STONHAM BIKE SHOW – THE FIRST PROPER BIKE EVENT OF 2021!

THE STONHAM BARNS COMPLEX IN SUFFOLK HELD THEIR FIRST MOTORCYCLE SHOW IN 2019. IT WENT DOWN WELL, AND PLANS FOR A BIGGER AND BETTER SHOW WERE MADE FOR 2020.

ASwith everything else in 2020 though, these plans were scuppered by Covid, and shelved until 2021. Having regularly attended the popular Stonham bike nights late last summer, and from April this year, it was plain to see that this year’s show was going to be very well attended (Covid, and weather, permitting of course).

Having had glorious sunshine for weeks on end during the first lockdown this time last year, we ended up with the coldest, wettest Spring for years, but that didn’t stop folk now that we can finally get out and do stuff. The lead up to the show was bleak, and everyone feared the worst, but on the day the sun shone, and the bikes streamed in.

The showground at Stonham is an excellent venue for a show like this – loads of room for the Covid-wary to keep a distance, and enough space to satisfy the draconian rules we’ve all become accustomed to. Vandal and Toddy from The Two Brothers Racing Stunt Team performed (noisily) for the crowds, as did Lee Musselwhite and friends on (slightly quieter) BMX and MTBs, and on trials motorcycles, and there were trade stands, an autojumble, catering of all kinds… hell, this felt almost pre-virus normal.

The selection of machines on show was varied, and kept all ages and tastes happy – a vintage Ariel rubbed shoulders with a home-built V8, and a Kawasaki streetfighter, and the So Low Choppers crew (who all live round that way) were out in force, too. Bikes that grabbed my attention were the orange SOHC CB750 chop, a bare-bones Triumph rat, and Ben Bloomfield’s low-ashell Kawasaki chop. It was great to see old mates who hadn’t seen each other since early last year catching up and bumping elbows – it’s events like this we’ve all being crying out for. Hopefully they’re back to stay!