Banbury Run - Pre 1931 motorcycles - Sun 21st June 2015

[Tony oily bike]

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.

[Tony oily bike]

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

[Tony oily bike]

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.

[Manky Monkey]

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.