Copdock Motorcycle Show

Sunday 2nd October 2011

A report by Mike Davis

The East Anglian Section of the BMW Club has exhibited here at the Copdock Show for several years.  The weather has not always been kind!

However, today the sun shone brightly all day and the public turned up in their droves.

The show opened at 10.00am but many of us had been there earlier setting up the stand and some had started the stand assembly the day before.

We soon had a full line up of BMW bikes from the ubiquitous R1150GS, R1200GS, K1200LT,  R65,  K1300GT and an R75/5.

Club members ready for the crowds.

By mid morning the public had filtered into the club stand sheds and we were busy with general enquiries and those wishing to join the club or just looking for the free coffee or tea!

We gave out many application forms, some to potential new members and some to people who wished to re-join the club.  

All were made very welcome and questions answered by the attentive staff on call.

I spoke with a lady from Sudbury who owns an R75/5, similar to mine but hers is currently off the road.  She had replaced the timing chain – no mean feat with the duplex chain as fitted! She still has an issue with an odd sound so I offered my services when she was ready to work on the bike again.

This is my 1973 R75/5 after much work refurbishing it over 6 months. With only 2 previous owners and now reading only 9500 miles on the clock, it is a very low mileage 38 year old BMW, having been laid up for 27 years of it’s life!

We all took turns at walking around the show and I have never seen it so crowded.  I looked for an ice cream but the queue was very long so I gave up!

The stunt rider, Matti Griffin put on an awesome show, riding predominantly a BMW F800. He carried out wheelies, stoppies, donnuts, handle bar sitting/steering and much more.  On a smaller bike he rode around with no front forks and wheel.

Here he is just completing a move – see the BMW Club Banner flying in the background, carefully planted by our very own EA Member and National Social Secretary, Mark Dutton – well done Mark.

Matti put on shows regularly throughout the day and was a great hit with the crowds.

Elsewhere there were stands for every conceivable bike related item and our own members, Cliff & Jenny Batley had their own stand displaying a variety of goods and especially panniers systems.

Here is a shot of the crowds outside enjoying the show and beautiful sunny weather.

And here is a rather special attendee seen on the Vincent stand behind us!

Around 4.30pm, after a very enjoyable and productive day we packed up the stand.

There is always a nucleus of members who always do so much and I must mention the following.

Graeme & Tracey Stokes (K1200LT), Tim Robinson (K1300GT), David Massey (R1200GS), Daniel Schrodt (R1200GS), Ken Mullet (R1150GS – he did rather well at the show as he sold his bike!) and of course some more whose names I did not record.

I make special mention of Mark Dutton (National Social Secretary and EA Committee Member) who always provides the banners and signs and of course the coffee machine.

Thank you all for making this year’s Copdock Show a resounding success.