Bonneville 50th Anniversary run.

[gumpt1oo]

Had a ride down to the National Heritage Centre at Gaydon yesterday to the Bonneville 50th Anniversary Rally. It was a 360mile round trip from my house with no rain!
Here are some pics from the day.
59's everywhere!

There was displays from various owners clubs

And a bonnie from each year of production on show

One of my favourites

A nice Hurricane

Inside the exhibition was a display of racing Bonnies

Streamliner Bonnie

Check out the silencers on the streamliner engine!

Craig Vetter gave a talk on his designs, the Hurricane, and his farings for over an hour. It was very interesting to see his plans for a TT Bonneville he designed in 1973 that was sadly never produced.
A grainy pic of Craig Vetter

The Heritage centre has a fulltime display of vehicles, here are a few pics.
MG racers

Not something you see everyday, a vintage bus, Judge Dread's truck and Lady P's Thunderbird car!

There is a timeline storyboard running right around the centre

Half an MG!

Monte Carlo winning Mini Cooper

An excellent day out.

 

[Geoff587]

Thanks for the excellent write up and pictures (as normal ) , which way did you go to avoid the rain, though this weekend seems like it could be our summer .
Love the pics of the rows of Bonnies, when I was a lad (can you hear the Hovis theme music ) ) in the sixties, the Bonnie was the only bike you dreamed of owning, the essence of all that biking stood for.

Wondered where you were not seen a post for a while.

Geoff.

 

[otherwise]

You were in Triumph Heaven and went home! I think I'd still be there.
Thanks for the photos, that line up of 59's just got my juices going.

 

[Rocky]

Great pics :y115: Thanks for sharing :y18:

 

[CarlS]

Gump, excellent photography and a great write up. I am Like Otherwise, that line of 1959's got me drooling along with that shot of the Bonnies from every year of production. Wow! Waht a gorgeous collection.

I'm glad you got to attend and I wish I could have been with you. As Geoff said, during the 60's a Triumph was THE bike to own. Nearly every rider dreamed of owning one. I was fortunate enough to be able to buy my first one in 1966, brand new. I chose the Trophy rather than the Bonneville to avoid the hassles of the two carbs.

 

[The Seeker]

Wow! Someday I hope to get to the Heritage Centre. I'm SO envious.

Thanks a million for those pics!!

 

[Simmer]

Thanks for sharing. What a great day.

Dave :y115:

 

[DaveM]

Gump this is so cool wish I could get to an event like that thanks for posting. :y18:

 

[gumpt1oo]

A few more pics,

 

[CarlS]

Gorgeous! :y115:

 

[DaveM]

What is this one, almost looks like it is a racer of some kind

 

[grandpaul]

That last one is a New Bonneville street tracker.

...and a NICE one, at that!

How I wish I had been able to attend. Once in a generation event, and unless I make it to 102 in decent health, I won't be able to make the 100th.

I might just build my '56 as a replica Bonnie prototype kinda like that blue one.

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=grandpaul link=topic=6874.msg38022#msg38022 date=1251383847]
That last one is a New Bonneville street tracker.

...and a NICE one, at that!

How I wish I had been able to attend. Once in a generation event, and unless I make it to 102 in decent health, I won't be able to make the 100th.

I might just build my '56 as a replica Bonnie prototype kinda like that blue one.[/quote]

That would be a cool project.

 

[Nodster]

Great pic's as usual Steve - don't believe you had no rain over the 360 mile trip!!

 

[Roadrunner]

:y18:..the first photo blew me away! Great pic & write up......Thanks