The 65th SOC Annual Gathering 2024

As announced in Yowl last December, the 2024 Scott Owners’ Club Annual Gathering will be held on 6th and 7th July at the home ground of The Lichfield Rugby Union Football Club, Tamworth Road, Lichfield, WS14 9JE. The ground is located 15 miles north east of Birmingham in the direction of Burton-on-Trent.  We have joined forces with the Velocette Owners’ Club who, as hosts for the event, have kindly invited us along to make best use of this large venue.  The smaller New Imperial Owners’ Club have shared with the VOC for several years and will be there too, they say it has been a good arrangement.

Like ourselves, the VOC are holding their annual rally and are expecting around 100  Velocette bikes and 150 members to attend.  They have a ride out to a nearby steam railway centre on the Saturday with their main event (concours, prize giving etc) being held on the Sunday, plus a VOC auto jumble.  Our event will follow similar lines, as in previous years. We will hold our own autojumble with our unwanted spares – please bring all you can muster!

The VOC are keen to emphasise that there are no fixed rules for the SOC, we can do anything we wish within reason and the spirit of the event.  However, we MUST keep people, animals, vehicles, vans, tents etc. off the FIRST rugby pitch, just inside the entrance. Our designated area will be the secondary pitches.  There is absolutely no need for anyone to stray on to the Rugby Club’s pristine turf, and we fear the consequences if they do.

All are welcome, whether club members or not.  The hosts charge an entry fee on the gate of £3 per head on Sunday only.  The site will be open early on both Saturday and Sunday and there appears to be ample hard standing car and trailer parking available.

SOC members who have camping facilities can stay from Friday afternoon until Monday morning if it suits them.  Informal camping is allowed and the hosts charge £10 per tent and £20 per campervan, irrespective of the time stayed and number of occupants. We can use the Rugby Club’s toilets and washroom areas, but there are no electrical hook-up or other camping facilities. We may arrange a “bring your own sausages” BBQ on Saturday evening if there is enough interest.

Yet to be confirmed by the Rugby Club is the availability of their cafe, usually open to all on Saturday and Sunday morning, and it is unclear whether the club house (which serves alcohol and soft drinks) will be out of bounds due to a wedding reception which may be taking place on the Saturday evening.  If you intend to camp, bring supplies just in case!  An alternative is The Horse and Jockey, an excellent pub which adjoins the ground and serves food and drink – booking is advised.  There are many more pubs and hotels in the nearby city of Lichfield.

Please bear in mind that there is no specific site security and the grounds are open to the general public – please bring bike locks and chains if you intend to leave your motorcycle overnight, and lock up your vehicles when you leave them.

If you have any questions, ideas or helpful suggestions, please contact Richard Tann, details inside the front cover of Yowl.

Please make every effort to attend, let’s make this an enjoyable gathering of friends with their cherished Scott and Silk motorcycles.

Edward Irving and Richard Tann