Westland Classic Motorcycle Club
November Club Night
We were very pleased to be able to present cheques to our two main charities, Headway and Freewheelers EVS which were the proceeds from the Coast To Coast and Spirit of the Sixties. It is really great to be able to offer our support to these groups who are largely unsung but who carry out such vital activities for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Grateful thanks were offered by the charities to all those in the club who help to organise and run the events including our good friends in the Norton Owners Club who provide marshals at key points. Donations to Headway have exceeded £50.000 in the 25 years since it first began. The Freewheelers announced that in the last year alone the organisation had saved the NHS £79,000 and its operation will be expanding to transport other essential products in the coming months.
The evening got off to a great start with a fascinating talk by the Star of the 2007 Centenary Isle of man TT traces - NORTON GEORGE COHEN.
Dr Cohen is a frequent and most welcome and presenter at the club and he always has some fascinating tales to tell. This time he brought what is believed to be the oldest Norton in existence, a 1902 Norton Energette. An amazing machine in excellent condition, I think we will be seeing it around the byways of Somerset soon, indeed had it not been for Georges bad back he would probably have done a lap of the club.
As George described on his website Tales from a Someset Shed
With just a day fettlin’ the little machine in my shed, I poured in a pint of petrol through the tiny filler and wheeled her out into the yard. Petrol tap on, tickle carb, fiddle with a few levers, engage second of the two gears by pulling back on the large lever and pedal away. Bop Bop Bop Bop. The engine fired up perfectly and I went for a spin down the lane.
About as fast as Raleigh ‘Runabout’, with very poor braking and some LPA (light pedal assistance) required on the hills.
The grin factor was very high indeed and I am pleased that I have a machine eligible for next years Pioneer run.
Many thanks George, we hope to see you again soon.
Why not get Georges book ‘Flat Tank’ Norton Book’ for your xmas stocking.