The Norton Challenge was invented to keep old bike riders out of trouble. You jump on your classic bike and you ride it to somewhere called Norton. Along the way, life may offer entertaining intermissions...

Upward!

Mark Mumford went in search of some green lanes to suit his rather smart replica of a 1959 Royal Enfield works competitor. He didn't quite come up with a green Norton Lane but instead settled on Greens Norton, as seen before but never quite from this angle. 'I'm not surprised' says Mark, 'as the bank is quite high!' Have trials bike, will travel (vertically).

Onward!

Rob Norton and his Commando have been out scooping up yet more Nortons this month, and he too visited Greens Norton. He's now bagged 43 Nortons, but by the time you read this it's probably 44. No, wait, 45. Hang on…

Random Ariels on eBay.co.uk

Overseas!

Christine Smith couldn't resist sending this snap of her chum Tom Nordmeyer's CB750 (the 'king of Japanese classics' apparently) chopper, in front of a service station in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Nice (…!) paint-scheme, Tom. Why is it called 'Roadcat'? Were there dozens of Norton motorcycles inside the service station? And are there really turtles in the lake? We should be told…

Soliciting!

Dennis Phillips thought for a while that he'd found all the Nortons near him - not very likely, Dennis. One chap has bagged more than 60 of the things! Although, as Dennis says; 'Some of them seem like cheating. For example, the Heckford Norton one see here is actually a firm of solicitors in Stevenage as I found out when one of them came out to find out why I was taking pictures of their building.

'Nice chap though, turned out he rode a BMW (modern) so we had quite a nice chat. I wasn't too worried as I know "Big" Frank wouldn't let me rot in jail through a minor misdemeanour, would he?' Dunno about any help from Frank, Dennis, but TP would probably send you a food parcel of surplus chocolate…*

Chipping!

Les Smith met up with Frank and other Challengers en route to the Royal Enfield open weekend, and then set off to bag a bunch more. These were Chipping Norton, Over Norton and Hook Norton famous for its olde village brewery - Hook Norton Ales. And if you fancy a sup of the latter, then Les recommends the Pear Tree Inn in Hook Norton for its unpretentious and very fine pub grub…

Googled!

Charlie Webster is the latest Norton Challenger to discover that Nortons which appear on googlemaps don't necessarily exist in our dimension. 'The Norton and Burnt Norton (!) showing on Google Earth just north west of Chipping Campden don't actually exist.'

Happily, Charlie is a resourceful chap and located a suitable farm sign to pose his T160 next to, probably risking life and limb in the process as he could have been trampled by a herd of amok-running Aberdeen Angus cattle… unless of course the smoke from the Trident put them to sleep. Like bees.

Grumbling!

A bright sunny day inspired John Postans to start up his Dommi 88 and head off for Norton near Craven Arms and Tong Norton. The trip went smoothly, which is more than can be said for the road surfaces: 'Tong is not too far from base' says John, 'but 72 miles under the wheels on a fifty year old motorcycle made me realise just how bad Shropshire roads are! Where has all the road tax money gone? Where's my soapbox?!'

Deliverance?

Andrew Smith took his BSA M21 for a last outing this summer before it goes under the spanners. 'At Norton Mandeville I'm sure I heard a banjo and guitar playing a song, I believe, called 'Dueling Banjos' from the film 'Deliverance' when I got there! I have now started to do some work on the BSA as I think it's about time I sorted the clutch out and a couple of other small things that need attention. I have now got the bits I need thanks to those wonderful people at Draganfly.'

Leaking!

'Norton Priory in Cheshire is an amazing bit of antiquity now surrounded by a modern industrial estate on one side, and the local park on the other' says Stephen Herbert. 'The new expressway cuts through the middle so there's not much left unmolested. What remains though is well worth a trip if you're into history, old architecture or gardens (leave the wife looking round the latter whilst you indulge?). 'My 1960 RE Crusader Sport took me there recently from home about 30 minutes away - just long enough to see if my recent breather mods have stopped the oil leaks from the engine. They have (hurrah!) but have revealed another leak from the gearbox. You never quite stop them all with an old Royal Enfield, do you?'

Random Enfields on eBay.co.uk

Mumbling!

Phil Critchley sent in some photos of his Norton in a Welsh Norton; 'between Swansea and Mumbles is the hamlet of Norton. Unfortunately it does not have its own road sign but the name is recorded in Norton Avenue and Norton Road.

Half way up the latter you can find Norton House a hotel, with a restaurant. The motorcycle in the picture is a 750 Interstate built in 1972. I have only owned it for a few months so we are still getting to know one another.'

And Finally…

Dohboy found a Norton in Nottingham. Well. Sort of…

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Join The Challenge

It's very easy to join the Norton Challenge. It costs nothing to enter and gives you a great excuse to get out of the house for an afternoon. You don't need a Norton, just a motorcycle. Old ones are best but any will do in a pinch. Grab a map, find somewhere called 'Norton' and ride there. On the way you may travel new roads, meet new people and encounter new experiences (or it might just rain and the bypass could be blocked as usual!).

Send a photo of your bike and your Norton to us at RCHQ at RealClassic.net and your efforts may then appear on this site on in the monthly magazine. And at the end of the 2009 riding season we'll be giving out prizes for the people who've surpassed themselves on the Norton Challenge…

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*What am I saying? There's never any surplus chocolate around here!