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It is truly fantastic that in a world where so quickly established technologies come and go. The old becomes lost in a haze of moribund redundancy for a while before it may again be cherished. Not only has an off road reliability trial motorcycling event of six days duration continued for 100 years despite the changes of fortune of the hardware as well as the impact of the world around it with increased legislative pressure and environmental protocols. It survives in a form that those original pioneers will not be that bewildered at what it looks like today. Also its history is cherished by enthusiastic followers and many of the early examples of machines are still treasured and the details of what happened are being recorded and saved to ensure the legends and stories are not lost to generations to come.
I was lucky to be pottering around the Lake District this weekend. This is the place the event started and where Jim and Dot Jones organised a splendid event incorporating the best of new and old to ensure the 100th anniversary of the first holding of the event was marked and commemorated with respect.
Below are a few photos I took when encountering many of the old bikes which looked splendid to all as they popped and chugged along the old lake road at Thirlmere as they approached the lunchtime stop in Keswick.
Here an old British classic chugs through a rock cutting as the old road that was created by Victorian Civil Engineers in order to establish Thirlmere to provide a clean water supply for the growing population of Manchester. A work that made a lasting mark on the landscape of the Lake District and later to provide much pleasure and joy to the public seeking recreation in the fresh air just as the historic road builders making the Mountain Tracks would do.
The following images come from the Thirlmere dam check point and any help identifying the persons involved would be welcome. Any images other people have taken will be linked to as we become aware of them.
Speed Track Tales 