A bright start on Saturday morning welcomed almost 500 bikers to Aylesford Priory for the 25th International West Kent Run, a major annual Vintage Motorcycle Club event. The organisation of such a large gathering is impeccable and on the stroke of 9am the first riders were waved on their way by the Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling for the start of the 100 mile run. It took over an hour to get all 500 through the start with FAB members Dave and Mary, on a Honda Silver Wing, and Brian and Dawn, on a Norton 16H, together with Big Brian on a similar Norton, representing the club.

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Following their departure, and a welcome cup of coffee, the remaining five FAB members set about setting up the club and trade stand for the Sunday show. Shortly after lunch the task was complete and the ferrying of other bikes and kit took until mid-afternoon, by which time the first finishers were returning to the Priory. FAB members retired to watch all the bikes return, with Dawn and Brian getting back at 4.30pm. FAB ladies then sourced fish and chips for tea and the rain started to fall, by 6pm it was torrential. An evening of beer and Mary's fruit cake rounded off a good day.
Sunday morning started bright with the promise of a dry sunny day, and so it turned out. The showground was buzzing at 8am as the stalls and club stands were filled with bikes and bike-related kit and equipment. By 9am the FAB and Le2K stands were ready for business and many FAB members bringing their bikes and turning up to help. Being as it was the event's 25th anniversary, and such a nice day, spectators turned out in their hundreds and the field was soon full of bikes and people and the buzz of conversation.
Kevin R had a good day, taking a Monkey bike in part-ex for one of his, which caused such a stir both within the FAB area and as passers-by wanted to let their children sit on it. Both Dawn and Dave Shep were eyeing up the mini-bike as possible future transport! With many visitors to the FAB stand and many old friends popping by to chat the day passed so quickly and by 3.30pm the stallholders were packing up so it was time to dismantle the stand and bid farewell for another year.
This was by far the best show we have attended. Very many thanks to all that helped over both days.
Thanks to Kevin R, Sharon, KB, Jan and Ken for setting up on Saturday, to Brian, Dawn, Dave and Mary for representing the club on the run, and for evening entertainment. To Roy for supporting us on Saturday, to Rat, Jan, Dave, Kevin R, Sharon, Brian, Big Brian, KB and Ken for showing their bikes, to James, Shaun, Hannah, Mark and Annie for popping in to help on Sunday, and for helping to put stuff away. Much beer was consumed in the WMC on Sunday evening! Here's to another good one in 2010.