Banbury Run 2009

Sunday 21st of June 2009 saw Ian, Guzzisue and myself heading down the Fosse Way to Gaydon for the 61st Banbury Run. Car parking was closer to the venue this year, being in a field across the road from the Heritage Motor Centre.

As with any motorcycle event a walk round the motorcycle enclosure is always necessary. This always springs up a surprise or two. This year just happened to be this SS50 Honda moped, a model often overlooked by the more glamorous Fizzie.


Closer inspection reveals an interesting modification to the engine.


Inside the museum grounds there was one change from the previous year. The pit area was on the right hand side as opposed to the left. If this was more sheltered than last year’s it was not put to the test, as there was hardly any breeze.

Every event has three different classes.

Class A: Mainly veterans prior to 1915. These have a gentle ride of approximately 30 miles.
Class B: Early vintage machines 1915-1924. Their ride is in the 50-60 mile range.
Class C: Late vintage 1925-1930. These modern machines have a run of over 60 miles.

Both classes B and C have to negotiate Sunrising Hill, on the A422. This is a popular spectator viewpoint as riders and some of the machines limp their way to the summit, some being walked up by the rider.
Here is the route map for Class C.

Walking around the pit area I noticed that this entrant was well prepared for a final drive problem, a spare being carried.

Many entrants got into the spirit of the event by dressing in period dress. Here we see No 379, Andy Batchelor with his 1930 Raleigh MO 30

and No 365, Raymond Hudson aside his 1913, 499cc Premier 2 Speed.

Settling ourselves on the outside of the first bend, followed by relocating further up the road we proceeded to take some photos and video footage. Unfortunately many of my photos from this area were not of very good quality. More practise required. Here are just a few.

James Bridge-Butler was hoping third time lucky as he failed to finish the previous outings on his 1910 Triumph.

David Cooper on his powerful 1½hp, 1902 Quadrant,

and finally, a local connection for us as Alan Booth passed by on his friend’s 1930 Sunbeam Lion. The local connection is that the Nottinghamshire Police used this motorcycle during WWII.

Last year we cast our eyes over a Henderson. Not expecting to see another, we were surprised to see this for sale (?) in the autojumble arena.

Ian got talking to someone who mentioned that a friend of his managed to buy a smoke damaged Henderson, put it straight into an auction and doubled his money by doing nothing to it! A shrewd move indeed.

We had intended to give the 2010 Run a miss, however, having read on the Banbury Run web page that entry to the Banbury Run will also include free entry to the Heritage Museum we will try our best to attend on 20th June. See you there?





Footnote (for Affer)

As Affer spotted in the film clip there is a gentleman struggling to start his 1919, 600cc George Reed Scott. By more luck than judgement, one of the few photos I managed to take in the paddock area was this one.