Sunday 22nd March 2020
SMCC 81st Pioneer Run for pre 1915 motorcycles – Epson to Brighton.
The Pioneer Run continues to be
the world’s largest gathering of veteran (pre-1915) machines with annually well over 370 entries going from Epsom Downs race course to Brighton. (info from SMCC website)
By definition, many Pioneer machines are somewhat rudimentary (saying that, a few are amazingly advanced!), brakes can be somewhat ‘basic’, some machines do not have a clutch, those with a clutch are likely to be hand-change for gear selection, ignition systems are likely to have a manual advance/retard, the carburetion is likely to have the air mixture operated by a handlebar lever alongside the throttle lever, final drive may well by belt, engine oiling is likely to be the rider operating a manual oil pump.
For the 2020 event, the SMCC (Sunbeam Motorcycle Club), the organisers of the Pioneer Run since 1930, have a new finishing location, namely Brighton City Airport (BN43 5FF), as opposed to the traditional Madeira Drive.
This change has come about following the running of the previously revised latter-part of the route which allowed a safer approach to Madeira Drive, but in practice proved frustrating, particularly to riders of clutchless machines as there was a combination of traffic lights and heavy albeit slow moving traffic.
The finish at the airport offers what is described as ample parking, display areas and on site catering.
There’s also intention to introduce a check point at Leonardslee Gardens Coffee Stop.
Linkshttp://sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/http://sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/81st-pioneer-run-22-march-2020-2/http://sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/events/the-pioneer-run/http://sunbeam-mcc.co.uk/events/event/pioneer-run/https://www.facebook.com/SunbeamMotorCycleClub/Some footageFrom the 2016 event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luComtFB-XQand 1961
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LkafqpcZ2Qand 1955
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/motor-news-pioneer-motorcycle-rally/query/pioneer+brightonand 1950
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/old-motor-cycles/query/pioneer+brightonTo quote the Pathe News commentator from 1950 "it's a grand day out for all concerned"