VMCC Banbury Run™

If you would like an Official Programme of the 2002 Banbury Run (available while stocks last) just send a cheque for £1.50 to the address below:

Banbury Run Programme, Wyn-da-lea, Church St, Bodicote, Nr Banbury, Oxon. OX15 4DW.
making your cheque payable to "VMCC Banbury Run"

There are 22 pictures at http://groups.msn.com/Vintagemotorbikes/pictures?Page=3 courtesy of Alan Jones.

54th ANNUAL VMCC BANBURY RUN

Sunday 16th June 2002

The 'Banbury' was more popular than ever this year. Nearly 600 entries were received for the 500 places; the entrants who had machine problems before the event were extremely considerate in declaring their inability to ride such that almost all of the listed Reserves were able to take their places.

In ideal weather the Run, celebrating the Queen's Jubilee, was flagged away by Hugo Brenner, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and Tony Mepham the Banbury Town Mayor. The event was recorded on video and is now available for purchase from Head Office (address at the bottom of this page).

The routes were well received although one signpost was variously reported as either difficult to see or missing entirely - the issue being further compounded by it being the point where the B and C routes split. S**'s Law! Some comment was also received that the route cards did not show the final mileage although this would obviously negate the value of the final time check at the Finish.

Neither of these difficulties seemed to harm the actual performances from the riders as the percentage of award winners was almost identical to last year - it is still a real achievement to win a 1st Class award at Banbury. The new Kevin Thomas Team award went to the 'Brooklands Brigade' - Tim Simkins, Christopher Hadfield and Herbie Fisher - who scored two firsts and a Second Class award; they took away the trophy plus fine engraved decanters.

There were notable achievements from Chris Franklin who completed the course on his 1898 Leon Bollee, Brian sanders who's 1911 Triumph was judged to be in Best Original Condition, Eric Bailey was in best period dress riding his 1928 Sunbeam 350cc Model 8, Des James got around again on his New Hudson and scored the highest Rider/Bike age combination at over 171 years and at the opposite end of the scale, James Robinson rode his first Banbury on a 1928 Royal Enfield 976cc Sidecar and completed the course as the youngest rider - 23 years, and what a smile he had when he arrived back at the Finish. Claus Petersen from Germany riding his Hulla JAP 300cc won the Overseas award.

Much interest was focused on the superbly restored bikes from Austria.

These were:

                1905 Indian Camelback - Stefan Freidel

                 1929 Indian 4 Cylinder 1265ccc - Reinhald Horvath

                1926 DKW E200 200cc - Rainer Hillbrand

                1922 Zenith Bradshaw Flat-twin 500cc - Franz Dunst

Although the weather was ideal 21 machines were overcome by mechanical problems and had to be retrieved from around the course. There was one accident en-route but both rider and pillion are fine and riding in other VMCC events later this month.

TEAM RESULTS

 Cheshire Classics -                   1^st Class, 1^st Class, 5 mins early at Check 2

 Cropredy Flyers -                     1st Class, 8 mins early at Check 1, 5 mins early at Finish

 Flying Pigs –                            5 mins early at Finish, 1st Class, 5 mins early at Check 2

 Gwent Section A –                   14 mins early at Check 1, Non-finisher, 5 mins early at Check 2

 Gwent Section B -                    1st Class, 15 mins Early at Check 1, Non-finisher

 Matchpower 50 –                     12 mins early at Check 2, Non-finisher, 4 mins early at Check 2

 South Wales -                          1st Class, 2nd Class, 8 mins early at Finish

 Stonehenge Time Travellers - 2nd Class, 2nd Class, 4 mins early at Check 1

 The Brooklands Brigade -        1st Class, 1st Class, 2nd Class              WINNERS!!

 The Douglas Boys -                  1st Class, 11 mins early at Finish, Non-finisher

 The Dreckly Boys -                   Non-finisher, 34 mins early at Check 2, Non-starter

 The Main Jets –                       8 mins early at Finish, 5 mins early at Finish, 7 mins early at Check 1

Note – Non-Finisher means more than 30 minutes Late at any Checkpoint

RESULTS IN RIDER SEQUENCE