Museum & Auctions

[mthee]

Even my uncle (mid seventies now) struggled to maintain interest. Starting out with the Bantams of his youth, he had a CX when I was a kid, before switching back to the classics with a Velo for several years and eventually lured away by the ease of modern Ducatis and now a Triumph Thruxton.
I don't think his Venom was the Thruxton, but I sent him Ian's link to the auction results to see if I can wind him up a bit 

[timbo]

Aye Steve, those Broughs were known as the Bodmin hoard, eight in total I believe, and what a total pile of crap. A few of them, if restored, couldn't contain much of the original, as they were totally rotten. I think altogether they made somewhere near 400,000 dollars!
Anyway, we seem to have gone off on a slight tangent, so linking into your mention of TE Lawrence, I can thoroughly recommend NT Clouds Hill, his cottage in the woods, if you're down Dorset way. And just round the corner, the spot where he had his fatal accident, next to the modern tank training area, where there's a viewing area to watch the guys doing there driver training. Which of course is next to Bovington Tank Museum. You'll need at least a day for that one, as me and SteveD found out on our travels last September. The entrance ticket is valid for twelve months, so I'm planning another visit this year after our June rally. If you want to know a bit more about TE Lawrence, can I recommend his memoirs of his exploits in the desert, 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom', a very interesting and complex character, who was totally let down by his commanders and politicians in the end. No surprise there 

[johnr]

there are a couple of nice little museums in cumbria that ive been to, theres the lakeland motor museum in haverthwaite on the road to barrow, its next door to the lakeside and haverthwaite steam railway so can be part of a good day out, the steam railway links onto the lake cruises on windermere, you can buy a ticket for the train and the boat, so if your other half doesnt want to look at old cars and motorbikes as well as toys, bicycles aircraft boats and caravans for a few hours, she or he could jump on the steam train and take a cruise on the lake with stop offs at windermere and ambleside.
alternatively, up in keswick, next door to the oft derided pencil museum, (yes, its a real place, based on the past mining of graphite in the area) there was once a james bond museum but i think its shut down now.

[timbo]

Yes, that Lakeland Transport Museum is a goodun, sorry to hear about the James Bond Museum. Never got to it or the Pencil Museum. We used to have a Mini Museum and an American Car Museum, both now gone, and I never visited either 
So, just a thought, but to keep this thread live, and with the days getting longer, why don't we all aim to visit somewhere local that we've never been to, and then post it on here. Ive at least one place in mind which I've been meaning to visit for years, and this thread has definitely give me the kick up the backside I need. Hang on, just thought of two more places as well 

[johnr]

although southport is relativel local to me, i draw the line at visiting the lawnmower museum.......

[timbo]

Its now on my bucket list! I bet they even have some Royal Enfield mowers 
Another good one in the north west, is the Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland, just off the M6 
And the Anderton Boat Lift at Nantwich? Northwich?

[silver]

Try Lincolnshire aviation trust At East Kirkby.
www.lincsaviation.co.uk
They have a Lancaster(just Jane), that does Taxi runs. As a spectator you can get pretty close.
The wing tip can pass over your head with all 4 merlins doing their thing. Need to make sure you go on a day they do Taxi runs. Under a tenner to get in. Ive been about 3 times now and I shall go again this year.
Dave

[SteveC#222]

Try Lincolnshire aviation trust At East Kirkby.
www.lincsaviation.co.uk
They have a Lancaster(just Jane), that does Taxi runs. As a spectator you can get pretty close.
The wing tip can pass over your head with all 4 merlins doing their thing. Need to make sure you go on a day they do Taxi runs. Under a tenner to get in. Ive been about 3 times now and I shall go again this year.
Dave

Just remember they shut on Sundays.

[Andy M]

The Dennis factory in Guildford used to have an ancient lawnmower as part of their private museum/ reception area. Probably one of the first things with a petrol engine that moved.

Andy

[johnr]

top tip, aviation museums are great days out on overcast foggy days. we went last year to the battle of britain memorial flight on such a day, and as the weather was too poor to risk flying these priceless old warbirds, practically the entire squadren was at home to visit, the lanc, numerous spitfires and hurricaines, a dakota, their prop driven trainers, there wasnt a space left to put a plane in when we were in the hanger. full house! apparently if you go in the airshow season, there arent as many things that are worth visiting as everything airworthy is up in the sky! even modern fighter jets, and 2 awacs and helecopters were lined up on the tarmac.

[timbo]

Great tips on places to visit. Keep them coming 
I really think next years rally needs to be over Lincolnshire way, so the eastern/south east guys can be more local. My only worry is, how many cylinders does a Lancaster have?

[silver]

Rally venue might be ok at east lincs, they do have bike meets and there is camping on site.
Dave

[SteveC#222]

Great tips on places to visit. Keep them coming 
I really think next years rally needs to be over Lincolnshire way,neo the eastern/south east guys can be more local. My only worry is, how many cylinders does a Lancaster have?

Great Idea!

Don't worry, Just listen

[Rossco500]

Results from the Brightwells Auction on Wed - The low mileage Kawasaki z200s were sold for around £2500 each!!!

http://www.brightwells.com/classic-motoring/leominster-classic-vintage/leominster-classic-vintage-march-2017/catalogue-8th-march-2017/

[johnr]

how many cylinders does a lancaster have then? obviously theres 48 cylinders in the engines, 12x4, but then these planes always seemed to have suplementary engines for generating electricity or hydraulic power, so, anyone got any idea how many pots? theres a pic on here of a prototype with an extra merlin provinding nothing but boost for a supercharger, so that one would have 60 plus suplementary engines.