Anyone that used to go to Skyways in the 60's??

[ginettajoe]

mrtomsv said:

ginettajoe said:

Well, the Milano sounds very similar to the Skyways, and all the bikes would be lined up outside, just the same. Styal Road where the Cafe was situated was a very twisty road that lead to Wilmslow where there was another coffee bar. There were regular races along there, which although I don't think anyone died, they did sustain some serious injuries. Inside Skyways, it was just the same, Wurlitzer juke box, fruit machines, pinball tables, cona coffee, & beans on toast etc. Everyone in studded leather jackets, winkle pickers or brothel creepers, skin tight jeans. The bikes I remember mainly were Tiger Cubs, BSA C15, Ariel Arrow & Leaders, Velocette Venoms, AJS 350 & 500 singles, AJS 650 twins, Bonevilles which were rated along with the 500 Gold Star, as the quickest bikes of that era, Norton Jubilee 250, Norton Commando, Manx Nortons, Tribsas, Triton, Norvin( Norton featherbed frame & 1000 Vincent engine )I remember some of the more exotic Italian bikes, 200 Ducati, Bultaco, MV Augusta

Wow, always interesting to find out about local history. Where abouts exactly were the two cafes situated? I can't imagine treating Styal road in quite the same way nowadays, what with it being a 30 all the way through Styal.

Skyways was what is now "the Moss Nook Restaurant" and is still owned by the same couple, Derek & Pauline Harrison, who also own an hotel in the Lake District. Styal Road was the road that the Moss Nook & the Tatton Arms, across the road are on, & travelling toward Manchester there were some fast bends before arriving at The Heald Green Hotel, ....... part of the old road is still there, but now called Irvin Drive, & where the Restaurant is it is called Trenchard Drive. Going towards Wilmslow, the original road is now called Tedder Drive, and the layby off the new Road, slightly further along, with a few cottages there, is also the old road. Soon after you pass there, the original road went through a very tight "S" bend, not dissimilar to Doningtons chicane, and that claimed numerous casualties, the worst being a chap called Frank Higginbotham, who lost it exiting the bends, hit a lamp post which came down across the road, & several others who were all racing, ended up hitting it! The road now, after that section, is pretty much as it was then, with the same bends on the approach to Styal, and towards Wilmslow. No-one slowed for Styal, although there was a "30" limit, but all the Police had generally, were the old Velocette LE 200, which couldn't pull you out of bed!!! So it was flat out all the way to the Church at Wilmslow, and the coffee bar was 50 yds past the Church, on the right hand side!!

Hope you enjoyed your lesson in local "Rockers" history!!

[srob]

ginettajoe said:

srob said:

root 666 said:

Elite was 200 and Daytona (how did Triumph manage to nick the name?) was 250.
Both looked and sounded bigger and could see off 350s. All Daytonas (there weren't many in Britain) could chamfer footpegs better than an angle-grinder.

It was utterly beautiful in metallic blue with a dinky fairing.

Mind you the electrics were effing apalling, and while I admit to almost pissing myself when the
Honda became a submarine, the fact that his lights were on for about a minute after he went in irritated me quite severely given that mine fused every time it drizzled

I always wanted an Elite! They must have the best looking petrol tanks ever!

I've got a 1967 Motobi like this:



It's only a little 125 but the handling is amazing thanks to it's low centre of gravity.

Afraid I still wish I lived in the 60's, there's just no decent caff's to line your bikes up outside these days!!

Yes, I think it may have been an Elite that a friend had, ..... I was always envious, ... my Tiger Cub didn't compare!! That Motobi looks good, but that is a bike I've never knowingly seen. I 1967, I had my sensible head on, and drove a car!!

Sensible head - what's that

The Motobi in the pic isn't my one. I'll try and get a pic of mine - it's identical apart from mine has no indicators and a flat seat. They were made by one of the Benelli brothers after a family fallout. The brake pedal on mine still has a 'B' cast into it, so I guess he was still nicking bits out of the Benelli box of bits!

[mrtomsv]

ginettajoe said:

mrtomsv said:

ginettajoe said:

Well, the Milano sounds very similar to the Skyways, and all the bikes would be lined up outside, just the same. Styal Road where the Cafe was situated was a very twisty road that lead to Wilmslow where there was another coffee bar. There were regular races along there, which although I don't think anyone died, they did sustain some serious injuries. Inside Skyways, it was just the same, Wurlitzer juke box, fruit machines, pinball tables, cona coffee, & beans on toast etc. Everyone in studded leather jackets, winkle pickers or brothel creepers, skin tight jeans. The bikes I remember mainly were Tiger Cubs, BSA C15, Ariel Arrow & Leaders, Velocette Venoms, AJS 350 & 500 singles, AJS 650 twins, Bonevilles which were rated along with the 500 Gold Star, as the quickest bikes of that era, Norton Jubilee 250, Norton Commando, Manx Nortons, Tribsas, Triton, Norvin( Norton featherbed frame & 1000 Vincent engine )I remember some of the more exotic Italian bikes, 200 Ducati, Bultaco, MV Augusta

Wow, always interesting to find out about local history. Where abouts exactly were the two cafes situated? I can't imagine treating Styal road in quite the same way nowadays, what with it being a 30 all the way through Styal.

