Galloway Flat Tanker and Girder Fork Weekend
5th ---7th May 2017
VMCC and Marston and Sunbeam Register
Organisers Peter Oram, Geoff Brazendale and David Moffat with thanks to the Auld Reekie Section VMCC
The Galloway Weekend is back for 2017 by popular demand. The only change to the previous format is to have the lunch stops away from base.
Start venue for both runs will be Lochside Caravan (and Camping) Park close to the centre of Castle Douglas allowing easy access to local facilities which include hotel and B&B accommodation plus a range of local shops and eating places. This small country town lies on the A75 some 50 miles from Carlisle and the M6, also being convenient for the ferries crossing the Irish Sea via Cairnryan.
The event will commence on Friday evening with an informal social gathering in the nearby Kings Arms, a short walk from the start venue.
The Saturday run starts at 11.00am. Ride 30miles to Kirkcudbright for the lunch break where there are a good selection of cafes and local interest. From there, you have the choice of two return routes, the short of 32 miles or the long one of 50 miles.
On Saturday evening we hope to have another informal gathering in the tap room of the Sulwath Brewery(real ale) which again is just around the corner from the camp site.
Sunday’s run will commence at 10.30am and will be a total of 80 miles. After 31 miles , we will have the lunch break at New Galloway. Continuing west to Newton Stewart, where our friends from across the water will probably continue back to their ferry. It is necessary to use the A75 for 4 flat miles before turning back on to the minor roads, and wending our way back to Castle Douglas.
A clear route card and a small map will be provided. A breakdown sweeper will follow he routes to provide assistance if required.
The previous events attracted entries of more than 50 pre- war machines, the majority of which were pre -1930, many of them flat tankers including belt drivers. We want to encourage use of our older machines so the routes will be suitable and we urge entrants to join in the spirit bybringing as EARLY a machine as possible. To further encourage this, we offer a £2 reduction on the entry fee for all pre-1931 entries.
There will be some hills to climb, but not a lot!!!
The event is open to all members of the VMCC and MACR. Membership cards must be shown at signing on) riding Veteran, Vintage and post Vintage solos, sidecars and tricycles of the “pre-war” type ie.”Girder forkers” including WW2 machines of the pre-war type.
Sorry, no later machines.
Caravaners and campers should contact the site direct Tel. 01556 504 682 for discounted group booking (three nights for the price of two) at Lochside which has a full range of facilities. Other types of accommodationmay be found close by. Visit Scotland information Centre in Castle Douglas. Tel. 01556 502 611 or via their website visitsouthernscotland.co.uk
We guarantee quiet roads and scenic surroundings but to avoid climatic disappointment we suggest you follow the advice of our hero Ixion, that famous pioneer motorcyclist: “Always wear oiles in Scotland”
Please return the completed entry form with payment before 21st April to:
Peter Oram, St Annes, 41 Willoughby St, Muthill, Crieff PH5 2AB Tel. 01764 681 300 email
Don’t forget your membership cards. Very necessary to having the protection of our club indemnity insurance for the event.