Manky Monkey Motors

Station Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2PZ

Bikers meet at Alton on Wednesday evenings from May to September.  There is the very well known Station Cafe on site serving good food at reasonable prices and there is usually an ice-cream van parked up - again reasonably priced (which makes a change nowdays).  In Station Road there is also a Ducati dealer (Snells) who stay open from 7.30pm - 9.30pm on the first and last Wednesday of each month.  As you can guess, quite a few Ducatis turn up but the meet is for all bikes/trikes.

(http://imgur.com/gVIYV.jpg)

The meet is not as big as Poole Quay (on Tuesdays) but it is popular, with many bikers also calling at Loomies Cafe (a traditional roadside cafe on the A272 in Hampshire - GU32 1JX) which serves food until 10pm on Wednesdays.

I went last night (23rd June) on my trike.  I went via Fareham so came in via the A272 and passed Loomies and there were a fair few bikers there at 6:45pm.  I arrived at Alton about 7:05 and by 7:15 I was tucking into a very nice vegetarian breakfast! 

Apart from a trike that was leaving just as I arrived, I was the only triker there.  Lots of racing bikes in attendance, quite a few cruisers (mainly HDs). a few British and some good old jap bikes.  Also, quite a few combos - one was very interesting.

I got lost on the way home so was very glad to get home (eventually).  So relieved to put the trike in the garage.  I was so proud of her, as she did some miles and some speed, that I just had to tell her and give her a very grateful kiss.  I just hope the neighbours weren't watching because I think they think I am quite eccentric anyway.  ::)  I was so relieved.  The best of it was that I had my car sat-nav with me in my rucksack but whether this confused it I don't know but it kept sending me the wrong way.  I ache like anything this morning but hey, I got home safely.  Mind you as I came off the motorway at my favourite junction  :o I was sooooo grateful the brakes worked.  I did have a moment of deja vu but had started to brake actually on the motorway just in case they had decided not to work again.  I had faith really - just being cautious.  I was down to one headlight though which insisted on staying on full beam but I suppose that was better than staying on dipped.  My biggest worry coming through the New Forest was hitting a deer so the last part of my journey was quite tense but fortunately they decided to stay out of my way last night - they must have known I was out and about!  :)

Would I go again?  It would be nicer to go with some others.  I did chat to some people up there but generally they were not the friendliest of bunches but I suppose many go regularly and are already in their own little cliques.  It was also very cold coming back so perhaps a really balmy evening would be a better choice.

Anyway, here are some pics I took:

(http://imgur.com/voJbO.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/bI1AE.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/az5Xc.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/bUs1K.jpg)

No I wasn't just taking a pic of his bottom:
(http://imgur.com/dhxPH.jpg)
(http://imgur.com/DGloH.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/eKzS0.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/YSBgO.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/weanP.jpg)
(http://imgur.com/YA9t3.jpg)

And the one I found the most interesting considering the engine - the owner started a project and it just grew:
(http://imgur.com/07uo5.jpg)
(http://imgur.com/IZTBV.jpg)

Hi JJ. The Alton meet was my local one when I lived in Basingstoke -a quick blat up the A339 & I was there. As you say, lots of modern sports bikes, but plenty of other stuff tucked away there if you look for it.
I'd like to have a good chat with the guy with the Reliant combo & get some info & photos for a vehicle write up. He's been there every week for years, but I've never gotten round to it.
I feel the same way about the Poole bike nights -a nice ride down there, but always freezing cold coming back & seems to take forever. Glad you made it safely home again.