Great Gatherings picture special from the classic Banbury Run
500 super-rare machines bomb around Banbury
All the bikes were built between 1915 and 1930
The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s annual Banbury Run marked its 70th anniversary this year so MCN went along to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the world’s largest gathering of veteran and vintage bikes.
The Run is essentially a time trial, with entrants tasked to maintain a set average speed between checkpoints in order to complete the course as close to a target time as possible. With all the bikes built between 1915 and 1930 each is a lesson in motorcycle history. “It’s as good an example as you’ll get as to the evolution of the species,” says VMCC President Alastair Alexander. “The early machines, from the dawn of motorcycling, show how manufacturers were experimenting with where to put the gearbox, how to run lights and so on. This continued until 1930, by when the basic design of the motorcycle was pretty much agreed.”
The course, too, is far more than just a bimble between the hedges. Sun Rising Hill is a 20% climb with a series of devilish turns. “It’s our version of the TT’s Ramsey Hairpin,” says Kevin Howtin, who used to watch from there with his Dad but now brings his son, Carl.
A spirit of camaraderie is at the heart of the Run and, indeed, the VMCC. Dr Reg Eyre won the Class A trial on Rod Hann’s 1914 499cc Ariel, despite running out of petrol twice. “I managed to trade some garden wire for fuel,” he told MCN. With vintage bikes appreciating, getting involved is expensive but you never lose money. “It’s just a different type of savings account,” smiles John Shepherd, before heading out with wife Mandy on their 1930 1000cc BSA G30-15.