Chinnor Bike Day 9

2005

 

What a success!

 

Wycombe M.A.G. would like to thank everyone who who attended Chinnor bike day which took place as usual on the first weekend in July. Friday commenced with a frenzy of setting up by members and numerous stallholders, tailing off into a moderate selection of bands and general chilling before the main event on Saturday. The principal reason for Chinnor Bike Day is to raise funds for local causes, which this year were Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust(TVCAC), which provides Air Ambulance cover for the local area without any form of government support (think lifeboat for the land locked) and Skidz which guides and motivates local youngsters with an interest in all aspects of motor vehicles. These funds come not only from the proceeds of the day, but from sponsorship and donation of goods and services. Without these the final total would be greatly diminished.

Another fundraising method is the bike raffle, in which a motorcycle is purchased and raffle tickets sold to win it or a variety of other prizes. Again, many of these are generously donated by local businesses. Saturday morning final preparations were made for the main event which was timed to commence with the arrival of the run which left from Thame Services with around 300 bikes and trikes of all shapes and sizes, passing through local towns and villages. As usual it was warmly received by the populace with much waving and photography.

As the first bikes entered the field Chinnor proper spun into effect and the culmination of months of planning and hard work were given the acid test. Stallholders and bands began their efforts as the bikes parked up for the show and the public surged into the main area.

The bar and stalls did a roaring trade, the sun shone and the bike show went down a storm showcasing the diversity and quality of machinery in attendance. Beer was consumed, food eaten and people relaxed and absorbed the atmosphere of what has become one of the highlights of the Thames Valley motorcycling calender.

Towards the end of the afternoon prizes for the bike show were judged and the winners called to the stage. The great, the bad and the ugly were represented alongside the inspirational, innovational and much loved. All winners took their trophies and then the draw for the bike raffle was pulled. Unfortunately the winner of the raffle bike wasn't in attendance, but she did attend one of Wycombe M.A.G.s Tuesday meetings at the Stag in Flackwell Heath to collect her prize.

After the prizegiving, there was a subtle shift in pace from short term visitors to folk settling down for a long evening in front of the main stage with more quality music which climaxed (as has become the norm) with the Peoples Front of Judea only stopping when they exhausted their extensive collection of covers. If you have never seen these lunatics play, treat yourself sometime.

    

    

As dawn broke over a bunch of sore heads on Sunday the clean up began, but more importantly cash was counted. In excess of £3000 was banked in total which will be in the share out. Again we thank everybody who played any part in this. Next year will be our 10th, and we hope to make it an appropriate milestone. See you there?