New Speed Camera's On The A24 Mickleham Bends

[RickS37]

Mr. Tidy...!!! (or anyone else who can remember..!)
What WAS the name of that café on the Mickelham Bends..??!

I might be getting confused but I'm thinking 'Ace of Spades' but I DO remember going in there, possibly early 60's, with my dad (an IOM manx racer just after WWII). The memory is vague but it's hangin' in there..!

It's been bugging me for years..!!

[Far Cough]

Rykka`s was at the bottom of Box Hill if that helps

[RickS37]

Thanks for the input - No, the one that I was thinking about was on the first right-hander (heading towards Dorking at the top of the hill), not down by the Burford Bridge.

Just had a search and it was actually the Old Forge Cafe

If you know the road, I'm sure that it's recognisable..!

[croyde]

Isn't that the Italian as you head through Mickelham?

Frascini or Frascati? I think.

Edited by croyde on Friday 15th January 17:54

[10126 Torino]

You're right with Frascati .

[Mr Tidy]

RickS37 said:

Thanks for the input - No, the one that I was thinking about was on the first right-hander (heading towards Dorking at the top of the hill), not down by the Burford Bridge.

Just had a search and it was actually the Old Forge Cafe

If you know the road, I'm sure that it's recognisable..!

Brilliant photo - I remember it just like that! On the left about half way between the roundabout at the bottom of the hill and Frascati, back in the days when the road had 2 lanes and an N/S/L speed limit that my Dad's 1964 Hillman Minx could cope with - and my RD Yamahas could probably have comfortably exceeded in the late 70s, but not by as much as my 2.8i Capris in the 80s (but only if I had been tempted of course).

A great drive ruined.

If a 60bhp Hillman could get by with a 70mph limit and 2 lanes on that road surely a 300+bhp hatch might cope, but no it's a single lane, a daft limit and average cameras! Progress my A*se!

Back then Ryka's was just a burger van in the car park opposite the Burford Bridge Hotel - nothing like what it is now.

I had a school-mate who lived on Box Hill Road near the Hand in Hand pub in the late 70s and spent many a happy Sunday at Box Hill sitting on the bank watching wheelies! I remember seeing Ryka in his Mercedes with his German Shepherd dog sticking it's head out of the rear window and barking at any passing motorbikes - including mine.

Getting there from Epsom Downs via Headley was a great ride on 2 wheels as well, but I doubt it would be now.

Fun just seems to have been sucked out of driving/riding, at least in the South East.

[croyde]

I vaguely remember Rykas also having a place at the top of Box Hill as well. Cue races from the bottom carpark to the top.

Late 70s, early 80s.

[RickS37]

You're close @CROYDE..! The Frascati Italian is about 200 yards further down the road from the site of the Old Forge Café. Being a local, I've used Frascati's once or twice (but there are better Italian's in the area IMHO..!)
... and as to your second point, there was certainly a café at the top of the zig-zag (still is actually), and if it was a 2nd Ryka's, then I bow to your superior knowledge.!!

Also, to try and explain why "they" a) reduced the dual carriageway Southbound to a single carriageway and b) slapped in the average 50 MPH limit, is that there were a couple of nasty accidents at the junction 'left' into Mickleham village. The residents were getting a little miffed at having to dodge the fast traffic (not me officer..!) when trying to pull out of that junction (turning right) and heading back up the A24, towards Leatherhead. That's what a buddie, who worked for the Highways Agency, explained to me when I asked.

Edited by RickS37 on Tuesday 23 February 15:38

Edited by RickS37 on Tuesday 23 February 15:54

[Mr Tidy]

croyde said:

I vaguely remember Rykas also having a place at the top of Box Hill as well. Cue races from the bottom carpark to the top.

Late 70s, early 80s.

As I remember it Ryka had a burger van at the bottom of the hill in the late 70s and the top of the hill had a genteel tea room - nothing like a Ryka establishment!

I went to Box Hill on loads of Sundays in 1978/79 on my RD250D to meet up with my former schoolmate who had an RD250C and lived near the Hand-in-Hand with his brother who had a KH250. We would sit on the bank by the bottom of the hill and watch people pulling wheelies up the slope out of the car park.

Then we'd encounter Ryka in his Mercedes - even going in the opposite direction he was intimidating in his V8 Merc, especially when his German Shepherd stuck its head out of the back window barking at every bike going the other way!

Sadly I can see why he got to buy the tea room as well.

