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Thursday, August 24, 2017

40th anniversary

The Royal Enfield Owners Club UK is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It should be noted that a previous owners club existed in the 1950's and 60's but according to Peter Hartley's book, it closed in 1970. I find it intriguing as to why. It is true that the company closed in the UK in June 1970, but there surely were plenty of Enfield riders around to keep a club going, as the fact that only seven years later, it was restarted. Picture from the cover of "The Gun", the Club's magazine.

3 comments:

  1. In the club's "The Gun "magazine, Peter Barber, a member of the original club, writes that it fell away as Japanese multi-cylinder motorcycles became popular. "So support declined drastically, as with other one-make clubs, many motorcyclist(s) were then buying foreign machines." An interesting observation!

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  2. I had seen that but I don't get it. There very likely were many more Royal Enfield riders in the UK in 1971, 72, 73 than now. Or when the club was re founded in 1977. Perhaps the nature of the club (involving riders with new machines as opposed ot people with vintage interests) was different then than now?

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    Replies
    1. Clubs go through cycles (sorry). You need a group large enough to carry it off that simultaneously has the time, funds and interest to do so. If interest lags, a few key people age out, burn out or get distracted, the club suffers. As in most human endeavors, you'll find a few people doing all the real work. My hats off to those who put themselves out so the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of their labors.

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