RERCN Tibenham Run

Bleak, grey, flat: hmm, must be Norfolk

If it’s Easter Monday it must be the Royal Enfield Riders Club Norfolk’s Tibenham Run, a piggy-back ride-out to the VMCC’s Shakedown event at Tibenham Aerodrome.

Rightly famous for its many mediaeval churches, Norfolk is also awash with ex-WWII airfields, of which Tibenham, about 15 miles south of Norwich, is one. The site was used  during WWI by the Royal Flying Corps before becoming home to squadrons of American USAAF bombers during the Second World War. Actor James Stewart flew 10 missions from the station and Tibenham was also used as a location for an episode of Dad’s Army: Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel. Now, like so many other pensioned-off aerodromes, it’s home to a gliding club.

Actor Jimmy Stewart rattles out a tune at Tibenham c.1944

Shakedown marks the beginning of the VMCC Norwich calendar and involves timed speed trials up and down the runway. There’s generally a good turn-out despite what always seems to be a rotten day weather-wise.

This year was no exception: good numbers, great bikes, freezing temperatures. My ride began with a bimble across the byways of south Norfolk interspersed with a blat along the B1113 to meet up with others of the RERCN and then on to Tibenham where we arrived to a steaming mug of coffee in the canteen and a healthy turnout lined up outside.

Here’s a selection of what was to be seen:

Wherever vintage bikes are gathered…

…there will you find old blokes poring over them

Steam-punk Panther with electric start…

…home-made frame, exhausts

and forks, and…er, pretty much everything else

Lovely old CD175 in ‘enjoyed’ condition

’59 Velo Viper…

…yours for six grand

“I see a handsome four-cylinder stranger in your future…”
The Japanese really knew how to make and sell a multi