I was sad to hear of the death of Vic Ashford today.
He was an accomplished expert trials rider who professed not to like ruts, but rode them in style, and rode regularly until fairly recently.
Here is a picture of Vic in his youth in the year I was born.
Vic was a lovely gentle giant of a man with an abiding love of motorcycles and motorsport who was the human face of the West of England Motor Club for many of us and will be sorely missed.
I expect the Vic Ashford Trial run by the WEMC will keep his name alive for many a year and I feel priviledged to have known the man personally.
I knew he was not in the best of health over the last few years, but this is a bit of a shock. I first met Vic back in the early / mid 70's as he lived just up the road from me in Denbury. He is partially the reason I was into motorcycling in the first place. Pete is right with his comment above. I for one will miss him.
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Politicians are like nappies. They need changing often, and usually for the same reason.
expected ? he didnt look well last i saw of him surcoming to his cancer i would beleave ,a freind and a very nice man strange to think i shall not see him this summer at the decoy H@H ,again eco sentaments above nice words RIP vic ,me personal i think i shall one day meet up with him again prahaps when i meet up with ones i have lost
Vic was a real gent who helped so many of us in the various dirtbiking disciplines.
My bro' reminded me last night how he helped us out of various holes such as getting ACU licence applications signed and stamped at very short notice to allow us to enter events.
I was privileged to go on one of his trail rides. We made slow progress at times as he seemed to know just about everyone we met in the lanes and caught up with the gossip. A proper TRF trail ride. It was these relationships that allowed him to use so much private land on the fabulous Moor to Sea LDT.
I first met him over 30 years ago, as a schoolboy trials rider and rode many Trials in WEMC and also watched the many rounds of British Trials champs that he organised from Liverton and also as a 12 year old, I watched the World Round he brought to Devon in 1977 or 78
I remember him on his fruit and veg stall in the Pannier Market at Newton Abbot on a Saturday, when I was a kid
He was WEMC and will be sadly missed
Proper gentleman
-- Edited by Johnnyboxer on Thursday 10th of May 2012 08:58:28 AM
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So many roads........................So little time
I got to know Vic when I was involved with running Enduro's within WEMC, always helpfull and can never rember him ever raise his voice. He was happy to chat with Mum if he rang and I was out, in fact a trip to Newton market was arranged so she could meet him face to face, a very popular man with all. The country would be a better place with more "Vic Ashford's". My condolences to his family and friends. Olly
Lots of love and respect here in this thread. I never met the man but he was very kind when I spoke to him on the telephone and he told me that taking a Transalp on the moor to sea wasn't a great idea...very kindly and gently said.
Forge that man a medal.