Amber Valley Rugby Club in Derbyshire was again the setting for the Classic Kawasaki Club's annual rally over the weekend of July 3rd & 4th. Having taken a wrong turn somewhere in the remotest wastes of the Peak District I arrived just in time to meet a very harassed Rick Brett valiantly atempting to bump start a very recalcitrant H2. Leaving him to sweat and curse, I wandered off around the field to find an impressive display of over 120 Kawasakis from the golden era of the seventies and eighties whic included two-strokes and Zeds of all capacities from 90 to 1300cc. I was particularly surprised to find another 1100 Spectre on site; (that is another one beside the one I used to own). These seem to be quite rare bikes on our shores and this example even had both it's sidepanels!

Mick Grant was on hand to present the trophies and treated the club to an impromptu show as he took his H2R for a blast around the field before trying some of the club members bikes for size. Charlie Owens mint 1975 H2C was originally bought for spares before a change of heart dictated a restoration job and is now a gleaming example that could have been pulled fresh off the showroom floor. The bike now shares garage space with an identical twin. Charlie's mate Craig Hadfield narrowly pipped him to the post in the concours with his immaculate 1972 H2, restored over the last four years.

Ian Purkiss and Gary Norris with matching pair of Z900s.	Simon Whitelock runs his prototype eight cylinder engine.

Also with twin bikes were Ian Purkiss and Gary Norris, who found themselves chatting after parking almost identical Z900s alongside each other. Gary has owned his bike for nine years, and did all the restoration work himself. "It even still has the original exhausts" he told me. Ian's bike was a birthday present from his wife. Some birthday present, some wife. "I considered a Harley Davidson, then realised I could finally have the bike I had always dreamed of" he said. Ian isn't disappointed with his choice, and says the big Zed lives up to it's reputation.

Simon Whitelock had an impressive collection of machinery on display including his replica H2R and a remarkable seven cylinder 606 special. With an engine built by Simon and Chris Appleby from KH250 parts, the 60 b.h.p. bike sports a modified KH400 frame with widened tank and seat and uses a car alternator. Just to prove that engineering eccentricity is alive and well, Simon is now experimenting with eight cylinders and had a test engine running, sending a gorgeous but ear-splitting sound across the field.

The Classic Kawasaki Club now has over 1000 members nationwide. For details contact Rick Brett on 0115 927 4777.

Mick Grant with H2R. Class performers, both.	Seven cylinders. Count 'em.

Rod Gibson