Thirteen of us arrived at Writtle Green car park for Steve Backs ride and suitably backed up by John Ruth. For several years now Steve has had a reputation for breakdowns but that is just a memory. When it was announced he would be on his Bantam I thought m,mm this is going to be steady. Well none of it. If Carlsberg made motorcycles it would have been a Bantam, for the little 175 with three speeds was really more than adequate for the lanes and occasional ‘B’ roads. Turn left, turn right, on roads in our locality but never travelled before. The occasional tractor and trailer and little else except for the lady on a horse. We all ‘tucked in’ and the noisier bikes turned off, she passed by with little recognition and no drama but her face painted a picture.

On to Cammas fruit farm for coffee. It was rammed with kids and parents because they have a children's play ground there. It was fine as the cafe area was free while they were busy injuring themselves in the safe play area. Onwards to lunch. The Bantam demonstrated its powerful drum brakes when Steve overshot a turning. I could have T-boned him but with a twist of the throttle his fuel injection cut in and he was gone in a cloud of dust. Following Paul Weston, his girder fork Sunbeam showed a surprising turn of speed easily keeping up with modern traffic but I thought they were in trouble when they went over a sunken drain. Not quite a tank slapper but it made me wince just watching.

Two strokes in abundance, well two actually, Steve's ‘red rocket’ of course and Rex’s Francis Barnett. Which whilst not being noisy could be heard some distance ahead. Couldn’t smell them either. Modern oil the saviour of what we used to call ‘stink wheels’.

A good spread of models. John and Jim's Nortons, Steve and Mick's Beezers, Richard’s Beemer. Richard's Morini. Our granddad was (not Paul) the Sunbeam. The youngster of the pack being Johns R's Honda 400 4 (Note from Richard-I think my Morini is younger being 1980, John's Honda will be 1970 something). John Bs and Dave Bs AJSs sounded wonderful under load . Let’s not forget Peter's Ariel which has been around the clock and back again. Rex on his FB twin, which is now trusted over distance ( where have all the Villiers engined bikes gone) Oh yes and me on the only Triumph which is most unusual.

Then there was lunch at The Rayleigh Arms in Terling. Two had carried on to home by then but the rest of us had lunch in the sun. 27 degrees, absolutely perfect. Thanks to Steve and John for a lovely ride with brilliant like minded people. The Bantam, what a willing little work horse. Mr Kipling made exceedingly good cakes and Steve made an exceedingly good day out.

Foot note :- Peter and Ariel would have travelled 200 miles by the time he returned home to Walton-on - Naze.