Surprise Best Lit Bike Winners

Candle Power wins the day!

The Best Lit Bike Competition went well and, considering that we have deliberately chosen a quieter part of the promenade for our venue this year (to make the Parade Muster safer), we collected quite a crowd too.

There were three Prizes this year, awarded to the best and second best bikes, regardless of how many wheels they had, and a special prize for what can best be summed up as a noble effort with a bit of something about it – which went to a complete newcomer to Light Parades, and indeed to GoldWing events at all.  They have associated with local bike clubs in the Derby area, where they hail from, and had considered joining GWOCGB but thought it might be too posh for them (really) so they were complete GoldWing event virgins, as it were.

Micky and Phyl, lacking any display lighting of nay kind on their bike, were resourceful enough to borrow a couple of candelabra from the Hotel and illuminated their GL1800 by candlepower.  The judges, briefed to look for something slightly innovative for the third prize, were unanimous in selecting this effort.  So Micky and Phyl are this morning grinning from ear to ear with delight with their watch, trophy and fleece.

The second prize went to Bob Summers for his blue GL1500, which he has theme in blue lights very cleverly and elegantly over the past year.  No one was more surprised than him and there were of course cries of “fiddle” when he, as the originator of the BLP, won something at last, but it was a a stylish effort and although his bike was one of four which the four judges proposed among themselves for second place, so it was a close run thing, Bob’s bike got the consensus vote.

Perhaps inevitably since Garry Wheat’s GL1500 was not here this year, the first prize went to Bill Squires for his immaculately presented GL1800.  As the judges remarked the lighting on this bike is so well crafted and presents such a stunning impact that it really is difficult for anyone else to come close.

Interestingly however the judges, although unanimous in their view that Bill’s bike should be winner, forgot to record the number plate before Bill whipped it away to park it.  No problem, Randy Rodriguez, Chief Judge was able to identify Bill’s bike as the First Prize Winner by referring to it’s unique colour, which he described as “Last Weeks Underpants”.   Bill took this in good heart and has been asking people if they would like to know the time and to admire his Appleyards Fleece ever since.

A good time was had by all in the bar afterwards and the Hotel told me this morning that they took more money last night over the bar that they usually do in a month!  We’re enjoying a great weekend here in Blackpool and the sun is still shining.  As I write this, on Saturday afternoon the static Display of GoldWings at South Pier is reported to be heaving with people and our Collectors for North West Air Ambulance will hopefully be doing a brisk trade.