'Matchless' motorbike event coming to Streete

Something deep in the atoms of the "Y" chromosome loves chrome paint, wheels, engines and motorbikes. This same DNA will also love the once in a lifetime chance to see vintage Matchless and AJS motorbikes in the Republic of Ireland, more precisely right here in Mullingar and Streete.This year, from the 21st to 24th May, the lakes and hills of Westmeath will resound to the bark of fine 40-80 year old AJS and Matchless machines, thanks to Brian Nerney, who sought and won for the area the World famous Jam Pot Rally.The rally, which is expected to contain over 200 bikes and attract in excess of 5,000 people to the area has never been held in the South of Ireland. The rally is usually held throughout Europe, in 2009 it was in Italy and in 2008 it was in Germany. Representatives from the rally came over at the invitation of Brian Nerney to view both the facilities at Street Parish Park and to see everything north Westmeath has to offer visitors."It is a great honour that the Jampot Rally has chosen us. I knew they were considering Ireland and I just went after them. It is great not just that we are getting it for Streete but that we will be ambassadors for Westmeath, showing everything this county has to offer tourists," says Brian."We will showcase its beauty, its variety and all the wonderful places like Fore and Belvedere."The motorbike enthusiasts are taking over the whole complex at Streete and local guest houses in the area are already completely booked out for the event."There are bikes and visitors coming from across the globe including New Zealand, Australia, Holland and the UK. Local guest house bookings include visitors for the festival from Switzerland, Italy, Germany and all over Europe.Part of the programme of events planned for the Jampot Rally is a visit to Belvedere House with all the bikes on Saturday 22nd May."I feel like I am an ambassador for the area. I will be bringing the visitors to see Fore, Lough Crew, Gowna. In fact we will be creating a circle in the midlands, bringing this great spectacle to the people of Westmeath and promoting Westmeath to visitors that will return home with great stories of the wonderful things they seen here," says Brian.Collier & Sons 'Matchless' Motorcycle HistoryThe Matchless motorcycle marque was founded in 1899, by Henry Herbert Collier and his three sons Bert, Charlie, and Harry Collier in London's Greenwich Borough district of Plumstead. Collier & Sons began as a bicycle manufacturer in the late 1800s, and was one of the first British motorcycle manufacturers.The first Matchless single-cylinder motorcycle rolled off the assembly line in late 1901. The earliest models used a variety of engines including the ubiquitous de Dion-Bouton single.In 1905 Matchless began manufacturing motorcycles using a J.A. Prestwich V-Twin engine, and by 1912 the company was producing its first complete in-house machine. For the next two decades, Matchless built motorcycles in single-cylinder and V-Twin configurations ranging from 500cc to 1000cc.After some of Charlie R Collier's notable Matchless successes on the TT circuit, the popularity of Matchless steadily increased. Some of the more popular models were the 400cc 'Silver Arrow' V-Twin, which was introduced in 1930. Charlie and Harry Collier formed 'Associated Motor Cycles' (AMC) in 1938, and Matchless (AMC) continued to build motorcycles under the AJS name through the 1960s. AMC was not a manufacturer per se, but the parent company of a collection of motorcycle manufacturers which included AJS, Matchless, Norton, James, Francis-Barnett, Sunbeam and others.