david badcock - feature item

We were tasked with meeting at the National Motorcycle Museum at 11:33, a very precise time, given by our host of the event Robert. I decided to get an early start so that I could whizz around the museum before my fellow IBA UK members arrived at the designated time.

Here was my route from SPOT:

	Hall 1 of five halls		One of my favourites an Ariel Square Four
	Is this the first Russel Day Long saddle?		Vincent Black Prine, the Rolls Royce of bikes
	A couple of BSA Bantams, one of them a telegram bike that many bikers cut their riding teeth on		The only non UK machine I could find, an Indian of New Yorks Police
	Bathtub Triumph		Brough Superior, a well engineered masterpiece
	Steve Hislop's Rotary Norton		Steve Hislop rode the bike to a record braking win in the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1992, his race average of 121.8 mph was still standing in 1998. In the earlier Formula 1 race he had lapped at 123.3 mph to finish second to Phil McCallen but in the TT race he beat Carl Fogarty on a works Yamaha by 4.4 seconds. The NRS 588 engine produces over 135 hp at no more than 10,000rpm and runs on unleaded petrol from a pump, maximum speed is 185mph.

The National Motorcycle Museum is a privately owned exhibition of British Bikes with models of all the marques regularly seen on British roads through the 20th Centuary. Twenty IBA UK members started to arrive and I was the second in and found our leader, Roger Allen, after following the smell of bacon sandwich was where to find Roger! The museum opens at 10am and I was the first to enter. I had a good time but our innaugral meeting was beconing.

For some reason Robert told us to be present at 11:33, a very precise time, but for some every minute counted. We all formed up and went to Roberts local for our 'EAT' part of the day; good British Pub Fayre. Some IBA UK business was discussed, plans made, tyres kicked.

A brilliant day, 425 mile round trip, for me and a day with liked minded friends whom understood SPOT, Russell Day Long and the rest of the jargon that goes with Long Distance motorcycling.

Roll on the next one.