Are you planning on going to the Isle of Man for the TT or Manx Grand Prix? If so, the GeofS can recommend the Island's latest tourist attraction...

There is a saying that we all know: as one door closes, so another door opens.

Well, in the Isle of Man at least, this appears to hold true.

As many of you will know, last year, Murray's Motorcycle Museum in the Isle of Man closed its doors for the final time. This year, another motorcycle museum opened on the island.

It is only a small museum, compared to Murray's, and does not have the variety of exhibits, but the exhibits it does have however, are superb. It is housed in Kirk Michael at The Old Vicarage and is only 300 yards from where I used to live. Like Murray's, it is right on the famous TT course, and is set in a large, neat garden. The collection is owned by Tony East, a genial, knowledgeable and all round nice chap.

One Saturday morning in early May, I attended a coffee morning there. This was held in aid of the local Hospice Care charity, of which I and Christine, my wife, are committee members. It was a beautiful spring morning, sunny and warm. We arrived early to set up the event, and I took the opportunity to meet Tony.

I was wearing my RealClassic polo shirt, and the first thing he said to me was; 'Have you got the latest RC yet? I got mine two days ago!' He also told me that he visits the site, so I have to mind my Ps and Qs! (At this stage, I feel that I must complain about favoritism, as Tony then told me that he was well acquainted with F&R, and at that point, I had yet to receive my RC copy!).

It turns out that Tony once owned the well known firm ARE, now owned and run by his son. They are of course purveyors of fine workbenches amongst other things. Tony is now a leading light in local (and not so local) VMCC circles.

I didn't actually count the bikes, but from my photos, there are between 40 and 50, with a seeming emphasis on Triumphs. There is some AMC machinery, and ironically, Tony tells me that he originally started out collecting AMC machines, but got a bit side tracked. (An understatement if there ever was one...) Personally, I was secretly rather pleased, as I am a Triumph man, but in truth, I like all bikes, no matter what they are or where they come from.

On the day of our coffee morning, Tony had thoughtfully arranged for several local VMCC members to attend and bring their bikes. This produced a few extra exhibits, including a couple of fairly unusual ones, a very pretty Coventry Eagle 150cc 2-stroke (Stilljoe, where are you?). I was told that this is for sale, but I never did find out the price. (It's a bit difficult when SWMBO is looking over your shoulder). It would struggle with my 17-stone bulk anyway, much as I fell for its looks. Another unusual piece of kit was an LE engine in a Valiant rolling chassis. This sounded unbelievably crisp when it left, nothing like you would expect an LE to sound! A serious dose of envy was setting in.

A friend of mine, Richard Birch, turned up with his recently acquired 1930 350 Sunbeam, in excellent, totally unrestored condition. He has got an entry at Banbury, and was very pleased about it.

The pictures of the collection's bikes can speak for themselves, there is a Scott, a couple of Greeves twin cylinder road bikes, (just like Jims,) a brace of Vincents, Comet and Rapide, even a CZ 250 and a W650 Kawasaki. Numerous Nortons, a bevy of BSAs, a positive tribe of Triumphs, a Sunbeam, an LE, an arrangement of Ariels, a group of Guzzis (is two a group?) a super special, and a rather unusual Chinese (I think) import. In the photos I have included the visiting bikes too, as they were so nice, and I know that you all like to drool over pretty bikes. SWMBO told someone that she was following me round with a napkin to wipe the drool from my beard. Most unfair I thought, I can wipe my chin myself!

Tony opens the collection at weekends through the summer. If you visit Mona's Isle, then try to fit in a visit to the collection, you will not be disappointed. All of the bikes are in top notch condition, the Triumphs, in a sea of Amaranth Red are my favourites, a visual delight. There are also a few other exhibits, some stationary engines, some advertising signs and a few die-cast models too. The collection is well laid out, in very pleasant surroundings. If you get the opportunity, enjoy. I did. Tony is happy to entertain groups, and I think that any club visits would be made most welcome.