Please try to participate if you can, Richard was a massive supporter of our club, this will be a fitting tribute to him.
Richard Darby Memorial Testers’ Run September 21st 2024
Basic Route starting from Royal Oak, Compton Road, Wolverhampton by 9.15am.
Start from Royal Oak (WV3 9PH) > Bridgnorth (via A454)> Craven Arms (via A458 and then B4368 from Morville) > Church Stoke (via A49 and then A489 from Wistanstow) > breakfast stop @Churchstoke (postcode SY15 6AL)> Welshpool (via A490)> Lake Vyrnwy Via Mallwyd (A458), Dinas Mawddwy (A470 and unclassified) > Llanymawddy & Bwlch-y-Groes pass (single track & mountrtain road ) > Lake Vrynwy (B4393) > Lunch Stop at Vyrnwy Hotel . Postcode SY10 0LY
Total Outward: 100 miles approx 3 hours, plus breakfast stop at Churchstoke.
Return to Wolverhampton from Lake Vyrnwy: follow B4393 via Llanfyllin >(merges with A490 for approx 3 mile)> follow B4393 Llansantffraid (merges with A495 through village) > follow B4393 >Four Crosses >Llandrinio > Ford (A458) > Shrewsbury Ring Road (A5) > Much Wenlock (A458) > Bridgnorth > Wolverhampton
Total Return: 67 miles and approx 2 hours.
Richard believed that old bikes should be used and he was proud of the Wolverhampton auto factories heritage which is often forgotten. The route takes in Bwlch y Groes 2nd highest pass in Wales, in 1920s it was used as a test run for AJS, Sunbeam, Clyno and BSA testers from their Wolves & Birmingham factories. BSA won their ACU Maudes Trophy in 1926 for 60 consecutive ascents of the pass.
The route is not the most direct, it has been planned to avoid M-ways and dual carriageways, it is mainly single carriageway A and B roads. Please leave the start in your own time, ride in small groups or ride by yourself, we do not want a mass convoy. We expect there will be several smaller bikes of 175-250cc and maybe some pre-war bikes too. All timings are approximate but timed for a cruising speed of 50-55 mph so that we can give good idea of when the back-up van (or vans) will pass through each point. We hope to have at least one, maybe two back-up vans both VW Transporters in case of any problems en route, they will start out at 9.20am.
All riders should aim to leave by 9.15am at latest. You can leave in your own time, either from the Wolverhampton start or from various points along the route, we have highlighted the van timings at key points, this should allow you to join ahead of the vans. You can also use these highlighted points as catchups for a breather. The Royal Oak pub at the start point will be open from 8.30am for use of toilet and landlord Keith (who will be coming on the run) will have an urn ready for hot drinks.
At Vyrnwy we hope to have choccy medals awarded for: smallest capacity bike, oldest bike, furthest travelled female rider, ditto male rider, best road legal North/Harrier/Seeley framed special, scruffiest bike, shiniest bike and lightest beezumph triple clutch pull. To qualify all must have completed the route via Bwlch y Groes.
Detailed Route & Approx Timings: Outward from Wolverhampton WV3 9PH
- Royal Oak pub car park, A454 Compton Road, Wolverhampton WV3 9PH
- After 1 miles go left at roundabout follow A454 Bridgnorth, Shell fuel 800yds
- Follow A454 until 11 miles. Left at roundabout. Follow signs for Kidderminster A442 (by-passing Bridgnorth centre)
- 12 miles Right at roundabout follow A458 Bridgnorth
- 5 miles pass Esso Garage on left (downhill into Bridgnorth) 9.45am
- Follow signs for Shrewsbury A458. Straight ahead over 3 roundabouts
- 17 miles, left onto B4363 at Morville. Check mobile speed vans in villages
- 34 miles Craven Arms Turn right A49 (Gulf fuel as leave Craven Arms) 10.15am
- 35 miles left A489, signs for Newtown & Welshpool
- 43 miles Right turn merges with A488 follow signs for Church Stoke & Welshpool
- 44 miles left turn A489 signs for Welshpool & Churchstoke
- 47 miles Churchstoke Co-op (Texaco Fuel) & Caff. 80 minutes/ 10.30 am
On forecourt Breakfast Stop 45 mins at Archie-Lily’s Caff. Postcode SY15 6AL
- Leave Church Stoke Co-op left via A489 at 11.15am.
- 48 miles Turn Right A490 signed Welshpool
- 51 miles Chirbury, Herbert Arms 20am
- 56 miles Roundabout cross A483, 100 minutes follow A490 Welshpool & Powys Castle
- 58 miles Welshpool centre, at 11.35 am. Turn left onto high street. Follow signs for A458 Dolgellau.
- 72 miles Llangadfan A458
- 82 miles Mallwyd (Gulf Fuel) then turn right @roundabout A470
- 84 miles Lay-By on left @War memorial Minllyn A470 (postcode SY20 9LP) …. 12.20pm
- and then within 400yds Right turn off A470 into Dinas Mawddwy village (small teashop and public toilets). Postcode LL49 9LP
- At end of village street follow signs for Bala, Llanymawddwy & Lake Vrynwy.
- After Llanymawddwy road becomes single track with passing places, steep climb up to head of Bwylch y Groes pass with one very tight hairpin at start.
- 91 miles right turning signed to Lake Vrynwy but continue on 100 yds to head of pass and viewing parking area, to collect choccy medal, then turn around back 100 yds to turn for Lake Vyrnwy (downhill single track with passing places) 50pm
- 95 miles turn left onto B4393 follow lakeside around until sign on left for
- Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. Postcode SY10 0LY 100 miles. 1.15pm Lunch Stop.
Return from Lake Vrynwy Approx 3pm:
- Turn left out of Vyrnwy Hotel rejoin B4393, Vyrnwy Dam will be on right.
- Continue on B4393 to Llanfllyn.
- at approach to Llanfllyn turn right road merges with A490 through village. 10 miles. 17 minutes
- Approx 3 miles after Llanfylln, leave A490 left turn onto B4393 towards Llansantffraid. 13 miles
- 17 miles. At Llansantffraid road merges with A495 through village
- Esso Fuel @Llansantffraid. After 50yds immediately turn right, signed Shrewsbury onto B4393.
- Four Crosses cross over A483 follow B4393 signs for Llandrinio & Shrewsbury
- 28 miles, at Ford turn left join A458 signs for Shrewsbury.
- At Ford, Shell Fuel on right. After 1 miles Layby on left with toilets and mobile caff. 54 minutes
- 31 miles join A5 east Shrewsbury Ring Road dual carriageway. (fuel at A49 roundabout)
- Follow A5 east until turn onto exit slip road for A458 Bridgnorth & Much Wenlock. 36 miles. 60 minutes.
- Follow A458 through Much Wenlock and into 54 miles. 85 minutes
- At roundabout left turn uphill A454 signed for Wolverhampton (BP Fuel is on roundabout)
- return Wolverhampton 67 miles. Approx 5pm. 115 minutes to Royal Oak (& maybe raise a glass to Richard?).
Back Up VW vans: Mobile Phone Numbers: (provisional to be confirmed)
Geoff (White van) 07766 995 891, Sean (Black Van) 07807 103 054