The International Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford
- Andy Marks
- May 2
- 6 min read
My Dad and I have been attending The International Classic Motorcycle Show at Stafford since 2015, when we went to see the auctioning of a number of bikes on behalf of a very good friend of ours who had recently passed away. I bid on, and won, one of Tony's bikes that day. It was in bits so I brought it home planning to restore it to it's former glory. 10 years later, it's still in bits and I still plan to restore it to it's former glory, but more on that another time.
We have been back to Stafford every year since with the exception '20 and '21 which were cancelled due to the dreaded Covid, and we've regularly shown our bikes there. In 2022 my 1929 Harley Davidson was 'Highly Commended', and my Dad's 1920 Henderson won the overall 'Best in Show' - a very high honour indeed at such a big show.
Anyway - onto this years Stafford Show! We'd arranged to take three bikes up this year; my 1934 Norton, Dad's 1937 Rudge and our friend Mick's 1932 Ariel. All were going to be on the Sunbeam Club stand (don't ask me why it's called the Sunbeam Club, they've been accepting all makes of bike since about 1935!)
After a typical Friday afternoon motorway journey up, we unloaded the bikes and helped to set the stand up before finding our hotel, checking in and going out for dinner with some friends.
Saturday
We arrive to find the club stand is ready to go. Annice has arrived with her veteran ladies model Ixion, so we have eight bikes to go along with the various banners, posters and free giveaways.
I spend most of Saturday in the main show hall looking at the bikes and catching up with friends, quite a few of whom I only see once a year at this show. Although I am pleased with how the Sunbeam Club stand has turned out we are still shown up, a lot of work clearly goes into some of these stands - have a click through the pictures to see a few of my favourites.
A couple of race bikes on the Rudge stand really jump out at me. I love pre-war race bikes of all shapes and sizes, there is just something about the stripped back nature of them with nothing unnecessary on them, these are bikes that were truly built for a single purpose!
I spend most of Saturday afternoon on our club stand, chatting to passers by about both the club and my bike. This is were I meet David, after asking a few questions about the bike he asks if he can have a photo sitting on it. A lot of the bikes at these shows are behind ropes with 'Do Not Touch' signs all over the place, but it's just a bike so I have no problem as long as people ask and are respectful.
David tells me that he has a photo of his Dad sitting on a 1930's International like mine, taken in about 1938 or 1939. David wants to recreate this photo so I am pleased to be able to help! I think I've made his day, look at that smile! I'm even more made up a couple of days later when David emails me a copy of the very photo we had been chatting about. He has kindly agreed to let me share it with you here to go along with the story. Thanks David!
The show finishes for the day at 5pm so we drive back to the hotel, before heading to the pub opposite for a meal and turning in for an early night. It's been a great day but all that talking is tiring!
Sunday
We arrive at the showground in glorious sunshine, so I decide now was the time to explore the outdoor autojumble. After showing my face at the club stand I'm back outside and it soon becomes apparent that I'm not the only one with this idea, it's heaving with people!
Now... I often hear the traders complaining that they aren't selling anything because nobody comes to these shows anymore, the organisers charge too much at the gate and so it goes on...
You can barely move for people on some of the stalls and, before you shout me down by saying nobody has any money at the moment, the burger waggons selling cheeseburgers for £10 and tea for £3 have huge queues all day. If people willing to spend that much on a crap lunch aren't buying from you, maybe it isn't the show organiser who is getting something wrong?
I spend my morning perusing the tables of British parts and walking straight past the multiple stands selling US Pro tools. I take a real fancy to a race bike with a 750 Commando engine and 5 speed box in a repro Manx frame. I'm not in the market for another bike at the moment and, even if I was, I think the £13k price tag would put me off. It's probably worth it to somebody, just not me.
A little further round I'm looking closely at a Norton plunger frame when the stall holder spots me and comes over. 'Make me an offer, just don't insult me' he says. After a bit of banter back and forth I realise I'm getting dangerously close to putting my hand in my pocket for a frame I don't need, don't really want and definitely can't afford at the moment!
Back inside I decide it's time to take a look at the Bonhams auction. This is probably the biggest motorcycle auction of the year in the UK and there are some real gems for sale. I've read and heard a lot recently about how the market for old British bikes has crashed - I could write an entire post about my views on this, so all I'll say here is that I disagree. It's dropped quite considerably over the last couple of years but most would say it was over inflated before. The 'good' bikes are still commanding decent prices, but people are being more picky so you can't just sell anything and make a fortune.
My main interest in the auction comes in the shape of a couple of Nortons being 'Offered from the estate of the late Derek Fox.' They are fitted with silencers which I made for him about 5 years ago, so it's nice to see them 'out in the world'. I always get a sense of satisfaction when I see other people using parts I made on their bikes.
Another of Derek's bikes really catches my eye, this 1927 ES2 race bike is right up my street. At over £18k it is way out of my price range (about £18k out if I'm being honest) so I settle for a few pictures before leaving the auction and heading back to the club stand.
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the Brough Superior SS100. As such the show organisers have made them the main theme and there are a lot on display this year. I've never been a big Brough fan and, if I'm honest, I still can't really see why the command such high prices (one sold for £276k in the auction this weekend) but this spread is impressive and I particularly like this SS100 racer built in the late 1920's. Have I mentioned I like an early race bike?
As Sunday draws to a close, it's time for prize giving. This year they are being presented by Henry Cole. Our club stand is well represented with Mick's Ariel and Annice's Ixion getting a 'Highly Commended' rosette each and Julie's Matchless Silver Arrow winning the 'Best Original' class, both thoroughly deserved.
I'm also not surprised to see the BSA Goldstar Owners Club take 'Best Club Stand', they'd put a lot of effort into that for sure!
Before I know it the weekend is over, the bikes are back in the van, and we are on the M40. Fortunately the journey home on Sunday evening is considerably better than the journey up on Friday afternoon! We get home at about 10pm, I'm exhausted but have thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and my head is full of ideas for my projects, some of which have been on the backburner for far too long!
When I unload the van on Monday morning I toy with the idea of starting my Inter and taking it for a ride, but it needs oil and fuel and I don't really have time today, so I put it away promising myself I'll get out on it sooner rather than later!
Comments