Manky Monkey Motors

500 pre 1931 motorcycles are entered for the VMCC's annual Banbury Run, starting and finishing at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warks CV35 0BJ (12 miles north of Banbury, Next to M40 J12).

This is a very well established event, in fact, this year is it's 67th running, and is advertised as the "the largest gathering of veteran and vintage machines in the world". The bikes set off in batches of 5 at 1 minute intervals and have a route map to navigate their way around whichever route they've entered.

"Veterans" (pre 1915 machines) have a gentle 30+ mile route. (some of these bikes are single-speed belt-drive total-loss with stirrup brakes, so the ride can be a bit of a challenge......)
"Early Vintage" (1915 - 1924) have a 50+ mile route.
"Late Vintage" (1925 - 1930) have a 60+ mile route

This year, the bikes range from 1899 to 1930, so the oldest bike is a mere 116 years old! (and you thought your machine was getting on a bit!!)

http://www.banbury-run.co.uk/

http://www.mankymonkeymotors.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13493.0

http://www.mankymonkeymotors.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10574.0

Sidecar. Note the stirrup front brake on the bike.

Humble (& more affordable)

Rare and amazing AJS in-line 4

General paddock scene

Just fettled my Douglas twin having had the Mag refurbished.
Touched a terminal by mistake and got a proper welt so that works then!
Runs well, just needs a polish then ready for Banbury.

This Sunday with the assembly, start and finish at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/

2015 and the 67th running of the VMCC Banbury Run.

Here's a shot of the assembly area just starting to fill up prior to the start.
 
Bike is a 1921 P&M 500cc two-speed.

The inclined engine design was pretty novel back in the early 20's!

The make is ABC and this is their Sopwith 400cc from 1920

The bike on the right is a 1928 AJS 350 "Standard Sporting Model".

To its left is a 1925 AJS, again a 350, this one's a model B3.

Machine condition for this event varies from oily-rag 'original', through to fully restored.

A little earlier this time, a 1914 Royal Enfield V-twin model 160 of 2 & 3/4 HP.

The round thing on the footboard is a foot-operated claxon horn.

This 1926 BSA powered ice cream selling machine started life selling ice creams in Penzance, and is now used for selling ice creams at charity events.

From 1923, a Coventry Eagle Flying 8 of 988cc.

The bike was found in a barn in 2013 where it hadn't moved for 64 years!

You'll notice the engine has "JAP" on the cases. JAP were a renowned engine maker and supplied their engines to various manufacturers, including Brough. Their single-cylinder engines were also used in racing, including speedway.

A Cotton Blackburn 350cc from 1930.

Being 1930, this is as modern as this event allows!

Cotton made frames of a design unlike others, and Blackburn made engines, so put the two together..............

General scene in the assembly area prior to the 500 machines heading of on their run.

They set off 5 at time at 1 minute intervals.

There are 3 classes:

A -   Mainly Veteran prior to 1915 with a 30+ mile gentle run
B -   Early Vintgae 1915 - 1924 with a ride of 50+ miles including Sunrising Hill
C -   Late vintage 1925 - 1930 with a ride of 50+ miles including Sunrising Hill

For those who manage to finish the run, the bikes reassemble in the paddock, and the riders sign-off and receive their cup (and by 'cup' I mean a crockery thing ya drink ya tea from!)

Sunrising Hill by todays standards is just a bit of a hill, but way back, this was a serious challenge to motorised vehicles.

Many of the entrants have side-valve low-compression (lousy fuel back then) engines, possibly with only one gear, but more likely to be three, so the Hill for many is tackled in low/bottom gear (if you're lucky enough to have a 3 speed, it has 'low', 'middle' and 'top'). Due to early lubrication systems being somehat limited, many of the bike have to have rider-operated additional oil for inclines where the engine has to labour - this is usually done by the rider operating a plunger pump by hand.

Those riding the really early machines, especially with a sideacar, are often seen tackling the Hill with the help of various folk pushing the machine!!

The more powerful entrants (Overhead valves, a bit more oomph and a selection of gearing etc) can tackle the hill quite easily, but riders are acutely aware of the work the engine has to do.

Awaiting auction by Bonhams.....................

A Verdel radial-engined bike on display from Sammy Millers Museum. and that's Sammy's head on the left (getting into his riding gear) getting ready ride a lovely road-going Grindley Peerless from 1925.

Every year you post the details of this event & I  think I'd like to go to that.
Then every year it clashes with something else so I don't go.
Every year I look at your photos & wish I had.