EACC Duloe Daffodil Dash

The season opener saw 26 riders sign on for the ‘Dash’ on a chilly but fair morning in Duloe village. armed with route maps and cards, all riders got away just before 11am. 30-odd route markers were installed to assist on the journey. Seemingly ,within three to four miles into the 21-mile outward leg, many participants had made up their own route in a ‘starburst’ style formation. Nevertheless, eventually, all arrived safely at the pub stop, some saying they never saw any route signs along the way. A visit to Specsavers may be advisable! Matt Cox on a Bown autocycle led the way, it may be rust from the Bown getting in the eyes of the following pack!

The sun shone well and all but one left the pub OK onthe return leg. Mark’s Garelli cried enough and returned on the trailer. Many smiles on faces showed that the majority enjoyed the jaunt although I believe a few were disappointed. Thanks for all who attended and many thanks to Owen and Lyn for their help at the hall, also Mal with washing up liquid to the rescue. Roll on summer and warm riding days to enjoy. PS: credit to Matt for the artwork on the signs, shame no one saw them!

Cheers
Ralph.

The EACC was joined on this ride by members of the East Northants Classic Motor Cycle Club. Matt Embleton of the ENCMCC has sent his report:

22nd March saw what I guess could truly be described as our first true club ride & meet of 2015 with ten club members attending the Duloe Daffodil Dash where we were made very welcome by everyone and, unlike previous years, Ralph ensured the bacon sandwiches, tea, and coffee were still available right up to a few minutes before the off.

Around 26 tiddlers signed up for the Duloe Daffodil Dash ranging from a diesel-engined two-stroke moped to me on my C90, also joining in the ride were Paul, Rod and Trevor our other members doing their own thing after we set off. The official route took us through some great roads via Staploe, Honeydon, Colmworth, Keysoe Row, Thurleigh, etc, to lunch stop at The Chequers in Yielden – A fantastic well thought out and planned route thanks to Ralph.

As we had ridden out to the start and the fact that Yielden was on our way home, our contingent didn’t complete the return leg back to Duloe but choose to ride straight home instead.

Whilst at Duloe Village Hall we couldn’t help notice a “letter of complaint” regarding non-pedal assisted machines being displayed and taking part in their rides – this seemed to suggest clubs like ours were not really welcome – I raised this matter by e-mail with Andrew Pattle of the EACC and it was great to get an immediate reply that, far from confirming this impression, stated

“The EACC welcomes all to its events. Events are, after all, primarily a social event. A rough ‘rule of thumb’ we use at exhibitions is ‘anything under 100cc’; for runs, riders of even bigger machines are welcome as long as they accept that either they’ll have to ride slowly, or end up waiting outside the lunch-stop pub until it opens!”

There are some great pictures of the event, including pictures of some of our club bikes and even me entering the Chequers on the C90—you can also get more information about the EACC at www.autocycle.org.uk whose annual membership is just a few pounds a year—I am now certainly joining!

I clocked just over sixty miles on my C90 and like all attending had a thoroughly great day!