Nostalgia is a state of mind!
By John Dickinson on 26th Aug 11
Following a three-day weekend spent riding, reporting and spectating editor 'JD' is now an expert on all things classic..!
IT may well be a source of consternation to the movers and shakers in our sport/ industry but the one area which appears to show no sign of shrinking and which continues to buck the general trend, without actually making a fuss about it, is the Classic scene.
I say this now simply because the Kendal Classic club has just staged its now annual Nostalgia weekend – which has in reality expanded into a Nostalgia week – and it is a simple fact that genuine motorcycle enthusiasts just can't get enough of it.
In competitor numbers alone, Saturday's trial featured 180 entries – and it could have been a lot more as many entries were returned, over 200 is easily within reach and this is just Pre-65 and Twin-shock classes. Then the Nostalgia Scramble on
Sunday sported well over 200 riders – plus 600 spectator vehicles in the car park all deterined to enjoy the day come rain or shine.
In contrast to many modern events there was no trouble, no hassle, no spoiled brats or belligerant parents, just two
superb days of motorcycle sport with the scramblers watching Saturday's trial, the triallers returning the compliment on Sunday and of course some riders taking part in both days.
The Nostalgia is probably heading towards the ultimate in 'grass roots' sport in that it is run for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. The organisers give themselves a monster workload, which really and genuinely is purely for the enjoyment of the many and all they get in return is the satisfaction of a job well done. As long as it is appreciated by those it is put on for, they are happy. And believe me their hard work really is appreciated.
There's massive respect in the Classic padock. Not like at some modern MX meetings I've been to where the norm is zero respect. Riders leave the paddock looking like a dump, they verbally abuse officials and quite honestly I sometimes wonder why some clubs go to such effort that just isn't appreciated.
In many ways the current Classic scene genuinely reflects off-road sport's humble origins. It was traditionally a working man's sport. There's no fancy pit boxes, hospitality suites, hard-standing for artics, hotel rooms for officials and all the affectations without which no modern MX could possibly run. It runs off the basics and is all the better for it.
That is not to say that because it is ‘basic' the Classic option is an inexpensive sport. A competitive machine can easily cost more than its modern equivalent and that is true of both the trials and scrambles scene. But on the trials front you really can just dust-down a relic that has been reclining quietly at the back of your shed for years and have a go. There were several bikes last Saturday that were just that and their riders were having a whale of a time.
There were also many fabulous, relatively new creations, 2011 versions of 1965 models, which had cost their owners many thousands of pounds. Again this is true of both trials and scrambles.
From a spectator point of view the Nostalgia Scramble is the high point of the weekend. This is of course how it has always been. Trials is basically a participant sport while scrambles is a spectator sport. Back in the 1950s and 1960s (yes I know, ancient history) even the most humble of club scrambles would attract hundreds, maybe even thousands, of spectators. Things move on of course and there are now many, many more ‘things' available for us to spend out time and money on – should we so wish.
Luckily for a lot of us there are still an awful lot of enthusiasts, who still just want to play with motorcycles. A Pre-65 bike is at heart a very basic piece of machinery – but a fascinating one. I saw a mini crowd gathering last Sunday and idly wandered over to see what was the attraction.
It was simply Ian Bradley, whose Coniston Brewery Co is a proud and welcome supporter of the Nostalgia, preparing to start his Gold Star BSA that Chris Myers was to ride in the Pre-60 race.
When Ian cracked the Goldie into life and warmed it up more people drifted over just to hear the big single exhaling impatiently through its open pipe, a sleeping giant brought to life.
Each to his own. There are probably just as many enthusiasts now who relish their air-cooled, twin-shock two-strokes, or BSA-based CCM four-bangers. The Nostalgia programme featured a 1973 CCM spare parts list – with prices to make grown men cry! How about an airbox for £3, a piston at £12.50p or a bare frame for just £110? And a swinging arm for just £12 extra! Or an exhaust pipe for a mighty £4.50. How much for an equivalent now from the specialist manufacturer of your choice.
That was then of course and this is now but it is a pleasure to report that fundamentally nothing much has changed down the years. I enjoyed plenty of 'craic' over the weekend, often with people I had never met before, had no idea who they were and the same goes for them I'm sure. Information was freely given and received and we all left on Sunday night considerably richer in knowledge than when we arrived.
Well, I did anyway...
