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What a beautiful day today. Just perfect.
I had it all planned. Unfortunately my beloved Duke 750s was to be collected by it new owner, at 11.30, and I had just realised that I was missing out on one of the highlights of the year for me – the Royal Air Force Cosford Air Show.
What to do? Well, I thought if I could make the 50min ride out early enough, and some of the country lane to get there to miss the huge traffic jams expected, I could get a few minutes to myself close to the gates – and maybe a couple of photos too.
I was a bit of a shakey plan, because it was important not to keep the Duke buyer waiting, especially as his wife was giving him a lift all the way from Hampshire to Sutton Coldfield – we all know how awkward that can be!
Still, the air was fresh, the sun warm, and the country lanes were giving my Yamaha TDR250 the ‘come-on’ !
So off I went, and made excellent progress, and was threading my way though miles of standing traffic like a knife through butter, finding myself at the main dual carriageway just outside the Cosford Aerodome at just before 10am.I sat around for a while with camera poised.
My nosey nature just got the better of me when I could see all the car filing into the 2 lane access road for on their way to the on-site Aerodrome parking. So – I set off for a closer look, knowing that the museum had an in & out road that I could take a couple of pics from, and then be happily on my way. Great!
Well no actually, it all went pear shaped.By the time I got to the Aerodrome exit road, the marshal told me the exit road was for 2 lanes of incoming traffic also! No escape!
Now normally, I would have relaxed enjoyed the view from the perimeter fence, an just enjoyed the sunshine, but the time was tick tick ticking away in my head – So I asked for help, and was directed towards a line of about 5 taxis inside the showground, awaiting to be escorted off the airfield – OK, but how I thought? I asked the taxi drivers how long they had been waiting, and one of the said nearly an hour! – Oh sh*t!
Talk about mixed blessings – The sun was out, I’m right in the middle of the Cosford Aerodrome, with a fantastic view, and the ride had been fab. But the time was slipping away steadily.
The RAF staff were excellent, and did promise someone was on their way to organise a way out for us, but it felt such a long time when you don’t know how long you would have to wait!
The show looked superb, there was a steady stream of plans landing, and some lovely aircraft as displays scattered around – there was even an excellent looking fun fair –a real must for next year I thought.Tick tick tick, 10.18 came and went. Oops. I was distracted by a menacingly ugly but awesome Appache gunship helicopter, a Gazelle, and one of the old Red Arrows Training planes – Gnat T.Mk 1– absolutely fabulous.
Then finally a RAF Policeman on a Pan-European turns up with all the lights flashing, and calmly leads me, followed by the Taxi drivers down the road adjacent to the runway, right the way around the end of the runway, and half the way down the other side on the grass !!!
Bloomin’ fab. I would have paid the entrance fee just for that!
The mounted RAF Police guy, took us to a little known exit – Emegency Crash Exit 3, and finally I had escaped!The 250 twin got a real thrashing on the way home – the DEP tail pipes transforming from a black n sticky goo at the start, to a dry cleaner straw colour. Now that the way to de-coke a stroker !
I got home 5 mins before the Buyer arrived – all went well, and the Duke had found a happy new home. Sad to see it go, but I’ll have another Duke when I get another job.
It was a little adventure that nearly went embarrassingly wrong in a big way – but it turned out really well.
Thank goodness for my crash exit – a welcome escape!haha talk about cutting it fine, nice to see things can actually go to plan sometimes.
i would have deffinitly been distracted by an apache, if it was legal to have one for personal use and all that, id have one
have u got no bike at all now?LOL, and I nearly went with him today, looks like I missed out on a real adventure!
Some of the aircraft he saw:
Apache helicopter, looks a little err…agressive!
Gazelle
Folland Gnat in Red Arrows coloursDon’t worry Benji Thumper still has a few bikes to play with!
ahhh right thats good to know..i used to have a selection
not anymore though comes with being a peasant. but i will have them again soon..bankjob and all apaches are like the coolest thing ive seen since i saw myself in the mirrored wall in the gym this morning
pahahaThumper – what’s going on?
Everyone knows that “Whoever dies with the most toys wins”
Bikes are not for selling – your other ones will get lonely!
quote:
Originally posted by Gixyou sld the duke????????? *sob*
It was a lovely bike, I really enjoyed the one blast that I had on it. He still has the Tiger, VTR and TDR so he will manage somehow I suppose!
Thanks for all the concern about my lack of a Duke !
I have to say – the plan is to get another Monster, like a S2R or similar, so not reallt too concerned yet!
Also, lost my job – so we all have to make [TEMPORARY – hopefully] comromises.
The Roadie VTR, the long legged Tiger, and the mad TDR will do just fine for now.Cosford – I cut is a bit fine with my plans, but it really makes me want to go again next year!
not anymore though 
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