THE INTERNATIONAL WEST KENT RUN AUGUST 5-6
September 2023
The annual run through the ‘Garden of England’ attracted a good turnout of determined riders from the UK and Europe, despite continuous rain. This ex-WD tank suit may seem optimistic clothing considering the weather, but nobody got back dry
INTERNATIONAL WEST KENT RUN
Tod Teare 1973 Suzuki GT 750
It’s hard to believe that, just 18 months ago, Tod’s GT750 was a sorry-looking eBay purchase. He didn’t complete the run this year – but it was nothing to do with the bike. “What a day! There was a big hold up, an accident or something, so what with the weather we just decided to turn round and find our way back to the start,” he explained. “I’ve wanted a GT750 since I was an apprentice. This one had done about 23,000 miles, came from the States and its three owners had all pinched bits off it, leaving me to find what was missing! But all the nuts came undone and the chrome that wasn’t missing was still good. A lot of people strip them right down, but I decided just to try it out first – then I had the carbs cleaned, flushed out the motor and fitted electronic ignition and it’s been as good as gold!”
Liam Nyirenda 1961 Triumph T100
A sales consultant for a BMW dealership, Liam’s daily ride is a company CE04 electric scooter or his own Indian FTR, but this weekend he rode a borrowed Triumph 500. His cheery grin tels how much he enjoyed himself, despite the weather. “This has been a great experience,” he said. “My route to loving bikes began at this show. I was born in Aylesford and my dad started bringing me here when I was about six. He had a 1969 Triumph Daytona back then, so grew up with my head full of Triumphs. Thirty years later, my friends Amy and Steve offered to lend me their Triumph to ride on the run; I feel like I’ve finally come full circle! “I’ve had brilliant time, despite the rain. In a world of digital, it’s all too easy to forget the magic of analogue.”
Dennis Grech 1943 BSA WB30
Not all World War II BSAs are M20 side-valves – Dennis’s bike is a much rarer WB30, a 350cc ohv version that would later become the post-war B31. “I bought the bike as a teenager in Malta,” he says. “It was found in a scrapyard on Gozo and had Matchless telescopic forks – I assumed it was a B31, until I saw the hairpin valve springs and WB30 engine number. I wrote to Classic Bike and learned that the WB30 order was cancelled in favour of the M20, so only about 600 were made. I think they sent them to Malta to get rid of them – someone found a second one over there recently and another guy has my original engine – but I don’t want to change it back after all these years! I painted the bike in the colours of the King’s Own Malta Regiment. It ran fine on t
