Back to Banbury

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The Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s (VMCC) annual showpiece event once again attracted a strong and enthusiastic entry.

Words and photographs: JAMES ROBINSON

‘The largest gathering of veteran and vintage motorcycles in the world’ is the proud proclamation of the Banbury Run, those words writ large across the front cover of the programme for this year’s event, (the 71st running), on its now traditional date of Father’s Day, in this case, June 16.

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Based at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, the site is, frankly, ideal, with a huge area of hard-standing making a suitable ‘paddock’, while improvements mean that there’s ample nearby parking for vans and various tender vehicles, and shuttle buses run from the public car parks too.

The site’s access roads and general surroundings are much improved too, making a clean, modern environment, with the fresh tarmac receiving a fair splattering of oil over the weekend…

A fine selection of motorcycles. It was noticeable many were ‘late vintage’ saddletanks with that period (so 1929-30 predominantly) seemingly proving in vogue at the moment.

Riding is split into four classes – A, A1, B and C, which respectively are A for veterans (so pre-1915) which is a ‘gentle’ run of around 30 miles, then A1 and B (both for early vintage, so 1915-24) but over 30-plus and 50-plus miles respectively, and then C, for late vintage, over 60-plus miles.

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Both B and C include the famous Sunrising Hill. Riders are not restricted to being ‘forced’ into any category, with choice of route at their own discretion.

Read more and view more images in the September 2019 issue of TCM – on sale now!

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