Every year, all vintage motorcycling roads lead to Stanford Hall, as Founders Day draws the crowds for an eagerly and affectionately anticipated event, in a suitably historic setting. We sent the rather less historic James Robinson to enjoy the day.
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There are some things which are called ‘institutions’ and are, frankly, undeserving of the term. Not Founders Day, though, the annual event organised by the hardworking Taverners Section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC). For something like five decades, the grand gardens of Stanford Hall have welcomed VMCC members, enticed by familiar attractions, with an autojumble – around
300 stalls this year – and parade arena, club stands and demonstrations. Plus it always seems the sun shines.
The hall itself – which was built in 1697 and Grade I listed – and its land sits on the borders of three counties (Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire), meaning it is accessible from every direction. It really is in the heart of England. The hall is in 900 acres of private park and woodland, its lovingly maintained wide open spaces a perfect setting for a vintage motorcycling extravaganza.
Founders Day has been held for almost 50 years and in that time has grown from just a handful of visitors and a few folk selling bike odds and ends out of their car boots, to a huge operation which attracts people in their thousands and more than 300 autojumble and trade stands. This year was no exception, with what felt like a bumper crowd – estimated at well over 4000 – enjoying the day, studying the huge and diverse range of motorcycles on display, as well as scouring the autojumble for those elusive parts you may not find anywhere else.
From autocycles to Broughs, Founders Day once again really had it all.
The AJS and Matchless OC stand – two traditional late 1950s/early 60s Ajay twins flank a modern Nick Brown 125cc AJS.
Handsomely finished mid-1920s Triumph sidecar outfit.
The first Triton? Before the Second World War, Rex McCandless – he who later designed the featherbed frame, among so much more – apparently built such a machine.
Veteran single-speed Bradbury sporting a pre-First World War Liverpool area number plate.
From 1959, a smartly presented Tiger 110 Triumph. It had been restored in 2008 and not really ridden since. You often have to wonder why but so often the joy and interest for the owner is in the restoration process. The asking price was £8500.
The Taverners Marquee, the place to congregate.
It was almost all motorcycles … but Dan Clare’s homebuilt four banger-powered Ford Model T modified was attracting plenty of attention.
This 1937 350cc BSA B24 Empire Star had a sticker price of £4800, which seemed reasonable indeed.
Interesting looking pushrod Norton-based special.
The car park is always worth a look, with all manner of machines, from classic to modern, being ridden in.
I’m not quite sure why the Sunbeam S7/8 club is a ‘fellowship’ – but then, the motorcycles are different from pretty much everything else, so why not the club name too?
This 1943 WLC Harley-Davidson was in search of a new home. The ‘C’ signifies it was supplied originally to the Canadian Army, which specified some slightly heavier-spec components than on the standard ‘A’ which went to the US army.
This tastefully modified 1987 Norton rotary has borrowed the colour scheme of the John Player production racers and roasters of the 1970s.
This Vincent Comet had been recently unearthed from a garage, where, to judge by its appearance, it would seem to have languished since the late 1960s/early 70s.
Smart pre-unit Triumph twin being ridden into the club stand area.
Raleigh owners were out in force, with several examples of the Nottingham-made machines.
Piccalilli-coloured twin-port Matchless, behind two early-to-mid 1920s BSAs.
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