One more SGC Norton thread, then I'm done ... Love these things ...

[Lannis]

So last month we got to talking about Nortons quite a bit, since lots of people who own Guzzis are also into Nortons, or were in their long ago and far away youth, so for those who might be interested, here’s what went on at the International Norton Owner’s Association national rally.

A week long, Monday through Friday, so quite a commitment for those who aren’t retired yet, which was a small percentage of the attendees using just a statistical sample.

It was at our old Virginia Guzzi stomping grounds of Buena Vista, Virginia (Byoona Vissta, not Boowayna VEEStha like the one in Mexico), and I ended up with a prime camping spot.









Note that my camp was in the shade at 0930 in the morning, and stayed there all day, and it needed it too, because each day ran up to about 95 to 97 degrees.   And 95 degrees in a Virginia river bottom in July is NOT a dry heat ….

The registration desk was busy all week, with people rolling in from everywhere, including riding their Nortons from the West Coast ...



It’s in a pretty part of the country for sure …





My first Norton rally, and I was surprised to see the number of women on their own Nortons and Commandos …









I guess I’m easily surprised, because I was surprised at the number of Guzzis there too.   Lots of cross-dressing between the two marques …





The big old Paxton Plantation house that’s the center of the park …



Barney Phyfe had been hired as security for the event …





Actually the old Ford police cruiser was part of a really good presentation on the Franklin County moonshine-running roots of NASCAR, from a race team crew chief (Ronnie Love) who was there from the beginning …





It was VERY well done; I was afraid it might be a Dukes of Hazzard sort of thing, but it was an entertaining scholarly presentation on history.

There was always something to eat on site.





We had several nice ride-outs.   One to a picnic up by the Peaks of Otter ….

Ready for the off …



A really nice picnic area, with food set up and provide by the rally …





Lots of neat Nortons in the bunch.   A Fuel Injected one …



My one …



A hundred or so there …







One a them old R60s we been talking about elsewhere …



Don and Shirley Danmeier rode this Commando two-up from California to the rally … and back …







On the way back from the picnic, met some Nortons at a BRP overlook.  The guy with the trailer designed, manufactures, and sells these …



My Norton taking a break up on the Parkway looking East ...





Then one night we invaded the town of Lexington ….







Of course, back at the ranch, you always have to have Field Games.   It were HOT that day, mon, and only about 5 bikes risked their pistons and heatstroke idling around the Maury River bottom.

Had a good time though, tossing water balloons over a bar, slow racing, cone placing …









Rally dogs kept things straight …



Took a tour of the old plantation house ….



Then time for club group photos – that’s Norton guru extraordinaire Dave Comeau in the foreground …



And a buffet dinner and closing ceremonies on Friday ….









Then the ride home along the old James River and another rally under the belt …



Been a rallying summer – more to come ….

Lannis

[Triple Jim]

Great narration and photos Lannis, thanks.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Looks like a really good time. Thanks, Lannis.   
Nice tent, btw..

[dguzzi]

You left Suzi out?

[Lannis]

Looks like a really good time. Thanks, Lannis.   
Nice tent, btw..

The Redverz is great.   But got to be at LEAST two days at a rally and preferably more to justify pounding in 24 ground stakes and then pulling them all back up ..... But when it's up, you can just about live in the thing ....

Lannis

[Lannis]

You left Suzi out?

Ummm ... maybe?   I have more pictures, but these are just the ones I picked ....

[dguzzi]

President of INOA, local to us here in Michigan.

[Lannis]

President of INOA, local to us here in Michigan.

I remember her, she was moving pretty fast with Club business so I didn't get a pic ...

... this one of the Michigan crowd is as close as I got ...

[ohiorider]

So Suzi Greenway is still running the Norton show.  Good to hear. When I lived in Ann Arbor 1989-1991, she would make  the rounds of several bike shops, leaving invitations on the counter for any and all of us to ride up to her place (was it in Owasso? ...not sure)  Always a good time.  She was active in the Norton club at the time.

Nice rally report, Lannis.

Bob

[Muzz]

Great to see all those Nortons Lannis.

Nice photos and explanations. Thanks.

[Dharma Bum]

Lannis,
 
Does Doug McCadam still show up to these rallies?

[Groover]

Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

[Lannis]

Lannis,
 
Does Doug McCadam still show up to these rallies?

I don't remember the name, but that doesn't mean he wasn't there.   

I do know that there's a core group of people that have been attending all of these rallies together for 30 or 35 years, quite a tight group.   And the campground is in 2 sections, one is the river bottom in my pictures, and the other is a mile or so on top of the hill, so there were people I was pretty sure were there but I didn't see them ...

