Burney V-Twin

After a quick lap of the main hall to get my bearings, I happened upon the Sunbeam club stand and the rather splendid 677cc Burney, a rare V-twin designed by Cecil and Edward Burney. The bike was ridden by Cecil Burney to the very first VMCC club meeting in 1946. Now owned by Richard Duffin, the oily Burney has a charm and delight all of its own.

The 1926 Burney was one of just a handful made by the Burney concern, which stopped building bikes in 1927. The patina really catches the eye, in a way that the over polished machine sometimes doesn't. “Your eyes slide off the chrome” was one aside I overheard later.

With just a few minutes on the clock, Annice on the Sunbeam stand was resolutely upbeat: “It's brilliant to be back at Stafford,” she said, “seeing old friends and talking to people. We couldn't be happier.”