To join the Norton Challenge you just need any old motorcycle and the nous to find somewhere called 'Norton'. Plenty of RC readers have been doing just that this summer...

Blo Me Down!

Keith Thurlow has been riding his 1961 Dominator 99; 'restored and modified with belt drive primary, electronic ignition and a fair number of stainless and chromium parts' around East Anglia on his search. He nabbed one plain 'Norton, then 'Blo Norton', and then couldn't resist the final 'slightly tongue in cheek' stop. Careful, Keith. There are still some places in the UK where you can be arrested for 'nedging'…

An Elk Adventure

Many RC readers will know Mrs Elk, aka Julie, who runs a series of shows and autojumbles in the south-east (including the South of England RealClassic Show which we sponsor). What many folk don't know is that Julie and partner Rick are committed classic motorcyclists too. This snap of Norton Street was bagged during their mammoth, 3500 mile ride around Britain aboard Julie's BSA A10 and Rick's Commando this summer. Most of those miles passed smoothly, too. 'We only had one proper side-of-the-road breakdown,' says Julie; 'when Rick's clutch cable went. Amazing!'

Rick and Julie saw the usual places, Land's End, John o' Groats, and such, but also wiggled around the coastline of the country as far as was practical and returned home 'with no RAC assistance' whatsoever. Impressive, eh? Their worst problem was tyre wear: leaving with a part-worn front tyre on the A10 meant they needed to change it halfway through the trip… and of course their rendezvous with the tyre didn't quite go as planned so it ended up chasing them from Scotland to Wales before finally taking its rightful place on the wheel. Just proves that old bikes are perfectly capable of clocking up the miles - all you need is the determination to get out there, and the application to keep fettling throughout the trip. We are seriously, horribly impressed, and just a little bit inspired…

Not (quite) Destroyed

And welcome to Paul Morgan-Knight (aka Paul The Destroyer) who managed not to destroy this Guzzi while bagging a couple of Norton near him. We have a suspicion that the Norton signs probably disintegrated into dust as soon as PTD rode away!

Better Late Than Not At All!

'All year I have been reading about the exploits of the Norton Challengers', says Stewart Cormie, 'intent on joining in as soon as time would allow. Being retired, there should be lots of time, but you know how it is - the more time you appear to have, the more jobs there are to fill it up. The BSA always seemed to be 'almost' ready but just needed that final adjustment to make it ready for the road. Finally, I started the challenge -- in August! My insurance renewal prompted a check of the MOT - and I realised that I had so far covered only 98 miles since the last MOT in September 2008. Where has the year gone?

'I intended to do lots more miles. Hadn't I been inspired by RealFrank's prose, to get out and put some miles on the bike with Norton as the goal? I remember checking the atlas for Nortons around Norfolk early in the year. I was determined to accept the challenge and to maybe even cross the border into Suffolk if I felt really adventurous. And here it is, mid-August and not a single Norton bagged. So…

'Bright and sunny this morning: up early for some final fettling. Top up oil. Kick tyres. Oily rag clean so that the BSA sort of shines in the sun. Check of route - yes, I can remember the route but maybe take the map just in case. Norfolk is fairly lacking in Nortons - just five that I can find. But it has a real wealth of wonderful country roads which are devoid of traffic, even at the height of the summer holidays. And a wonderful selection of place names. So first stop is the local garage in the market town Reepham for petrol - just the one pump, a friendly owner to top up the tank, and a short chat about a nice day to take the old bike out. Then off in search of my first Norton. Out through Bawdeswell, Guist and on to Wood Norton. An easy photograph as the village name is in a straight section of road and the traffic is light. I've started the challenge!

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'I head off through Fulmodeston (pronounced Fulmeston, no need to use unnecessary syllables) intending to visit Little Snoring and Great Snoring, followed by Walsingham (both Little and Great) as it's a nice sunny day and I like the names. But they must have moved as my bimble along the country lanes takes me too far north east and I end up at Thursford (home to a wonderful collection of steam engines). So I continue following my nose around the lanes, passing through picturesque villages including stumbling across a wonderful ruined priory in Binham - tiny village with a huge priory - how does this happen, I wonder, as I continue on my stately progress.

'I finally make it to the coast road, heading for Burnham Norton. Unfortunately my inbuilt sense of direction tells me to turn right. I am therefore heading away from Burnham Norton. This finally dawns on me when I get to Stiffkey (pronounced Stookey - or not, depending on which local you talk to). I retrace my route, passing Wells-next-the-sea, Holkham (with its wonderful stately home with free access to the huge grounds), Burnham Overy Staithe (there's a name to conjure with) and make it to Burnham Norton.

