Massive crowds, great weather, brilliant displays and bumper prices at auction proved that this year's 19th Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show was simply 'Peerless'... The show, at Stafford County Showground over the weekend of October 20-21, was a real end-of-season treat for enthusiasts of motorcycling whatever the era. Guest star Graeme Crosby -- the Kiwi former race ace -- won a host of friends with his easy charm and great stories... as well as his tireless autograph signing, while there were several big awards and prizes handed out too. The prestigious title of Classic Bikers Club Bike Of The Year 2012 was awarded to Malcolm Nettleship for his 1969 Yamaha YAS1. It was a bike that had impressed our judges way back in January at Newark, and scooped the top title... but the voting was close. Malcolm, 61, was handed the £1000 goodies voucher from online retailer Grands Prix Legends as well as the bespoke trophy. Another prize handed over was the Can-Am 250cc enduro bike which has been featured in both Classic Dirt Bike magazine and Old Bike Mart. Rob Miles, a landscape gardener and lifelong enduro fan was the lucky winner... and although he has raced at MX at expert level, he was unable to ride it away as the 52-year-old doesn't have a road licence! Another highlight as usual was the superb Bonhams Auction which raised more than £1.3 million. Star of the auction -- which itself is one the show's main drawing cards -- was a 1929 Grindlay-Peerless-JAP 500cc 'Hundred Model' which won the Brooklands 'Gold Star' award in 1937 in the hands of prominent VMCC member, the late Edmond 'Boy' Tubb. One of only two of its kind known to survive, the gavel went down at £67,580, while other notable sales included a one-owner collection of almost 50 modern-day classics, which together realised £215,000, and two Brough Superior SS-80 motorcycles, which achieved a total of more than £130,000. The next Classicbikeshows event will be at the Newark Showground -- held almost entirely indoors -- on January 5 and Sunday 6. This event kick-starts the New Year for classic bike enthusiasts with hundreds of beautiful classic and custom bikes, dealers and autojumble plots too. See you all again next year!

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