‘The last of the summer swarms’
Welcome to SWARM 2000.
The second Official Hornet Meet-Up and Ride-Out.
The full story and photo gallery.
The date: SUNDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2000.
The place: KENT MOTORCYCLES NEAR BARHAM IN KENT.
The weather: SUNNY - 27 DEGREES all day!
The Turnout: 48 HORNETS AND 15 OTHER BIKES
The Swarm started at 9.30 am in Kent - but we had to get there first!
So we gathered up a few Hornets an Swarmed to Kent from the Kempton Park meeting place.
7.30am. Kempton Park.
A damp and misty start cunningly hid the weather we were about to get.
What's Mark about to do to that gleaming yellow banana-bike??
It took ages to get everyone to stand like this.
After a slap round the motorways we arrived at the Swarm venue
(Kent Motorcycles) - 9.45 am - complete with sunshine. Ahhhh perfect!
Who's that taking a poo behind his bike?? - It's Nev!
Oh, hang on - Nev's just having a sit down.
After a long ride on the Hornet from Derby to the Swarm it's always good to find a comfy seat!
Even Star Guest Jim Carey put in an appearance - which was nice.
See how the sky reflects in the visor. Took ages that did.
Young 'Stinger' Max does his bit for the Swarm selling the raffle tickets. Top lad.
Official photographer Keith Sheriff looses off a few rounds.
The first ride-out... and 48 Hornets assemble in the lay-by outside!
Ooops, a bit of camera shake from all the excitement of seeing 48 Hornets all lined up!
Dave and Max ready to head up the first ride out. A nice journey of approximately 35 miles, around some of the more spectacular areas of White Cliffs Country, with a stop off for ice-creams at Kearsney Abbey. Nice.
I particularly like the way everyone else has started behind the 'line'.
Very organised.
The Horneteers at the front overheat as the back markers still line up!
Just like the start at the F1 GrandPrix's.
After a nice ride and a good stonk down the dual carriageway on the way back to Swarm HQ
Dave and Max bring 'em home again.
There's a nice moment on the video camera of Nige and the Buell flat out down the last straight!
More peeps heading into the carpark.
Wun Tun on his touring Hornet comes home. 35 miles just 'aint enough for this bloke.
In the break at lunchtime Buzz sizes up Mart's Hornet.
After some butties and something to wash it back with - we gather everyone together to hand out Awards and Raffle prizes.
The Raffle prizes were duly handed out and were:
1st A voucher for £80 to spend at Kent Motorcycles.
2nd A signed Hornet's Nest T-shirt - Ron Haslam, Colin Edwards and Aaron Slight.
3rd A signed HUKRC cap.
4th 2 tickets for racing at Lydden Hill (donated by Steve)
Awards were as follows...
BEST BIKE @ SWARM2000 - NIGE (aka Sildd)
SECOND BEST BIKE @ SWARM2000 - The Black one with polished wheels.(send me and e-mail mate!)
MOST TRAVELLED SWARMER @ SWARM2000 - MARK from Manchester via Geordie land! (594 miles)
BIGGEST POSER @ SWARM2000 - PORKY OF COURSE!
FILTHIEST HORNET @ SWARM2000 - SIR JAMES (he was so embarrassed he turned up on his Kwak)
AWARD FOR HAVING THE MOST GRATUITOUS AMOUNT OF YELLOW - MART (aka Bananaman)
AWARD FOR THE BIKE LEAST LIKELY TO GO THROUGH THE DOORS OF KENT MOTORCYCLES - Wun Tun (Touring Hornet with multiple panniers)
We said our thank-yous and we also held a minutes silence as a mark of respect to Mike Thomas.
(See front page of web site.)
We then head out for the second run of the day.
The S&M Experience - A trip of around 60 miles through a wide variety of roads, with some really challenging stretches, led by Sue and Maddie.
Buzz gives one of his HARD stares.
Or is he just drunk??
The camera can't handle Porky's Stoppie...
On the other hand... PERFECT!
The Porkmeister does it again...
YOO THA MAN PORKY! YOO THA MAN!!
More Hornets, and Porky again.
Loading a few Hornets into the boot of the motor...
The camera's best friend.
Sun kissed rears...
The Banana bike.
Booby T's and James L's bikes. NICE.
Marianne's oh so sexy 250. We like it.
The 3 Horneteers.
Oooh look, Is that Porky, AGAIN.
Hornetsaplenty...
Steve goes for his gun?... I didn't stay around to look.
We even let Hornet Wannabees in. Pity the poor girl!
Catalogue poses R us...
"Rover 420." "Yeah nice." "Variable valve timing and double overhead cam." "Yeah nice."
"Has it got those little hooks in the back for your jacket...?"
Mike on 'that Buell thing'.
Bobby T: "No honest, you just put your lips round the pipe... and blow..."
Sir James and his latest bit of fluff...
The club stand - Claire, Buzz and me.
Back to the boyz with da belly pans.
Nige's bike - winner of the BEST BIKE at Swarm 2000 award - and rightly so.
That'll be Porky again then. Bl@@dy poser.
Rachel (Bud) is mad for it!
Rose, just before the one handed rolling 50 yard burnout.
Two posers. Say no more.
The three most popular colours.
And again...
The only bike at Swarm 2000 with a standard pipe. How dreadful for the owner.
A triumphant Porky makes it into ANOTHER photo!
Wun Tun manages a whole Swarm without a single drop of ketchup down his front!
I'll get me coat... The troops head home after an awesome day.
The commemerative sticker - did you get yours?
Buzz takes the easy ride home...
The end of a brilliant day. Thanks to all that made it possible.
See you at Swarm2001!!!
More Swarm2000 photos and stories to come - so stay tuned!
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