Skyways was what is now "the Moss Nook Restaurant" and is still owned by the same couple, Derek & Pauline Harrison, who also own an hotel in the Lake District. Styal Road was the road that the Moss Nook & the Tatton Arms, across the road are on, & travelling toward Manchester there were some fast bends before arriving at The Heald Green Hotel, ....... part of the old road is still there, but now called Irvin Drive, & where the Restaurant is it is called Trenchard Drive. Going towards Wilmslow, the original road is now called Tedder Drive, and the layby off the new Road, slightly further along, with a few cottages there, is also the old road. Soon after you pass there, the original road went through a very tight "S" bend, not dissimilar to Doningtons chicane, and that claimed numerous casualties, the worst being a chap called Frank Higginbotham, who lost it exiting the bends, hit a lamp post which came down across the road, & several others who were all racing, ended up hitting it! The road now, after that section, is pretty much as it was then, with the same bends on the approach to Styal, and towards Wilmslow. No-one slowed for Styal, although there was a "30" limit, but all the Police had generally, were the old Velocette LE 200, which couldn't pull you out of bed!!! So it was flat out all the way to the Church at Wilmslow, and the coffee bar was 50 yds past the Church, on the right hand side!!

Hope you enjoyed your lesson in local "Rockers" history!!

Certainly did

[ginettajoe]

mrtomsv said:

ginettajoe said:

mrtomsv said:

ginettajoe said:

Well, the Milano sounds very similar to the Skyways, and all the bikes would be lined up outside, just the same. Styal Road where the Cafe was situated was a very twisty road that lead to Wilmslow where there was another coffee bar. There were regular races along there, which although I don't think anyone died, they did sustain some serious injuries. Inside Skyways, it was just the same, Wurlitzer juke box, fruit machines, pinball tables, cona coffee, & beans on toast etc. Everyone in studded leather jackets, winkle pickers or brothel creepers, skin tight jeans. The bikes I remember mainly were Tiger Cubs, BSA C15, Ariel Arrow & Leaders, Velocette Venoms, AJS 350 & 500 singles, AJS 650 twins, Bonevilles which were rated along with the 500 Gold Star, as the quickest bikes of that era, Norton Jubilee 250, Norton Commando, Manx Nortons, Tribsas, Triton, Norvin( Norton featherbed frame & 1000 Vincent engine )I remember some of the more exotic Italian bikes, 200 Ducati, Bultaco, MV Augusta

Wow, always interesting to find out about local history. Where abouts exactly were the two cafes situated? I can't imagine treating Styal road in quite the same way nowadays, what with it being a 30 all the way through Styal.

Skyways was what is now "the Moss Nook Restaurant" and is still owned by the same couple, Derek & Pauline Harrison, who also own an hotel in the Lake District. Styal Road was the road that the Moss Nook & the Tatton Arms, across the road are on, & travelling toward Manchester there were some fast bends before arriving at The Heald Green Hotel, ....... part of the old road is still there, but now called Irvin Drive, & where the Restaurant is it is called Trenchard Drive. Going towards Wilmslow, the original road is now called Tedder Drive, and the layby off the new Road, slightly further along, with a few cottages there, is also the old road. Soon after you pass there, the original road went through a very tight "S" bend, not dissimilar to Doningtons chicane, and that claimed numerous casualties, the worst being a chap called Frank Higginbotham, who lost it exiting the bends, hit a lamp post which came down across the road, & several others who were all racing, ended up hitting it! The road now, after that section, is pretty much as it was then, with the same bends on the approach to Styal, and towards Wilmslow. No-one slowed for Styal, although there was a "30" limit, but all the Police had generally, were the old Velocette LE 200, which couldn't pull you out of bed!!! So it was flat out all the way to the Church at Wilmslow, and the coffee bar was 50 yds past the Church, on the right hand side!!

Hope you enjoyed your lesson in local "Rockers" history!!

Certainly did

Good, I'm happy about that!

