The Early Years at Hunmanby
The club was formed in the Autumn of 1979 when a small band of enthusiasts decided that there was a need for a British Motorcycle club on the Yorkshire Coast.
The early discussions took place in Gristhorpe signal box where founder member Peter Bartle worked at the time. The newly formed club set up home in the Hunmanby Youth Club building on Bowling Green Lane. Membership flourished and enthusiasts came from far and wide to join the club.
We met at Hunmanby for 20 years with runs departing regularly from Cross Hill on Sundays and Wednesdays. Sadly the old Youth Club building gradually fell into disrepair and eventually was condemned by the council. At the time the club itself mirrored the state of the building with dwindling membership and waning enthusiasm.
After many happy years we had to find a new home, and quickly. Without a permanent base the club could have died with the crumbling building.
April 2010 "It's Staxton!"
After much deliberation we decided on a move to Staxton Village Hall. We had several options open to us but felt that Staxton 'ticked all the boxes'. The location is great being slightly inland and central to our catchment area. The hall is just the right size and has been fully refurbished including a state of the art film projector and sound system. It is very cosy in the winter and has space outside for bike parking in the summer. There is even a pub just round the corner.
By 2022 we had over 100 active members, with not only a wide range of British machines from AJS to Vincent, but also Bridgestone, Guzzi, Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Laverda, Motosacoche, Suzuki, Yamaha and more!
By 2022 we had over 100 active members, with not only a wide range of British machines from AJS to Vincent, but also Bridgestone, Guzzi, Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Laverda, Motosacoche, Suzuki, Yamaha and more!
40th Anniversary Year
The club celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2019!
The club celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2019!
Bike Club's Humble Beginnings at Railway Signal Box
article by Dave Berry, of The Scarborough Review
'The worlds of motorcycling and railways overlapped at a biker's meeting in Gristhorpe.
Eighteen members of the Yorkshire coast British Motor Cycle Club assembled at Gristhorpe signal box as part of the celebrations of it's 40th anniversary.
The club held it's first meeting in the tiny brick building, as three founder members worked there.
One of them, Pete Bartle, who died in 2006, painted a mural on an internal wall, of a steam locomotive passing through. Founder members, Bert Morris and Derek Rumney took a self-portrait of Pete, his mates and his BSA Gold Star bike to the latest get-together.
Reminiscences on the railway line and in the signal box were followed by pies, ale and further nostalgia at the Bull Inn in Gristhorpe. Club members in leathers pored over memorabilia and old photos including one taken at the club's 25th anniversary in 2004 at Irton scout hut.
The 40th Anniversary celebrations began with a Best Bike Day at the Forge Valley Inn in West Ayton in July. It featured about 40 motorbikes, one for each year of the club.'
Eighteen members of the Yorkshire coast British Motor Cycle Club assembled at Gristhorpe signal box as part of the celebrations of it's 40th anniversary.
The club held it's first meeting in the tiny brick building, as three founder members worked there.
One of them, Pete Bartle, who died in 2006, painted a mural on an internal wall, of a steam locomotive passing through. Founder members, Bert Morris and Derek Rumney took a self-portrait of Pete, his mates and his BSA Gold Star bike to the latest get-together.
Reminiscences on the railway line and in the signal box were followed by pies, ale and further nostalgia at the Bull Inn in Gristhorpe. Club members in leathers pored over memorabilia and old photos including one taken at the club's 25th anniversary in 2004 at Irton scout hut.
The 40th Anniversary celebrations began with a Best Bike Day at the Forge Valley Inn in West Ayton in July. It featured about 40 motorbikes, one for each year of the club.'