As seen in issue 185 of 100% Biker Magazine  

 

 

 

 

 

Now this is an event I have enjoyed immensely over the last few years, and will try and juggle the calendar to ensure I can attend, the challenge being finding out what date it is on. Its normally an afternoon meet in a local country pub, but this year had expanded to a weekend, I usually only find out about it day or two before the event. But this year with a new venue, there was more publicity than usual and so on Sunday 31 August I found myself at the Portcullis Club Kenley Aerodrome.

And what a cracking venue it is. The Portcullis Club is the base for the local RAF Association and is in the oldest building still in use on the old airfield which was used during WW2 as a spitfire base, as many hills were on the Surrey/Kent border and with a small museum of artefacts it was very interesting.

Several Association members had dressed in wartime attire which certainly gave it a great period feel. Especially with the turn out by the Indian Motorcycle club, with two inline 4’s Indian and Henderson this was a great way to start a visit.

Once off the bike which way to start? Would it be bikes, cars or army vehicles it was a tough choice, there were far more vehicles than usual, but then I spotted home-made cake so tea and cake was the way. Real ale too but thought I would be good.

As you can tell by the name of the event the V8 mentalists are mainly a club for big V8 cars and there were these in abundance, and lots of trucks. There were certainly some quirky vehicles on site and one I rather liked had to be a true survivor of the last century a Mark 3 Cortina called Streets of San Fransisco. Having briefly had part ownership of an Mk3 when trying to learn to drive in the 1980’s (I gave up and didn’t learn to drive a car until 1999) it was the sort of look I once wanted.

But bikes is what you want to know about and apart from the Indians there was a large selection of Harleys, but a sweet little Honda CB200 was the bike I would have taken home. Though an interesting mat black Harley also had a certain something about it.

The DJ played a good selection of rock and roll tunes for those who fancied and then this was followed up by live country and western music set more tea and cake (it was good cake) and Country and Western yes that was nice.

I do hope that the Mentalists can have this venue again as I thought it was a great success. Next year, of course it would be rude not too.

 

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