Yes there are plenty of ways of finding obscure bits for aged and not so aged motorcycles, bartering in the pub, online auction sites, a mate of a mate’s house, but nothing beats a good old rummage at an Autojumble.
The only problem I find is I always find bits I never knew I wanted, even if just a handful of hooks or strange hoseclips or that old pamphlet, oooh look that’s interesting,, oooh look my precious.
The Kempton Autojumble, held at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey has been going for just under 30 years now, organised by EGP enterprises. EGP is run by Eric Paterson a very enthusiastic motorcyclist, who also suffers the infamous “Salt Fever” and is regularly seen pushing old machinery to its limit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. There are also two bigger events being the Southern Classic Bike Show and Southern Classic off road show.
The events are on a Saturday morning, and queues to get in start quite early before official doors open, with a great chattering crowd which is quite infectious. I find as ever the bike park a place of great interest with many quirky bikes there and well used usable classics For those that feel so inclined there is also a train station on site to get there.
Once in, fighting past the queues for the food vans, we reach a veritable nirvana for those who are looking for just that bit. Mind you, you know when you’re getting old when bikes you lusted over in, or owned in your youth are now deemed classic. At this visit it seemed to be the turn of Honda CB250rs and the humble C90 to make this point.
There seems to be some interesting machines coming from abroad too, with Motebecanes and a strange selection of cyclemotors. And you will find parts for all sorts of vehicles not just classic Brits. And I am always surprised by the amount of new barn finds that appear.
It’s a fiver to get in to rummage, which is less than postage for many online places.
Forthcoming dates are Southern Classic Bike show and Autojumble Saturday 24 May
Autojumbles 26 July, 20 September, 25 October.
Southern Classic offroad show and Autojumble Saturday 6 December
Details can be found here: www.egp-
As seen in 100% Biker magazine issue 180 
