REVIEW - Wiltshire Stones 2004

An outstanding turnout of 110 RATs turned the Wiltshire Stones Raid into a fitting season finale for the 2004 UK Raid season.

An outstanding turnout of 110 turned the Wiltshire Stones Raid into a fitting season finale for the 2004 UK Raid season. The appalling weather forecast for the weekend proved to be depressingly accurate, but this was not nearly enough to take the shine off good riding and excellent socialising.

 

Everyone had checked into the Angel Hotel in Chippenham by 8pm on Friday night, including Geoff Abbey who had travelled all the way from Denmark for the event! A late evening developed as old friends and new caught up on Triumph news and planned their riding groups for the weekend.

 

The ride left on Saturday morning in torrential rain. Picturesque villages were linked together by challenging B road sections, and it was with some relief that the group met up at the first scheduled stop. From here it was another terrific session of riding prior to everyone assembling at Stonehenge. For a wet day in October, Stonehenge was exceptionally busy, and the sight of 70 Triumphs roaring into the car park certainly turned heads from the ancient monument! After a drink and photograph stop, the group then returned to the supporting Triumph dealer, Taylor Racing, via another mystical monument, Avebury Stones. At Taylor Racing some very wet RAT’s tucked into a welcome cream tea with (what else) rock cakes!

 

Back at the hotel, there was sufficient time to dry off before we launched into the final party of the year. Awards, prizes, drinking, eating and dancing took us late into the following morning, and as a result Sundays ride up through the Cotswolds saw a smaller amount of bikes departing.

 

Special thanks to Iain Gauld and the rest of the Taylor Racing team, who set up and supported the Wiltshire Stones Raid.