The Friendly Inn

Just when you thought the rain might spoil play for our annual gathering at the

Friendly Inn at Frankton, the Car park fills up with an eclectic mix of machinery

of all ages. This is Martyn Roberts standing proudly along side his

home built special the 'Manki' . This is a 650 Suzuki single engine

fitted into a Norton Featherbed frame. Martyn did  all the engineering

and fabricating work  himself in his home workshop to produce this great machine.

 

 

 

The Friendly Inn

This little gem  is a Cagiva Mito 125cc, and to the young man who rode in on it, it  was his pride and joy.
He also expressed a keen interest in Scott Two Strokes witch is a good thing, and who knows maybe this machine will be a future classic and the rider a future VMCC member...lets hope so!

The Friendly Inn

The Friendly Inn

This machine made one of its first appearances in public for a number of years

Frank Parker's wonder full restoration  of his Villiers powered Sun.

The Friendly Inn

Rare and very nice Puch.

The Future of English Pubs....the Micropub?

http://www.thefourcandles.co.uk/index.htm

Real Ale, a classic comedy sketch and the future of English Pubs.

While away visiting relatives for a few days in Broadstairs  Kent I was very lucky to be only a short walk away from this watering hole the ' Four Candles' . Up and down the country it would appear that a quiet Revolution is taking place with a growing number of people opening independently run 'Micropubs'.  This previous business used to be a traditional Hardware Store and the  inside of the 'Four Candles' is only as big as the average front room, and mostly standing room only. The owner Mike Beaumont sums it up.....
     " we're selling proper beer to proper people "

Ticket to Ride

Last month I had a phone call from the Vintage Motorcycle Club to inform me that I was first reserve
for the 2013 Banbury Run, with 600 entrants the event is always over subscribed and thought I was
fortunate to be on the reserve list.
Ten minutes later I had another call to say someone had dropped out and that I was now officially in this years event, well done the VMCC for asking for Mobile phone numbers and having a reserve list.
And so this Bank Holiday Sunday I thought it only right to give the old girl more than just a rub down with an oily rag. First job was to check the air in the tyres, check and clean spark plug and points, and then grease all the moving parts of the girder forks. After this ' essential maintenance work was carried out it was on with the Helmet, Jacket and gloves
and a  a very pleasant ride around some of my favourite local  Country lanes, this particular
photo opportunity was taken in ' Shaker Lane' not far from my home.