THE roots of the North Wiltshire Classic Motorcycle Club go back to the 1930s.

Now the club has 12 members and no fewer than 40 classic motorcycles under its wing collecting prizes for the bikes at various shows across the country.

Secretary of the club is 60 year-old Peter Sole who has been running the club since the early 1980s.

The retired former gas engineer from St Philips Road, Upper Stratton, owns a dozen immaculate classic machines ranging from a 1911 Royal Enfield to a more recent bright yellow 1984 Italian-built Ducati.

Apart from the Ducati the majority of the bikes are British-built BSAs and Nortons.

Such is his enthusiasm he bought his first bike a BAC Lilliput made by the Bond Aircraft and engineering Company in 1957 when he was 14 and not even allowed to drive.

A few months later he bought a 1955 Excelsior Talisman Twin, little knowing it would launch a passion for the classic bikes. The motorcycle was put in a shed until 1980 when a friend offered to restore it.

When he saw the result of painstaking renovation it rekindled his passion for the two wheeled life.

He said: "Classics are all the rage these days. We often take the bikes to nostalgia shows, which attract thousands of people."

"You often see young families walking slowly down the ranks of classic bikes, all admiring the shiny chrome on the bikes, they really love them."

Last month Peter's 1930s BSA and sidecar took the prestigious best bike award at the Shepton Mallet classic motorcycle show.

Though he lovingly spent hundreds of hours restoring it down to the last gleaming nut and bolt, Peter said: "I was absolutely gobsmacked, really elated that the bike won the award. I bought it and restored it 20 years ago and it keeps on going."

Collecting classic motorcycles has taken off in recent years, with the value of many rapidly increasing.

Peter, a married dad of two who has also been a championship angler, estimates his BSA is worth around £6,000.

But he warned: "Restoring a motorcycle is often a huge job, it can often take up to six months. The last bike I worked on took me around 1,400 hours to bring it back to working order."

"And the job can have a steep learning curve though in our club we are all part of a small community and are able to help each other with spares or advice."

Parts for vintage machines were once very difficult to get hold of during the 70s and 80s making them extremely expensive.

However many club members make extensive use of autojumble events across the country.

Speed is an unnecessary requirement for Peter's motorcycles, but he is impressed with today's range of modern speed machines.

He said: "None of my bikes are greyhounds, but as regard to modern bikes, I have never ridden one."

"My most recent bike is a very bright-coloured Ducati. But I don't bring it out very often. It is so bright, I never know whether people are looking at the bike or me riding it."