'But this time, the sign is on a bend on the main coast road with lots of holiday traffic, all intent on getting to the beach as quickly as possible. I turn off the main road and bimble through the village looking for the village sign at the other end - there isn't one. Back at the coast road I realise that, if I park the BSA in a field entrance and sprint across the road at an opportune time, I can get the necessary photograph (the dangers we Challengers have to put up with!).

'Two down. One more to go. Off the main coast road as soon as possible and onto a B-road. Relaxed riding again. Off through Burnham Market (pronounced Chelsea on Sea for reasons that will be obvious when you pay a visit), North Creake and South Creake (beautiful villages with a stream running along the side of the road) and on to the outskirts of Fakenham. And the village of Pudding Norton. This time an easy photograph - plenty of room and little traffic. After the excitement it's off back home the pretty route - through Brisley, North Elmham and Billingford.

'What do I think of The Challenge? It gave me a real/excuse to get out and ride the bike. It's a 1969 BSA A65 Lightning and if you look at the photographs closely you will see that it could do with a bit of 'upgrading'. However I have never been into polishing my bikes, I have just enjoyed riding them. Which seems to lack conviction if I have only covered 98 miles in a year. True but today's real/exertions have pushed that number to 161 miles. And today was enjoyable riding in the sunshine. With a real/purpose, sort of.

'Next time I will be better organised and see if I can coax a few like-minded people to join me. There are some wonderful country pubs to explore down those back roads. And a great place for a bacon roll and a mug of tea at the hut in the harbour at Blakeney. So thanks Frank for the idea. I have come to it a bit late, having read of the mighty achievements of some of the other real/challengers. I have enjoyed my three to date. I wonder how many miles I will manage before the next MOT…'

Colder. Warmer. Cold Again…

We've said all along that you don't need to ride a Norton or even a particularly old motorcycle to join in the Norton Challenge, and Andrew Smith took us at our word. 'I rode all the way to Cold Norton' he says 'although I'm afraid it's not really a classic bike. The owner is definitely a classic model! I used "manual" mode around the twisty roads and it was great fun. Perhaps I will be able to escape to the garage and get the old M21 sorted in time for a wintry ride back to Cold Norton!'

Nary A Norton

Edward Foreman photographed his 350 Royal Enfield Bullet outside Marston Road at Wolverhampton, famous for being the old headquarters of Villiers and the last place Norton Commandos were assembled. 'Norton and me have a strange relationship,' explains Edward. 'The first road race I ever attended was at Oulton Park Easter Monday 1974, and the sound of the John Player Nortons really got to me. I supported the Team EVEN to the point of being a sponsor of the original NORTON CHALLENGE, the fated Cosworth twin. I think for about £5 you joined the supporters' club and for your donation your received a membership card. I never saw the bike turn a wheel in anger, but I recently saw it at a classic bike show in the flesh for the first time!

'During the late 1980s I worked with West Midlands Police, and it was well known that if the rev limiter failed the Police Norton rotaries would really fly. Later I was at Darley Moor on a Good Friday when the first race bikes took their first tentative steps onto the race track, and we all know that the end result was a senior TT win. Compare and contrast that with my donation to the Norton Challenge all those years ago!

'About the same period I worked in Birmingham. While looking for a business call I came upon a building with an impressive frontage; "NORTON MOTORS LIMITED 1926". Yes, this was Bracebridge Street.

'But yet in all my motorcycling years I have never thrown a leg over a Norton! It's strange but true….'

And Finally…

Vaughan Miles says 'I couldn't find an unused Norton in north Warwickshire so I decided to make my own!' Cheeky. Still, Vaughan has form in this department: 'the bike isn't what the badge says either. It is in fact a Norton N15 CS wearing Matchless badges because I'm a member of the AJS and Matchless Owners' Club. My ruse was spotted by Frank at a show a few years back….'

And Finally. Finally!

Ian Kearey couldn't get a bike into this photo, spotted in Charleville, France. 'Temporary work on Nortons?' he asks: 'I thought they were a full-time occupation!'

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Coming Soon: an announcement about an end-of-season get together for all Norton Challengers. Are you excited? We're excited. Well. A bit excited… and it doesn't take too much to get us excited…