The date was Saturday 7th April 2007 and a perfect day for a bike ride; sunny, warm with just a hint of breeze while riding.
We arrived at the café at around 11:00 a.m. so in good time for the run out. On our arrival we were approached by a photographer who was taking some pictures of us.
Most of the riders were dressed in leather jackets adorned with studs and badges including us who were representing the Rockers of the Bexley club. Around 40 Rockers left for the run to the Brent Museum at 12 midday lead by Mark Wilsmore and the Vicar from the 59 Club arriving at the Museum at 12:30.
After parking up at our destination (ample parking for the bikes, free admission and parking) we were then shown upstairs to the exhibition halls.
On display was a small Rockers exhibition called: THE WILD ONES THE ACE CAFÉ AND YOUTH CULTURE 1955-65
Included in the exhibits were some personal items on loan to the museum from the Ace. There were various framed photographs of rockers and stars who attended the café in its heyday. One gentleman who was visiting that day had been at the Ace in the early days and went by the name of Southend Roger. It just so happens that he had been recognised by another visitor who had been looking at an old print on display of a rocker on his Café Racer, yes it was a very young Southend Roger, the very same person. He was surrounded by an audience of onlookers not to mention the Classic Bike Magazine photographer; it was fun watching them try to recreate the picture (without the bike) so that a then and now article could be included in the write up.
Another of the exhibits was two leather jackets owned by old Rockers of the period. There was a Triumph and a BSA Goldie motorcycle on show, plus a Wurlitzer jukebox. In another glass cabinet on display was some vinyl records, 45's and LP's along with other items from that era.
We were again approached by the photographer for yet more photos, looking at the exhibits and bikes on show.
The whole exhibition took around 2 hours to go round but longer if you wanted to take a break for some lunch in the restaurant downstairs. Some of the group left on their own, and around 10 of us left in convoy being lead back to the Ace Café by Big Ron one of the marshals. This was a very enjoyable ride out, the exhibition was well produced and we would recommend it to anyone interested in that particular era.
More pictures below!