[tonyc6400]

I hate to drag up an old thread, BUT..
I was a Wilmslow lad in those great days.
The coffee bar in Wilmslow was the Bamboo... The bikes we parked outside on the road and in the car park across the road.
The target was to run from the Bamboo to skyways and back (or the other way around) with an average speed in excess of a ton.
bikes: Tiger Cub, Norton Dominator, upgraded Lambretta LD150 etc
Several mates got severely damaged on those roads over just a few years.
One mate broke just about every bone in his body when an old guy reversed out of his drive into the middle of the road, just as my mate was arriving. He spent almost a year in hospital.
I think that my first prang was on Hawthorne Lane in Wilmslow. Smacked into a car that suddenly decided he wanted to turn right in a hurry and I did my 'superman ' imitation - flying over his bonnet! Must have been about 1962.
Yes Skyways was a nice atmosphere as well as the Bamboo.
I spent more time in the Bamboo days and evenings - expresso coffee and jukebox heaven.
Those were the days - tough but full of fun!

Drive safe and be happy.

Edited by tonyc6400 on Friday 10th February 19:37

[srob]

tonyc6400 said:

I hate to drag up an old thread, BUT..
I was a Wilmslow lad in those great days.
The coffee bar in Wilmslow was the Bamboo... The bikes we parked outside on the road and in the car park across the road.
The target was to run from the Bamboo to skyways and back (or the other way around) with an average speed in excess of a ton.
bikes: Tiger Cub, Norton Dominator, upgraded Lambretta LD150 etc
Several mates got severely damaged on those roads over just a few years.
One mate broke just about every bone in his body when an old guy reversed out of his drive into the middle of the road, just as my mate was arriving. He spent almost a year in hospital.
I think that my first prang was on Hawthorne Lane in Wilmslow. Smacked into a car that suddenly decided he wanted to turn right in a hurry and I did my 'superman ' imitation - flying over his bonnet! Must have been about 1962.
Yes Skyways was a nice atmosphere as well as the Bamboo.
I spent more time in the Bamboo days and evenings - expresso coffee and jukebox heaven.
Those were the days - tough but full of fun!

Drive safe and be happy.

Edited by tonyc6400 on Friday 10th February 19:37

You still riding?

[tonyc6400]

srob said:

You still riding?

Hardly , just maybe once or twice a year. Old beat-up bones now!

My son rides my bike mostly now.
We've got a Viagra xv535s, a BSA Bantam (60's) in progress of restore, and a Vespa 125.

I can't hardly ride much now, even to collect my pension, but you never get it out of your blood!

[RemaL]

If it was the 60's BN will be there being in his mis 20's by then

[ginettajoe]

tonyc6400 said:

I hate to drag up an old thread, BUT..
I was a Wilmslow lad in those great days.
The coffee bar in Wilmslow was the Bamboo... The bikes we parked outside on the road and in the car park across the road.
The target was to run from the Bamboo to skyways and back (or the other way around) with an average speed in excess of a ton.
bikes: Tiger Cub, Norton Dominator, upgraded Lambretta LD150 etc
Several mates got severely damaged on those roads over just a few years.
One mate broke just about every bone in his body when an old guy reversed out of his drive into the middle of the road, just as my mate was arriving. He spent almost a year in hospital.
I think that my first prang was on Hawthorne Lane in Wilmslow. Smacked into a car that suddenly decided he wanted to turn right in a hurry and I did my 'superman ' imitation - flying over his bonnet! Must have been about 1962.
Yes Skyways was a nice atmosphere as well as the Bamboo.
I spent more time in the Bamboo days and evenings - expresso coffee and jukebox heaven.
Those were the days - tough but full of fun!

Drive safe and be happy.

Edited by tonyc6400 on Friday 10th February 19:37

...... I'd forgotten that I started this thread, .... Three years ago!!!!!, ....
Yes, the Bamboo, I couldn't remember the name! Did you go to The Creole Club, above the Rex?? That was my alltime favourite hangout, playing James Brown, Procul Harem, ...... they definately were the days!!!

[tonyc6400]

Yes I used to go to the 'gigs' up there...above the Rex........
I remember one of the alltime favourites bands up there was a real scary group, dressed up like skeletons and vampires - Dr somebody (I think) they were so popular because the singer used to run around chasing the girls and they in turn always grabbed hold of the guys in there to protect them!!
I don't know if you remember them...
Great days...

ginettajoe said:

...... I'd forgotten that I started this thread, .... Three years ago!!!!!, ....
Yes, the Bamboo, I couldn't remember the name! Did you go to The Creole Club, above the Rex?? That was my alltime favourite hangout, playing James Brown, Procul Harem, ...... they definately were the days!!!

[ginettajoe]

tonyc6400 said:

I vaguley remember something like that, .... I definately remember the fit birds that were in there!!!

