Derek’s charity marathon
By John Dickinson on 29th Jun 16
DEREK Clampin, Eastern Centre stalwart he is a Life Vice President of the centre and former well-respected ACU trials committee-man and National Steward, has recently completed a 50-mile motorcycle trial charity ride.
And if you think that doesn't sound much of a challenge, it was completed on a machine that is 97 years old while Derek himself is a mere 89 years young!
The trial was the well-known Banbury Run and Derek, who has recently built a 350 BSA for green laning, rode a 1919 Bown two-stroke machine with belt drive and very rudimentary brakes.
And that really means rudimentary.
At one stage in the event Derek, who is President of the Castle Colchester club, found himself bowling down a narrow country lane with a large John Deere tractor bearing down on him.
Quickly realising that the brakes were doing next to nothing to retard progress he ‘trialsed' the bike up a banking as the tractor thundered on its way!
The Bown has actually been in the Clampin family since new having been purchased by Derek's uncle when he was an apprentice.
It spent many years untouched in a barn until Derek dug it out when his long-time friend – scrambles legend Dave Bickers – asked if he knew of anyone with a belt-drive machine as he had always fancied one.
Derek gave Dave the bike and between them they restored it to running condition.
When Dave sadly passed away Derek found that the Bown had been willed back to him by a very thoughtful Bickers. Derek decided to ride the Banbury Run for charity and has so far raised around £1,000 with the money to be divided equally between his local St Helena Hospice and the ACU Ben Fund.
If anyone would like to contribute after Derek's feat – the ride took around four hours after a couple of wrong turnings and he celebrated with a quiet, well-earned pipe – just log on to www.justgiving.com/Derek-Clampin
