Don’t you just love it when the weather forecast is good and the coming weekend there are events on both Saturday and Sunday that are just a pleasant bimble away on your motorcycle of choice?

Yep, me too.

This weekend is just one of those.

On Saturday (well actually all weekend) is the Royal Enfield Open Weekend and is the fourth annual event to be held at the Watsonian-Squire sidecar factory at Blockley, Gloucestershire, in the heart of the Cotswolds. Click here for map

So not only do you get to look at these great machines you also get to ride through great countryside – excellent stuff.

This will be the third time we have been to this event and something keeps drawing us back and not just the excellent curry and homemade cake provided by the local scouts either, although that is excellent and almost world famous.

As a visitor you get to enjoy the laid back atmosphere that tends to be prevalent at motorcycle events plus free entry and parking.

You can also test ride the new fuel-injected unit construction Classic and Electra models, accompanied by IAM instructors, but their website says places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so get there early I would say.

Real Classic Magazine normally have a stand and they will be awarding a prize to the best bike ridden to the event on each day – any make and model can enter.

Jim Reynolds will be master of ceremonies over the weekend, providing a running commentary along with technical talks and celebrity interviews.

If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite then you also get to wander at will around the sidecar factory and spend some money (if you have any left after enjoying the food) on Royal Enfield spares and clothing.

Finally, a big plus is that all money raised over the weekend will go towards the Midlands Air Ambulance, very cool indeed.

Banbury Run

Next up we have the Banbury Run, normally held on the 3rd weekend in June and this year being held not in Banbury but at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warks, which is 12 miles north of Banbury just off the Fosse Way and within easy reach of the M40 J12. Click here for map

This is organised by the VMCC and the run itself is open to Veteran & Vintage machines manufactured before 1931, entries close in February, however, so you’ll have to be a spectator.

There is of course the run itself, hence the name, which you can watch from various points on the three routes and there is a free shuttle bus provided.

The run starts at 10am with riders starting at 5 per minute with the last rider away at 12 noon.

You can of course just hang around at Heritage Motor Centre site and enjoy the site and sounds of these wonderful machines arriving and departing.

There will also be a bigger and larger autojumble this year for all those essential whatnots.

Entry into the Heritage Motor Centre costs £5-00 for the Banbury Run and Autojumble but if you want to visit the Museum as well the combined cost is £11 for Adults, £10 for Seniors and £9 for Children (5 to 16 with under 5’s free). Parking is free.

If you want to see some pictures of the 2008 Banbury Run then click here