Avon Tyres sponsors 'Four Corners of Britain' charity ride

Melksham, UK – Avon Tyres recently backed a successful sidecar charity ride which reached all four corners of the United Kingdom, in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.

The adventure was undertaken by Michael Payne and partner Kate Yates aboard a Triumph Bonneville outfit, shod with Avon tires. The couple was not alone on the journey, as both were joined by Kate’s brother Colin and son Adam, with his partner Zoe, who were travelling on a Yamaha trike and a Royal Enfield – also shod with Avon Tyres.

The trip proved troublesome for Michael and Kate, who suffered mechanical problems, but it was completed by their colleagues, taking the best part of three weeks to complete.

The challenge began on August 8 at the Tri Anglia Wheels Sidecar Rally in Bedfordshire and the crews then headed on to Lowestoft Ness – the first of the four ‘corners’ of Britain and the country’s easternmost point. From there, they travelled towards the southernmost point of the journey, Lizard Point in Cornwall.

The final two points of the 2,000-mile challenge saw the crews head north for Scotland, arriving at Ardnamurchan, Argyll, before making their way up to the northernmost landmark, Dunnet Head.

As if the ‘four points’ weren’t quite enough, the team also took in Land’s End and John O’Groats and visited major sponsors on their epic charity ride, which ended at the Federation of Sidecar Clubs National Rally in Selby

After the epic adventure, Michael said, “Kate and I suffered a mechanical problem when the clutch failed at the first rally, but we soldiered on. By the time we hit Cornwall it was almost unrideable!

“We had to return but the others carried on and completed the journey. We did Lowestoft and Lizard Point and we were very disappointed as we were looking forward to the Scottish part of the journey most. We did more than 1,500 miles of the trip despite the clutch issues. I’ve owned the bike for 32 years and typically the most problems I’ve had with it occurred on our trip! Despite this, we are glad the others completed the journey.”

Payne, who has owned the 1981 classic Triumph Bonneville since new, added, “The bike has been owned by me from new and the Meteor sidecar, moulded from a genuine wartime De Havilland Mosquito external fuel drop tank, was fitted in 2011. We decided to embark upon the journey as Kate was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and we decided to raise funds for this debilitating condition.”

Both Payne and Yates are members of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club, the Tres Rota Sidecar Club and The Federation of Sidecar Clubs, where their outfit recently won an award for being the ‘Oldest British Combination’ attending.