To be honest, Suzuki's GT750 two stroke triple was never my favourite bike. I've never had much luck with two strokes, any I rode always seemed to break down or be excessivley prone to stopping in the rain, and I decided years ago to stick to bikes with camshafts and valves. Still, even I have to admit that the old Kettle, or "Water Buffalo" as it's known across the pond, has an undeniable heritage coming as it does from the same family of bikes raced by 70's icons such as Barry Sheene himself. And never actaully having owned a Kettle (a GT380 was the closest I came) I can't be too quick to knock the old dears. So it was with some trepidation that I pointed the FJ south toward the Blue Haze Rally where I expected to find, well, a field full of Kettles. And I wasn't disappointed. More than 90 examples of the beast turned out for the Kettle Club's 4th national rally in Peterborough. "The club is going from strength to strength" Fred Dear, the clubs P.R. officer told me. The club has members from from as far afield as South Africa and the USA and membership now stands at over 400.

I arrived in bright sunshine on Saturday afternoon and was immediatley greeted with tea and biscuits, supplies of which were forthcoming all the rest of the afternoon without any prompting from me. What a civilised bunch the Kettle Club are. Inclement weather prevented the planned Sunday morning concours but Saturday afternoons impromptu show was probably the most impressive display of classic Kettles yet seen. Belying the clubs motto "Multi Illorum Nunc Non Videtis" ("You Don't See Many Of Those About"), models from each year of production were on show including several specials and rarities. One thing about visiting one make events is the rapidity with which one becomes familiar with different models, and within a half-hour of arriving I was discussing the merits of J, K, L and M models like a veteran.

You don't see many of these about. Dave Buchanan with rare "split head" Kettle.	Eamon Maloneys superb GT750K.

Dave Buchanan's unusual "split head" GT750 is thought to be one of only three in Europe and sports a special water cooled cylinder head rarely seen outside Japan. Eamon Maloney brought along his superb "K" model, one of his collection of over 50 bikes from the seventies, an era he loves. "I was too young to have one of these at the time" he told me "and riding one now is a dream come true." Norton Johnston's GT750 is such a gleaming example that he is known in club circles as "Polish To Death", a legend his wife has had specially printed on a sweatshirt for him.

One of these people is called Russell Hobbs. Allegedly.	Polish to death indeed. Norton Johnston with immaculate "M" model.

The club welcomes anyone with an interest in GT750s and is an excellent way for potential Kettle owners to make sure they have access to the technical help that only a one-make club can provide. The "Flexi-Flyer" club magazine carries adverts for bikes and spares and some club members are now manufacturing parts to keep these bikes on the road.

After a recent chance meeting with club chairman Dave Pitcher, Barry Sheene is the latest potential recruit and membership number 7 has been reserved for him. Contact the Kettle Club through Fred Dear on 01489 578451 or e-mail KETTLECLUBUKFRED@freenet.uk.com.

Rod Gibson