[Stone Cold]

RemaL said:

If it was the 60's BN will be there being in his mis 20's by then

+1 I cant' believe Fleegle and BN havent been on here sharing memories and old sepia photo's

[ginettajoe]

Stone Cold said:

+1 I cant' believe Fleegle and BN havent been on here sharing memories and old sepia photo's

..... it's because we are talking about the sixties, not the "Middle Ages"!

[Biker's Nemesis]

Aww come on, I wasn't in my 20's in the 1960's. (or older, so fook off)

[cjb1]

I was too young but I know my brother who was 6 years older used to go, he had a Ducati 200cc single pot café racer back then.

[Fleegle]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Aww come on, I wasn't in my 20's in the 1960's. (or older, so fook off)

You're a bit touchy about your age, aren't you Grandpops?

[cjb1]

I've emailed my brother to see if he wants to add to this thread?

cjb1 said:

I was too young but I know my brother who was 6 years older used to go, he had a Ducati 200cc single pot café racer back then.

[cjb1]

I remember that the 'mods' used to meet in Bramhall Park and had regular visits from the bikers in the area, some of those gatherings were very violent with the bikers thinking nothing of taking spare bike chains to the mods and their scooters. The local police were even scared of the Rockers in those days and rarely attended to any effect

ginettajoe said:

Skyways was what is now "the Moss Nook Restaurant" and is still owned by the same couple, Derek & Pauline Harrison, who also own an hotel in the Lake District. Styal Road was the road that the Moss Nook & the Tatton Arms, across the road are on, & travelling toward Manchester there were some fast bends before arriving at The Heald Green Hotel, ....... part of the old road is still there, but now called Irvin Drive, & where the Restaurant is it is called Trenchard Drive. Going towards Wilmslow, the original road is now called Tedder Drive, and the layby off the new Road, slightly further along, with a few cottages there, is also the old road. Soon after you pass there, the original road went through a very tight "S" bend, not dissimilar to Doningtons chicane, and that claimed numerous casualties, the worst being a chap called Frank Higginbotham, who lost it exiting the bends, hit a lamp post which came down across the road, & several others who were all racing, ended up hitting it! The road now, after that section, is pretty much as it was then, with the same bends on the approach to Styal, and towards Wilmslow. No-one slowed for Styal, although there was a "30" limit, but all the Police had generally, were the old Velocette LE 200, which couldn't pull you out of bed!!! So it was flat out all the way to the Church at Wilmslow, and the coffee bar was 50 yds past the Church, on the right hand side!!

Hope you enjoyed your lesson in local "Rockers" history!!

[cjb1]

I remember that the 'mods' used to meet in Bramhall Park and had regular visits from the bikers in the area, some of those gatherings were very violent with the bikers thinking nothing of taking spare bike chains to the mods and their scooters. The local police were even scared of the Rockers in those days and rarely attended to any effect

ginettajoe said:

Skyways was what is now "the Moss Nook Restaurant" and is still owned by the same couple, Derek & Pauline Harrison, who also own an hotel in the Lake District. Styal Road was the road that the Moss Nook & the Tatton Arms, across the road are on, & travelling toward Manchester there were some fast bends before arriving at The Heald Green Hotel, ....... part of the old road is still there, but now called Irvin Drive, & where the Restaurant is it is called Trenchard Drive. Going towards Wilmslow, the original road is now called Tedder Drive, and the layby off the new Road, slightly further along, with a few cottages there, is also the old road. Soon after you pass there, the original road went through a very tight "S" bend, not dissimilar to Doningtons chicane, and that claimed numerous casualties, the worst being a chap called Frank Higginbotham, who lost it exiting the bends, hit a lamp post which came down across the road, & several others who were all racing, ended up hitting it! The road now, after that section, is pretty much as it was then, with the same bends on the approach to Styal, and towards Wilmslow. No-one slowed for Styal, although there was a "30" limit, but all the Police had generally, were the old Velocette LE 200, which couldn't pull you out of bed!!! So it was flat out all the way to the Church at Wilmslow, and the coffee bar was 50 yds past the Church, on the right hand side!!

Hope you enjoyed your lesson in local "Rockers" history!!

[ginettajoe]

cjb1 said:

..... I remember a Ducati 200 cafe racer, and it was the one 'bike I aspired to owning, but never did!! One of the lads that knocked about in our group, built an Ariel Arrow 2 stroke twin into a Tiger Cub frame, with a Ducati style race tank and race seat. It had expansion boxes on it, and the noise was horrendous, .... it was a flying machine. I remember going to Blackpool with him, I was on a 500 Goldstar, and the scream from his bike gave me a real headache!!!