The Ramsgate Sprint Revival.

[titan performance]

Between 1956 and 1968, The Sunbeam owners club ran twice yearly sprints on the undercliff road of my home town, Ramsgate in Kent, UK. I can remember going to spectate as a lad with my dad in the late 60's.
A few of us thought it would be good if we could revive the event, and set about obtaining all of the permits, licenses and assorted red tape that is now needed to hold this kind function. It was a very rocky and strenuous path, but ultimately it led to approval for the revival, and the Sprint came back to Ramsgate for the weekend of 15+16 August for the first time in nearly 50 years. Our guest of honour, and dropping the flag for the first bike to go, was the great Jim Redman, 6 times world champion in the 60's, and 6 times a winner at the Isle of Man.
As it goes, the event was a massive success, and everybody had a great time.....the video gives you some idea, although it doesn't quite cover the static show of classic machines too much, which was also huge.....roll on next year !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld2B9oSEUtg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jabcb]

Gongrats on bringing a bit of history back for everyone to enjoy.

[joolstacho]

Absolutely brilliant mate for bringing that thing back to life. Well done.
Bloody Ramsgate eh?
(Now, S.E. England? Remember Johnson's Cafe on the A20 at all? -ah you're probably too young!)

[titan performance]

Whereabouts on the A20 Jools?

[joolstacho]

Just a couple of miles past Brands Hatch at West Kingsdown is Farningham, where I used to live. I used to go to sleep to the sound of Goldies twittering on the over-run backing off for the bend at the bottom of 'the Goss', (or 'Death Hill' as it was re-named). Johnsons was (like the better known Ace Cafe) a big bikers meetup. West Kingsdown is also where 2-stroke tuning guru Stan Stephens hails from. Distant memories!

[titan performance]

I know exactly where you mean mate, but I have never visited the cafe. Is it still there?
We have a cafe on the A20 just south of Ashford that a few bikers visit fro breakfast....it's run by Leon Camier's mum !

[joolstacho]

Last time I went there at Johnsons (on my brand spankin' new Commando Interstate... tears, weep...) the building was still there, but looked like it had been closed for 20 years. But that was back in the eighties I'd guess. I've been in (an) Aussie since '69... it's all nostalgia for me mate. I don't know if this story is apocryphal, but it was said that you could 'race the record'... Put a record on the jukebox, race down to the roundabout at Farningham and back to the caff before the record finished. Well, it's a nice story, but I reckon you'd have needed, say, a Dylan track like 'Masters of War' (ain't that finished yet?!) to do it!
I remember as a 15 year old on the back of a Villiers twin, the lineup of machines... Goldies, Bonnies, CSR Matchys etc, - the ones that left the biggest impression for me were the Velocettes. (And consequently I still have one in the garage). Lucky me, cost me 80 quid, hah!

[titan performance]

Wanna take a ton for it mister?

[joolstacho]

Well, maybe you could have it for a ton, but the starting instructions would cost you 10 grand!

[SimonD]

I joined a few days ago to do some research about a planned kettle project. I hadn't heard about the Ramsgate event so will be on the lookout this year.
I'm only 15 minutes from Brands Hatch..... this is what Johnson's Cafe looks like today:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.33174 ... 6656?hl=en

[Alan H]

Excellent video and more power to you for the hard work in setting it all up.
I'll have to have a run down there one day.

[Alan H]

WOW! You did a really good job!

And another dodgy link.
http://www.mundiario.com/articulo/econo ... 50644.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Click at your peril.