Some club runs go further than once around the block and into the pub for a bite to eat. Frank Snively reports on the UK Panther Owners' Club excursion to Colorado...

There is something about mountain scenery which brings out the best in old single cylinder motorcycles and their riders. Two years ago, a large group of Velocette and Rudge riders, mostly from Australia and western US and Canada, came to Colorado. They used the little town of Crawford, Colorado, as their base of operations. Crawford is in an area with cattle ranches, coal mines, orchards and scenery. It is a proper western US small town, with an elevation (about 6500 feet) exceeding the population (about 1200) by a comfortable factor. The last visit by the singles was such a success that American and British Panther owners decided to repeat the process.

Logistic necessities forced a few added arrangements this time. The British Panther owners loaded their machines and spares into cargo containers. The containers were shipped, along with the owners and their pillion passengers, to Denver, and the actual tour commenced at a cargo handling facility near DIA. A local club (the British Motorcycle Association of Colorado) met the arriving travelers and assisted with unloading, finding gasoline, and distribution of maps and specific advice on route finding. After a few days of acclimatisation to the altitude, the climate, and riding on the right (or is it the wrong?) side of the road, the assembled group arrived in Crawford.

They were joined by a few people who made separate travel arrangements. Having no proper Panther myself, and anticipating that some transport service at the camp site might be needed, I loaded my wife, Sue, and our Papillion, Chuck, into the family Dodge truck and rode over to join the crowd.

One couple from New York did a lot more driving. They were owners of a Panther which they couldn't get running. They drove straight through, almost 2000 miles, to join the crowd. Any RealClassic readers who also participate in the Brit-Iron mailing list will immediately recognise the name Nina Iammateo, and her husband Bill. I had corresponded with them and greeted them when they arrived. The assembled Panther experts got Bill's Panther running, to his great delight. The delight was somewhat dampened when the magneto disintegrated after traveling a distance of 27 miles. However Bill was happy to ship the magneto off for rebuild, convinced that a working spark maker was all was needed. Certainly they looked happy enough when I took a picture:

Some of the owners had gone out for local rides when we arrived, but several others were clearly trying to decide where to head next.

Upon our arrival at the camp site area, we were struck by the fact that the Panther owners had what we consider a proper view of cosmetic niceties for their machines. The philosophy clearly was; 'Get them running. As soon as they are running, ride them'. A few of the solo machines looked ready to go, such as this nice rigid frame Panther (which also had a reasonably presentable paint covering, for all the bright work might not have been up to 100 point concours quality):

However, a combination ridden by Steve Rogers, who was hauling wife and son along, clearly needed a bit of roadside fettling. Fear not, readers, you will see a face-on picture later down.

Steve wasn't the only one to bring offspring. It turned out that while Sue and I had felt a bit diffident about bringing along our little dog, it was a marvelous thing with the children present. Playing with Chuck allowed their parents some time free from distraction to plan or repair or pack up. All the readers will recognize children. After study of the following picture, they will recognize a Papillon, also.

While I've seen Panthers in the metal and on the page before, there was one 'small 'un' which was new to me. The machine in question had a Villiers engine and Earles fork. I have since been told that the Villiers engine was installed when the British government mandated a 250cc displacement limit for beginners -- an idea which lasted until Suzuki and Yamaha began selling machines of that displacement which would do the ton handily. Also, it was a surprise to me that while the tiddler had an Earles fork, just what one wants for sidecar use, the big machines had teles. Only the Germans seemed willing to use Earles forks on full size motorcycles. Some things I don't understand.

Another long distance traveler came from New Brunswick, Canada. His Panther did not quite fit in with the rest of the machines. The paint was not faded, the bright work gleamed, and it ran smoothly. The following picture shows the Panther in question, in the company of the only non-English participants and bystanders. The standing people are Jerry Pokorny, of Englewood (near Denver), Colorado, left in sunglasses. Jerry was instrumental in planning and organizing the entire rally, dealing with myriad unpleasant details such as cargo arriving a day late, reservations cancelled; 'Where's the loo?' and on and on. The other standing person is Frank Snively, right, in filthy Tilley hat, of Buena Vista (near absolutely nothing), Colorado. The seated Canadian is beginning to feel a bit out of place. His Panther is a handsome machine, however.

Liam Rogers didn't want to let go of the dog. So we arranged for him and his parents to get on their combination and come over to visit with us. They can tell you of their ride through Aspen (tons of money) and over Independence Pass (12,100 feet elevation, the high point of the trip for them). Most pleasant visit. The POC is well led. The photo shows Sue, Nicki and Steve; you'll recall I promised a face picture. After consulting the atlas, we have an idea where they live when it is time for a return visit.

And a serious comment: The red faces are not entirely an artifact of the artificial lighting. There is a lot of solar ultraviolet at elevations above 3500 meters.

See you on the next one?