Mike Hailwood Memorial Run

The Ferrets who were on this, the first of the season's run, were; Rob & Julie (Canary) and Clive & Kit.

This was the first biking event of this season, but was not the usual first run of a year, in that it was neither purely for the sake of getting out and enjoying the bikes, nor was it gently paced as is usual for what is often people's first time back on their bikes after the Winter break.  It was not a standard run because Mike Hailwood's very sad and untimely death came so early in 1981, that his memorial date occurs earlier than the Ferret's usual first run of the season.  And it was Pacey in order for us to get to the run's start, at the historic site of Norton's factory on Bracebridge Street in Aston, Birmingham, in time for the 11:15 departure.

But, despite the early start - made even earlier by the clocks having gone forward in the small hours - and the pacey demands, it was a truly rewarding and enjoyable day, made that much better by excellent dry weather and a bit of afternoon sunshine.  The enjoyments were mixed and varied, from the expected excellent company and riding companionship through to the poignant and moving visit to pay our respects at Mike's grave in his home village's church in Tanworth in Arden, some 13 miles south of Bracebridge Street.  Another major pleasure was meeting up with so many other bikers, some 150 at an estimate, who had also turned out for this event, and who made up the mass ride from Bracebridge Street to Mike's home village.

Although a memorial service at the church had been advertised, it was dropped after the new vicar asked for substantial payment for conducting the service!  The event is organised as an amateur and volunteer interest, and it was only expected that about 25 bikes would attend, as was the case last year.  So this cost just couldn't be justified.  However, the event was featured in MCN and on various biking websites, which may explain the substantially larger turnout this year.  In future they plan to hold a memorial service every five years, but given this years numbers they may rethink this.

It was an early start, so Clive & Kit's 'Bird stood looking a little startled at being up and about at 05:30, being totally innocent of the fact that it was now officially 06:30!  It was also pretty cold and fresh despite the cloud cover.

Likewise, Rob & Julie were also up and about but somewhat in more of a rush given that Rob had used up almost 50 minutes of snooze time on their alarm!

However, all went well and they were already in McDonald's, warming up, as Clive & Kit pulled in at 08:15.  Before half past the two bikes were out and back on the road for the determined run down through the western edge of the Peak District and through the Derbyshire Dales.  More sensible people were obviously still abed, as the roads were pretty well deserted allowing an excellent pace to be maintained.  Both Rob and Clive rapidly had to polish up on their Winter rusted skills, not helped by everyone feeling a tad cold in the early morning air and sporadic hill mist.

Fortunately we were a little ahead of schedule when we reached our planned break in Ashbourne, and even more fortunate was our finding an open cafe where Rob & Julie were at last able to get a bite of breakfast, and all could stock up on warming drinks.  By now the air had warmed a little, but it certainly wasn't balmy.

It's fortunate that we were making good progress as Clive threw an eight mile U-turn into the next leg just twenty miles short of Aston, so by the time we were only a mile from the meet-up we were running bang on time.  This was almost thrown away, because the roads around Bracebridge had recently been made into a one way system, so Clive's route no longer worked!  A dart around less than salubrious industrial and low-cost housing areas, using dead-reckoning and intuition, found us pulling into Bracebridge street just five minutes before the run was supposed to be leaving.

It was very fortunate that this was a biking event, as it didn't end up leaving until well after half past, allowing us to wander around having a look at the enormous variety of bikes that people had turned up on, and to have a bit of a chat with people as we stretched our legs.  Unsurprisingly there were a large number of classic bikes, appropriate for the city we were in, and all displayed in immaculate and cherished condition.  Although there were a lot of newer bikes, not another 'Bird was present .... although there was a Hayabusa!

The organiser, an affable chap who was, by his own admission, somewhat taken aback by the sheer number of bikes attending this year, called everyone together for a short briefing, part of which was to describe the route that was going to be taken to Tanworth in Arden and to introduce the group leader.  Of course, the route went in one ear and out the other, not being at all familiar with the Birmingham inner ring road, so keeping up with the pack was the order of the day.  And hats off to that leader, who did a sterling job of shepherding more than a hundred or so bikes through the busy labyrinth of the city and out to the southern suburbs.  At times different riders volunteered to hold traffic back as the group entered roundabouts, and as far as we know nobody, as a result, got lost.

The next problem was parking up in Tarnworth, which is only a small but rather posh village already packed with church-goer's cars.  Thinking that there would only be the usual 25 or so bikes, the organiser hadn't arranged anything, so it was a case of squeezing machines in wherever possible.

Once parked up, people fell to chatting before eventually finding their ways into the churchyard, and down to spend a few thoughtful minutes at Mike's grave.

The church, and its yard are in a wonderful position, with panoramic views across the countryside to the south from the commandingly elevated position of the village.  After all the rushing and pacey riding, then the frenetic push through the urban conurbation, these few minutes of solitude beside fellow thoughtful riders was a welcome and peaceful quietude.  A chance to remember the greatest of all racers that the world has seen, and to reflect on the sad loss of him and his ten year old daughter.

When chatting with the organiser in Bracebridge Street, he had described the event as an Irish one, meaning that it would end when people felt that it had ended.  And so it was that we refreshed ourselves at the local pub, and when we felt the time was ripe, we returned to the bikes and readied ourselves for the return run.

As the destinations of the two bikes were on opposite sides of the Pennines, it was decided that we would ride together as far as the break in Ashbourne, and there part company.

The extra bouts of sunshine and coming well into the afternoon meant that the day was noticeably warmer - not Summer you understand, but not toe-chillingly cold as it had been first off.  So, our break in Ashbourne was al fresco.

After cakes and drinks were consumed, and more chat made, it was time to part for our separate ways home.  Rob & Julie sped off through Matlock and back to Sheffield whilst Clive & Kit went west through Leak and Macclesfield back to Manchester, arriving home with 240 thoroughly enjoyed miles on the clock.

A moving day in more ways than one.

Photographs courtesy of Clive

Page Updated

28/06/2008 23:54