Back in the day, Julie Diplock was one of a handful of women couriers on the London circuit - slinging her 400cc Honda Super Dream around London's streets and full throttling along A-roads and motorways, on the longer distance runs she preferred.

She's been on two wheels ever since, using, as regular commuter transport, a 1958 BSA Golden Flash 650cc that has carried her for 135,000 miles. She also has a collection of other motorcycles that she restores and rides. Her favoured choices being those of the vintage and veteran era, but, as exampled by the 900SS Ducati she bought from her local GP (doctor), her biking interest spreads wider.

Back in the 80s, Julie bought, sold and traded parts at autojumbles, but then decided to organise her own in the area of Kent, where she lived. So in 1992, she set up her own jumble at a farm on Romney Marsh, and the idea was successful enough for her soon to be running three a year. Her organisation was up and running.

A major foot-and-mouth outbreak made this and other farm venues no-go areas. And as with people who find opportunity in change, Julie took on the challenge of not only setting up other venues but expanding the promotions across Kent and Sussex, incorporating classic bike shows into her long summer programme.

Her current show programme begins in Ashford, one of the fastest growing towns in the south of England, but a place that still retains strong links to the agricultural country and economy surrounding it, with one of the largest livestock markets in this part of the world. But at Easter, the four-legged beasts give way to two-wheeled classic bikes and paraphernalia.

Her autojumble and classic bike circus moves to Ardingly in W.Sussex the following week and, in May, she runs her Romney Marsh Bike Jumble in the village of Ham Street. When talking to Julie, she gave the impression this has a real 'village fete' feel, with everything taking place in the big marquee she erects. ELK runs three events in Ham Street over the summer season, and at the June date they will have the company of Jim Redman, the Honda works rider who is the only Grand Prix racer to have won three world championships in a single day. A feat only achieved by one other rider, Mike Hailwood.

A couple of years ago, Motorcycle News took over the early May slot at the East of England Showground, near Peterborough, when the BMF shows were no more. They're now establishing this as a regular event in the bikers' calendar and as a new feature, they've asked ELK/Julie to organise an autojumble for the expected crowds (www.mcnfestival.com).

Julie has a healthy philosophy in keeping admission charges and fees for stallholders to a cost-effective level. For example, for ten quid, motorcyclists who want to have a garage or shed clear out can reserve a small pitch and dispose of all that stuff we collect that someone else might find useful.  If you want to exhibit your classic bike at an ELK event they will send free passes for you and a passenger/friend, so that you watch others admiring your machine and enjoy the rest of the exhibits etc. See full details, including the full year's programme.

Julie's motorcycling life is not only about running her jumbles and shows. She has a stable of bikes she's collected down the years. She reckons she buys a bike a year, but I forgot to ask how many of them she sells on. In addition to her 'regular' BSA, she also rides a 1960 Super Rocket, and has a couple of nice old Triumphs: she took her 1935 model to the Isle of Man for the 2015 Jurby Festival (sponsored by Wemoto).

Her real love is for much older bikes, doing much of the mechanical and restoration work herself. And her interpretation of restoration is to see a bike back in working/riding order, rather than a shiny exhibit that never sees the highway, or is preserved with an eye on a future Bonham's auction.  

Her latest acquisition is a very rare 1931 Matchless Silver Arrow. It's a 400cc transverse 18-degree vee twin, designed by one of the Collier brothers, Charlie, who owned the company at the time. It wasn't a big seller and was superseded by the Silver Hawk model. But when it was in the showrooms, you could pick one up for £63 and some loose change. Julie has already begun to strip the bike and explore what is needed to get it road-ready.

As if Julie hasn't enough motorcycling tasks and responsibilities on her plate, she is the editor of the Sunbeam MCC magazine. It's not just a club and magazine related to that particular bike marque, but encompasses all pre-1940 bikes. They are best known as the organisers of the famous Pioneer Run for pre-1914 bikes running on the London to Brighton route – this year's run takes place on 20th March.

Get yourself along to an ELK event this summer to enjoy the friendly biking atmosphere that surrounds them, and don't forget that it's a very good opportunity to clear out the garage and sell off that surplus clothing, parts and accessories etc. Then you'll have some spare cash to buy more stuff to replace it!

Have you been to an ELK event before or are you planning on going to one this year? Tell us what you thought about it at [email protected].

16/02/16          Great Lady who knows her stuff!

17/02/16           I thought Elk was originally started by a chap called Elk who sadly died of cancer