[ESDavey]

I used to go to Ryka’s (and the Black Swan) in the ‘80s and the car park was rammed with bikes. I once saw a guy get his knee down in the car park early one morning = impressive 😉

[bolidemichael]

The area is soulless and awful now. I went for a ride this evening for the first time since 2018/19 and can't believe the the roads that used to be NSL, then 50 with excessive double white lines everywhere are now 40!!

[Mr Tidy]

It's the same everywhere now sadly.

The Hogs Back (A31) from the A331 to Guildford is now a 60 limit with average cameras, the A217 from the M25 to the Mad Mile is 40 with average cameras, the A3 before the Ace of Spades towards London is a 50 limit with average/fixed cameras - I'm sure there are more!

And equally sure there will be more as time goes by.

[bigothunter]

Enthusiasts in this country are well and truly fked and there's even more restrictions to come

[Terminator X]

Mr Tidy said:

It's the same everywhere now sadly.

The Hogs Back (A31) from the A331 to Guildford is now a 60 limit with average cameras, the A217 from the M25 to the Mad Mile is 40 with average cameras, the A3 before the Ace of Spades towards London is a 50 limit with average/fixed cameras - I'm sure there are more!

And equally sure there will be more as time goes by.

And to think that cctv was introduced to keep us safe from robbers etc. Look at it now!

Face recognition will no doubt be the next "improvement" but nothing to worry about of course for those who do nothing wrong.

TX.

[AlexRS2782]

Mr Tidy said:

It's the same everywhere now sadly.

The Hogs Back (A31) from the A331 to Guildford is now a 60 limit with average cameras, the A217 from the M25 to the Mad Mile is 40 with average cameras, the A3 before the Ace of Spades towards London is a 50 limit with average/fixed cameras - I'm sure there are more!

And equally sure there will be more as time goes by.

Ref the bit in bold, i believe the regional council(s) that cover that area are currently pushing for another overhaul of the current 60 limit there at some point during 2022 as part of the regional green / clean air emission pledges.

It's believed the plan / aim is for the speed to be dropped to 50 starting from the Aldershot / Ash junction on the A331, then running to the existing 50 points on the A31 at Farnham bypass & Guildford just before the A3, therefore removing the existing 60. Longer term sees average cameras installed on the Farnham bound side of the A31.

Evidently it's part of the strategy surrounding the new roundabout layout currently being constructed at the A31 / A331 interchange. The funny part is that it's being redesigned with a new feeder lane from the A331 onto the Guildford bound A31 to improve flow & reduce traffic build up in peak hours. Yet as part of the redesign, the roundabout will become a managed 24hour traffic light controlled setup (in all directions) because they're concerned about the risk of accidents from people exiting the Shell petrol / charging station that was built there.

The current queues through the roadworks in that area during the day are mad since it all went down to 1 lane. 2 weeks ago traffic trying to join the A331 was tailed back past the Runfold and Ash Green junctions in their respective directions.

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Thursday 9th September 19:20

[bigothunter]

Terminator X said:

And to think that cctv was introduced to keep us safe from robbers etc. Look at it now!

Face recognition will no doubt be the next "improvement" but nothing to worry about of course for those who do nothing wrong.

Just imagine how effective the Nazis or Stasi would have been, if they had access to today surveillance and data analysis technology.

Today China's authorities have turned it to their favour

[bolidemichael]

bigothunter said:

Terminator X said:

And to think that cctv was introduced to keep us safe from robbers etc. Look at it now!

Face recognition will no doubt be the next "improvement" but nothing to worry about of course for those who do nothing wrong.

Just imagine how effective the Nazis or Stasi would have been, if they had access to today surveillance and data analysis technology.

Today China's authorities have turned it to their favour

The Nazis do have... the 'elf and safety Nazis, that is.

[M3Gane-Fan]

Friend told me he got snapped by another new one which is very hard to spot same area partially concealed behind bushes so make sure you stick to the limit in this area. They are also using the mobile vans again at angles which are very hard to spot near corners....................all for safety of course nothing to do with revenue generation.........

[bolidemichael]

Whereabouts? Surely not in the 50mph avg speed zone?

[M3Gane-Fan]

bolidemichael said:

Whereabouts? Surely not in the 50mph avg speed zone?

Yes around there very hard to see its designed to catch you out AFTER the event you have little chance of early detection........previously I think it was inactive for a long time now its active again so is the mobile camera van.......!