DOCGB

The 2009 BMF Show was once again notable for a significant quantity of water from the sky, this year allied to a non-stop wind that kept the flags fluttering all weekend.

Our stand space was the same frontage as usual but the marquee was smaller this year, with a more modest collection of bikes on display.

Andrew Little's 999 shows that you can tour on a Duke Superbike.

New Chairman Martyn surveys his recently inherited kingdom, and is pleased.

To mark the Pantah's 30th birthday we had a bog standard original 500 supplied by Bomber from the Mid Anglian branch....

...and a very special evolution of the model, evidenced by the sticker on the front mudguard...

...and the name on the fairing. Georgio Nepoti being one third of the famed NCR tuning shop that ran what was effectively the "factory" race team in endurance through the 70's and 80's using prototype new designs. This "Works" TT2 was his bike and was raced by (amongst others) Walter Villa in 1983.

The photo's below show some of the detail touches on this very special bike, the drilled and dished bolts being a "signature" of Nepoti's.

So it's not just any old TT2.

And this not just any old SportClassic either. Alan Long's work and paint scheme make this a gem.

Doesn't stop the mice getting at the cases though.

Alan's other bike on display is the "Ultra-Light 944" based on a Bimota Mantra, but heavily modified.

The DOC's resident George Formby impersonator Andrew Little brought his own uke to the show, as signed by Giancarlo Fallapa. And yes, we did get a rendition of "Riding in the TT races" during the weekend.

That's what drove us to the alchohol early!

The Barby got fired up for the evening nosh, and Colin did his best to flambe everything.

Meanwhile, the wind was still going strong as we bade farewell to the day's visitors and sewed up the marquee before visiting the funfair and watching the excellent "Maet Loaf" in concert.

Most of the crew slept in Martyn's "Gin Palace on Wheels" overnight. Well, with a couple of bottles of single malt to destroy, there was no other sensible place.

So Spaggy slept in the marquee!

Chained to the TT2!

Come Sunday morning, and Andrew draws the short straw and gets to parade his 999 accross the BMF shale carrying Martyn and the DOC flag.

The comentator/interviewer couldn't get a word in edgeways once Andrew got into his stride with the interview. This is one enthusiastic Ducati owner! Also does a mean George Formby and paints fantastic pictures. Have a look at Ducatiart.com

Meanwhile, Valentine Wood had removed the fairing panels for a closer look at the TT2. It was fired up for a brief period, and blew over the tent accross the road!

Several members of the DOC squad scived off for a bit to have a gander in the Aprillia Owners Club tent next door.

Well, there was a MotoGP race on from Le Mans, and plenty of others stopped to watch too.

Back to our own Little Italy, and Martyn introduces Membership Sec Frank to a computer, with the eventual aim of getting him to do the work himself!

The Chris Marshall Trophy for best bike on the stand was a bit of a foregone conclusion this year, with Valentine Woods ex-works factory TT2 the winner by a mile. Andrew Little was a close friend of Chris's, and it was he who got Andrew into Ducati's in the first place, so he was pleased to be able to present the trophy on behalf of his late mate.

Val poses with the bike and trophy....

...and this is the DOC crew who manned the stand all weekend. Particular thanks to Guy for doing most of the organising and planning, and to Colin for bringing a van-load of gear with which to build our stand.

And to Martyn for the Gin Palace!