Lannis

[Dharma Bum]

Doug was one of the founders of Colorado Norton Works.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Look! A "Norton" I wouldn't mind owning! 

[Lannis]

Look! A "Norton" I wouldn't mind owning! 

Yep, everyone who saw that bike did a bit of a "double take" - it's a modified Wideline frame with professionally done mounting plates.   There was so much Norton stuff on it that you had to really block out the tinware to realize that it's a 650 Yamaha engine with all the Yamaha cast-in logos and badges taken off.   Emily said that a 500 Norton single with electric start is going into that frame next ....

Lannis

[Dharma Bum]

Fixed the oil leaks, no doubt, but probably vibrates like the original!

[Arizona Wayne]

Fixed the oil leaks, no doubt, but probably vibrates like the original!

At least it won't break any oil lines.  My 650 Yamaha twins never leaked any oil.......but they weren't as fast as a Norton either. 

[tazio]

Outstanding, Lannis!
Thanks for taking us along. I WILL have me a S'Nortin' Norton one day..

[Sheepdog]

Nice report, Lannis. However, this is not helping with my Vintage bike Jones...

[Cam3512]

2-up on a Norton from California and back?  Remarkable.  How did they carry anything?

[Lannis]

2-up on a Norton from California and back?  Remarkable.  How did they carry anything?

Don and Shirley are extraordinary - they're one of the movers of the BSAOC of Northern California, and in 2006 they rode their oil frame BSA Lightning two up from Novato, California to Brimfield, Massachusetts and back, about 7,000 miles the way they went.   And NO trouble with the bike, which already had 50,000 miles on it.

On this trip, the Norton's rectifier failed in Utah, so they had to limp to where they could get help, and then soldiered on.   Every year, they make some sort of trip like that - one year it was cross-country on their Vincent, most years they ship a bike to wherever the BSAOC International rally is being held, and ride all over that continent.

They have a set of big soft panniers that they use.   I buttonholed Shirley at the picnic and asked her for any advice she might have for packing for 5 weeks on the road on an old classic that Fay might be able to incorporate into her routine.

She says she packs exactly the same way every time, and the same way so she can find things in the dark.   They're ATGATT on a long trip, all leather, although they dispensed with the leather pants for the picnic ride.  Then four sets of "smallclothes" (to give them their modest Victorian name), a pair of Mary Jane shoes, a pair of light sandals,  one pair of jeans, two pairs of light pants, four tops, a limited toiletry kit, and that's it.   Stop and launder as necessary.  All goes in one pannier.   His stuff goes in the other pannier, and rain gear, maps, sundries and such goes in the tail and tank bags.   

They're all business when it come to riding.  No "What will I do if I Get Wet?" or "But I NEED more shoes!", just traveling the world!  Very inspiring. 

Fay and I have done 1000 or 2500 mile trips on these old bikes, where they go 5000 or 7500, so we're not up to their level of commitment, but it does give me a little chuckle when I hear folks say that such-and-such a bike wouldn't be fit for over-the-road touring .... !

Lannis

[PeteS]

Totally remarkable. They have made a number of east coast Norton Rallies that I have been to on this bike. Not even a back rest. These are couple of tough cookies.



Pete

[Lannis]

Totally remarkable. They have made a number of east coast Norton Rallies that I have been to on this bike. Not even a back rest. These are couple of tough cookies.



Pete

I asked about the backrest thing.   The tailbag that bungees to the luggage rack is high enough to be right about the small of her back and acts like a little backrest ... But that's a LOOONG way from the movable Barcalounger that many pillion riders demand before they'll ride past the end of the block!

Lannis

[Shorty]

Very nice! Thanks!

[Mr Pootle]

Yep, everyone who saw that bike did a bit of a "double take" - it's a modified Wideline frame with professionally done mounting plates.   There was so much Norton stuff on it that you had to really block out the tinware to realize that it's a 650 Yamaha engine with all the Yamaha cast-in logos and badges taken off.   Emily said that a 500 Norton single with electric start is going into that frame next ....

Lannis

And those bar end indicators like like they were from an EL400.

[Travman]

Thanks for sharing all of your pictures. I enjoyed them.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

And those bar end indicators like like they were from an EL400.

They just look like Emgo-made Hella knock-offs to me.

[oldbike54]

Look! A "Norton" I wouldn't mind owning! 

 A Noraha ? Noryam ? Hmm , maybe going back a bit farther , Norhos ?

 Dusty

[Sheepdog]

A Yamaton!