Mike Ellis Memorial Run 2013
Dozens of riders, on both two and three wheels, turned out for the annual Mike Ellis Memorial Run on Sunday 22nd September. Unseasonally warm and sunny weather, combined with free tea and home-baked cakes, put a smile on the riders' faces as they set off from Watsonian's historic sidecar factory. Joining the many modern motorcycles on the run were several European and Japanese classics, including a Triumph Tiger 100 and T140 Bonneville, Ossa Yankee 500 twin, Yamaha RD350 YPVS and Honda CBX 1000. Cheltenham & Cotswold Advanced Motorcyclists provided out-riders to ensure that everything ran smoothly, enabling the large number of motorcyclists on a wide variety of machines to ride at their own pace.
Held in memory of Watsonian Sidecars' workshop manager, the run followed a 90-mile route from the Cotswold factory to the Malvern hills and back, raising more than £500 for charity in the process. The event also provided an opportunity to raise awareness of RearView, a new campaign for a change in the law, so that all commercial vehicles must have some form of reversing technology fitted, helping to prevent accidents of the type in which Mike Ellis died last year. RearView is hosting an e-petition at www.rearview.org.uk, where they also list statistics on the number of accidents involving reversing lorries.
Plans are already underway for next year's run - for more information call 01386 700907 or visit www.watsonian-squire.com.