Weslake at Ashford

This Easter Monday (which, for those of you who have to look at your calendars – as we did – is April 18) will see the Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show and Autojumble return to Ashford Livestock Market, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent TN24 0HB. Regulars to the show won’t need to be reminded of what a grand day out it is, but this year there is a rather special element to the event as former Weslake employees will be reunited with the engines they built and designed.

From its speedway engines to its work on the Ford GT-40, its development of the Hesketh engine, the Norton Challenger and the Triumph eight-valve head, Weslake is a legendary name in motoring history and, while it was once based in Rye in East Sussex, it does have a connection to Ashford through its subsidiary, the Ashford Tool and Gauge Company.

Exhibits at the show will include a cutaway speedway engine, sectioned 750cc eight-valve twin engine and pattern equipment with some parts for the ill-fated 500cc Grand Prix racing engine. Taking centre stage is the 1959 1000cc Norlake Café Racer (pictured), which took five and a half years and 517 man hours to build and is powered by a Weslake V-twin pushrod eight-valve engine.

In addition to the Weslake display there will be many more classic and vintage machines on show in the main hall, plus dozens of bike jumble stalls, trade stands selling tools, clothing and accessories and more besides. Outside is a free Bikemart area for folk to sell complete motorcycles at no extra charge other than an entry ticket. Gates open to the public from 10am and tickets cost £6 for adults. Accompanied children under 16 get in free. EarlyBird admission from 7.30am is available for £10. Tickets and details are available online at www.elk-promotions.co.uk and visitors can pay by card or cash at the gate.