r_kleinschmidt
2003-09-17 00:24:46 UTC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/3114410.stm
Fire destroys motorcycle museum
Burnt bikes
Many of the 650 bikes destroyed were unique
Fire has destroyed most of the National Motorcycle Museum near
Birmingham.
About 650 vintage machines worth between £7m and £9m have been ruined.
Scores of bikes were saved by museum staff and delegates at a business
conference on the site.
The museum, at Bickenhill near Birmingham International Airport, was
home to more than 900 vintage machines - many of them unique - tracing
the history of the British motorcycle industry.
It is a devastating loss, not just to me, but for the country as a
whole
Museum owner Roy Richards
Owner Roy Richards started collecting the bikes in the 1970s and the
museum opened in 1984 with an initial collection of 350 machines.
It became one of the biggest motorcycle museums in the world and
attracted about 250,000 visitors a year. It was also a conference
centre.
Mr Richards told BBC Midlands Today: "It is a devastating loss, not
just to me, but for the country as a whole."
He vowed to reopen the museum, despite the destruction of much of his
collection.
Bikes being rescued
Staff and conference delegates helped rescue bikes
The fire destroyed more than 60% of the building, with three of the
five exhibition halls burnt out.
Exhibitor Neil Payne told the BBC: "There are so many unique,
priceless, irreplaceable machines that are lost. It is absolutely
devastating.
"The museum and indeed the country has lost some unique machines from
British motorcycling history."
Fire destroys motorcycle museum
Burnt bikes
Many of the 650 bikes destroyed were unique
Fire has destroyed most of the National Motorcycle Museum near
Birmingham.
About 650 vintage machines worth between £7m and £9m have been ruined.
Scores of bikes were saved by museum staff and delegates at a business
conference on the site.
The museum, at Bickenhill near Birmingham International Airport, was
home to more than 900 vintage machines - many of them unique - tracing
the history of the British motorcycle industry.
It is a devastating loss, not just to me, but for the country as a
whole
Museum owner Roy Richards
Owner Roy Richards started collecting the bikes in the 1970s and the
museum opened in 1984 with an initial collection of 350 machines.
It became one of the biggest motorcycle museums in the world and
attracted about 250,000 visitors a year. It was also a conference
centre.
Mr Richards told BBC Midlands Today: "It is a devastating loss, not
just to me, but for the country as a whole."
He vowed to reopen the museum, despite the destruction of much of his
collection.
Bikes being rescued
Staff and conference delegates helped rescue bikes
The fire destroyed more than 60% of the building, with three of the
five exhibition halls burnt out.
Exhibitor Neil Payne told the BBC: "There are so many unique,
priceless, irreplaceable machines that are lost. It is absolutely
devastating.
"The museum and indeed the country has lost some unique machines from
British motorcycling history."