Birmingham Testers Rideout 21st July 2002

There is now a trading estate, where the once proud Royal Enfield Factory stood, it's the same at Armoury Road
with the BSA works, difficult for us to imagine how the structures looked and the impact it must have had on the
communities when these centres for manufacturing closed.  

It was the site of the Old Royal Enfield works at Redditch where we started the journey, our group arrived at 9.50,
myself, Slim, Ande (aka Rusty), Bluemax Geoff, Smokin Paul B, Mike B and Chris F on this occasion. There were 50
or so other bikes already on site, we stood around chatting, catching up and looking at the assembled throng. Rusty
spied another Max riding in accompanied by a long Green bike that I think was an Indian, I went over and immediately
recognised the face of the Max rider, it was Martin/vslowone (whom I had previously met at Abergavenny) he had
decided to join us at the start and make a day of it. We waited a little while longer until we were called over by the
organisers and the first part of the route was briefly explained. By that time I estimate the total number of bikes in
the group to be 250 of all makes and sizes.

The journey to the first stop took us through Rural Worcestershire and some rather unusual village names appeared
starting off at Crabbes Cross, through Inkberrow, Flyford Flavell, Wyre Piddle and Spetchley Crossroads even an
over active imagination like mine couldn't make up names like that. We continued round the outskirts of the City of
Worcester, across the new Severn Bridge through Powick (made up name?) and into Malvern. Our first scheduled
stop is a place called British Camp that is basically a large car park with a Pub Cafeteria and Public toilets. We
stopped here long enough for a drink and Rusty to have TWO pieces of cake and a bowl of chips with cheese on
top (!!!). We had a false start when we found out part of the route was blocked by an accident, which meant
another delay and a change of route.

Finally got away out via a different route heading towards the services at Ross on Wye, this was a reasonably
uneventful journey and really good fun when we joined the M50 for a mad blast down to Ross, don't for the life
 of me know why Martin from Bristol calls himself vslowone!!!!

It was of course now time for a fuel stop for the Max's, after refueling Rusty and I went for a wander and had
to rush back when everyone appeared to be going without us, consequently we got split up from the main group
and lost which was fun because it wasn't just our party but we had about 20 other bikes following us. Eventually
Bluemax Geoff and another chap sorted out where we were and after a couple of U turns we eventually found
our way to the restored Steam Railway at Norchard which incidentally isn't on most maps and is a village with no
 houses right in the middle of the forest (where elves! no, no, not this time) .

Pulling into the car park I spotted Maxtorquer, Blues  and slim (who had gone off with the first group) I also
noticed a few other Maxes parked in the corner of the car park these turned out to be Griff and one of Griff's
mates that had blown up his Eliminator seen the light and got a Max, a few introductions were in order remember
this was Rusty's first run out with the group proper since we set up the website, Griff commented he expected
Rusty to be a big fat bloke (I'm surprised he's not TWO cakes and chips at British Camp). Had a good look at the
assembled Max's, I see MT has still got the Woody woodpecker front fairing originally on Slims bike. Personally I
can't wait to see Woody with Tiger Stripes (the man needs therapy) and you should hear Mt.'s exhaust, in fact I'm
surprised you didn't wow!!!! .

Griff is now sporting powder coated wheels on his Max - Red definitely different, and blues the newest
member of the group has some very interesting detail in colour I particularly liked on his scoopsand front
spoiler, that looks a real tidy bike on a Y plate (you can hear is Bank Account emptying as we speak). We
 wandered over to the platform where a converted carriage had been turned into a cafeteria, I think they
must have had the boilers in their because it was so hot, Blues bought me a can of pop because it was my
Birthday (Aaaah), most people ordered food. Given that you might be reading this at lunch time I won't tell
you what Griff did when his burger arrived sufficient to say he gummed it rather than eat it.
Eventually everyone had the food order and we wandered back over to the Bikes to prepare for the journey
 home, first order was for Rusty to repair his dodgy fuel switch thatturned out to be the connection in the
back light (thanks Griff, top man). We then said our goodbyes parted company and on for home. 
We traveled back with Bluemax Geoff leading through the Forest of Dean, to Ross, Malvern, Worcester and
home, Geoff knows this route very well and has sussed out all the good roads although some of the road surfaces
 left a lot to be desired, I covered about 220 miles door to door.

Here, I am going to hand over to Rusty because he decided to go on with the Bristol contingent and visit his folks
in South Wales:

Rusty Reporting:

After I left you at The Forest of Dean, I went to Tintern Abbey with

Maxtorquer and Griff, Maxtorquer and I went for it on the bends, Griff stayed out of it, coz MaxT and I both
have 6 pots and he nearly ran into the back of us, so he took it easy and watched a Stealth Bomber with a couple
of Jet Fighters flying over head. I was near deaf when we got to Tintern having had MaxT's very loud 4-2-1
screaming in my ears.

Met up with the rest of the Bristolians, crashed out for a bit then headed down to the M4. They went East over
the 7 bridge and I went West by to my homeland.

Couple of flying visits to my folks then down to Cardiff to smoke a load of grass and crash at a mate’s house.

Rode back today via the Heads of the Valleys road to Abergavenny, then through Hereford, Shrewsbury, Market
Drayton, Eccleshaw and Stone.

Excellent run home, having the rev counter up at eye level makes me feel at lot better at high revs. Knowing that I'm
not over revving the bike and not having to look down at the tank. Most of the way home I was up at 8'000 to 9'000 rev,
 mainly in 3rd and 4th gear, scrubbed my tyre to 5mm from the edge.

Maybe get to the edge next time. My ears are still buzzing and I've been home for 2 hrs.

I think Griff's camera was used to take a group photo at Tintern, so you might want to ask him for it.

Great to be back out with you all again and get back into the swing of things again, having been off the road for 10 months.