and remarkably a huge feast appeared from almost nothing. It was a very pleasant end to the best Scorton show so far.  

See the rest of the pictures in the Scorton 2010 gallery