Beaulieu Motorcycle World

29th June 2003

Apparently this had been going on for a few years and was well-respected as an event. I had never heard of it, but some other members in the club, (London Bikers), knew of it, and persuaded a group of us to go along. It didn't help that we got lost on the way. It appears the M27 has two ends and the person at the front of the convoy chose the wrong end to head towards.

When we eventually arrived the parking was well into the secondary back-up additional field stage and the ground was a little mushy. So much so, that an enterprising soul had blagged a load of sidestand 'pucks' from one of the magazines there to hand out to people who were not prepared for the conditions.

When I parked up a rider came over and commented that he recognised the bike. It was the Norton Rider who I had passed on the M42 coming home from Shetland only two weeks before! I didn't clock him at first, as he was on a large Kawasaki this time.

Once inside there were various club stands, much like the BMF Show, with some interesting displays. There was one for the Feet Forwards club, with Quasars, Phasers and a Carver, (fully enclosed leaning three-wheeler). Up at one end of the grounds was a trials style course, but when we got to it they had stopped for lunch.

A few small marquees had lines of various older and customised machines under cover in case of rain. Usually the attraction here, apart from the old house, of course, is the Motor Museum.

The main car park is used as an arena for the weekend, with the access roads being used as part of a circuit, so various classes of bikes can be paraded before the adoring crowds. There were some other displays and suchlike as well.

The Museum can be visited on foot, but to start with, a monorail ride through the roof gives a different perspective. It also takes you over the ornate gardens, if that is your thing. The vehicles inside are varied, to say the least, some are spectacular and a few are somewhat famous, (Bluebird). Between the parades there is a purpose built cafe, for the museum, but we made use of the vans dotted around the site.

When the time came to leave, it turns out the only exit was through the gift shop - some expensive stuff in there! The club were sloping off as and when they felt like it, so it was a solo trip back, but at least I knew which end of the motorway I needed!

I returned to the event in 2006, where one fun item was a Cossack combo being driven around and around with the chair in the air, while the passenger changed the side wheel. I videoed this, with another display performance.

Hopefully this event is still occurring, but I am out of touch with that part of the country these days.

Phil Drackley - Phil the Spill