GALLERY AND VIDEO: Goldwing Owners Club of Great Britain Festival 2016 held in Oswestry offers whole world of fun
A huge convoy of motorcycles, decorated with scenes from across the globe, will descend on the county later this month.
More than 600 Honda Goldwings with their owners and pillion passengers will descend on Oswestry over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The Goldwing Owners Club of Great Britain Festival 2016 will be held on the Oswestry Showground, with the event open to the public on Sunday.
Those taking part will include Shropshire Goldwing owners, including Kelvin Jones and his son Glen, from Sherwood Crescent, Market Drayton.
Both of them have Goldwing bikes, one of them dedicated to the Falklands War.
Kelvin Jones was in the parachute regiment and served in the Falklands and has made the machine, that his son now rides, into a work of art.
"I wanted to produce a memorial to those who died in the Falklands and putting artwork on my bike seemed the best way that I could honour them," he said.
One of those involved with the Goldwing festival is Kerry Rigby from the Shropshire Goldwing Owners Club.
Kerry and her husband, Roy, from Oswestry, have their own Goldwing which they use to tour not only Britain but Europe.
Parade
"We have about 600 bikes coming from Britain and Europe," she said.
"The last time the event was in Oswestry was in 2001."
The weekend includes a light parade through Oswestry on the evening of August 26.
About 300 machines all lit up will ride through the town and the villages of Gobowen and Whittington, starting from the showground at 9pm and going anti-clockwise to Whittington, Gobowen and Oswestry.
On the Sunday about 600 bikes will use the same route for a cavalcade of bikes all sporting their own national flags.
National organiser Nigel Whithouse said: "While we are in Oswestry we will be raising money and supporting Hope House Children's Hospice.
"We will be holding an open day on the Sunday to raise money for the hospice.
"There will be live music in the afternoon along with stalls and hopefully a street party from noon until 4pm."
He added: "There will be a 1940s theme to the weekend while there will also be a live band, trade stands and much more.
"It should be a great weekend for everybody involved."
The Honda Goldwing is a series of touring motorcycles introduced at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in October 1974 which went on to become a popular model in North America, western Europe and Australia, as well as Japan.
The Goldwing Owners Club of Great Britain was founded by Harry Ward back in 1980 and it was on his return from a Belgium Treffen he decided to hold the first meeting.
Mr Whithouse added: "This was held in the region of Thames Valley.
"From this small start we now have 32 active regions that hold monthly meetings, organise ride-outs and other social events.
"In the main season the regions hold 'wing dings' that are normally camping events held over a weekend."
The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan includes a Honda Goldwing GL1000 manufactured in 1974 as one of its 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
Through 2012, Honda GL models have appeared 18 times in the Cycle World list of Ten Best bikes.
Over the course of its history, it has had numerous changes to its design and production.
In 1975 it had a 999 cc flat-four engine and in 2001 it had a 1,832 cc flat-six.
By 2012, the model had a fairing with heating and an adjustable windscreen, panniers and a trunk, a seatback for pillion rider, satellite navigation and radio, a six-speaker audio system with MP3 and iPod connectivity, anti-lock braking, cruise control, electrically assisted reverse gear, and an optional airbag.
Gold Wings were manufactured in Marysville, Ohio, from 1980 until 2010, when motorcycle production there was halted.
Production resumed in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 2011 using tooling transported from the old plant.
The primary market for the Goldwing was the potential long distance rider, needing a motorcycle suitable to the task.
In North America that required comfort for the long haul: wind protection, smooth ride, comfortable seat, storage for the necessities, and power in abundance.
The secondary market was to be in Europe where riders, constrained by frontiers, emphasised performance over luxury.
