On Sunday, 8th June 2025, the British Motor Museum echoed once more to the rattle and clatter of vintage machinery as 300-or-so pre-1931 motorcycles warmed up for the 75th VMCC Banbury Run.
The Banbury Run is annual event held by the Vintage Motorcycle Club and is renowned as a top event in the old bike calendar. It dates back to 1949 when it was known as the Birmingham-Banbury Reliability Run. At this point in time, the 80-or-so riders would start their motors at the Wagon & Horses in Sheldon, Birmingham, and put their machines through the paces on a 42-mile route that met the chequered flag in Banbury.
The fabric of the run has transformed over the years, but the foundations remain the same, and the event now attracts old veteran and vintage motorcycles in their hundreds, that ride out from the British Motor Museum at Gaydon and make their way to and from Banbury through the Warwickshire and Oxfordshire countryside.
The day started as the club stands were set up to showcase their prides of the marque. And there were some serious bikes on display.
Chris Fisher had his sublime 1923 Sunbeam 3½ hp Longstroke T.T. on the Marston Sunbeam Club stand. In 1923 these bikes were very much an over-the-counter racing machine based on the GP bikes – no kickstart, slimline mudguards and dropped handlebars; and this proved an enticing proposition for young dare-devils eager to follow in the footsteps of their racing heroes. Chris has worked his magic on this motorcycle to make it something even faster!
The Brough Superior Club were present and correct with some wonderful machines, but this rather exceptional 1923 SS 80 stood out from the bunch with swept bars that resemble the McDonalds motif, but that afford the motorcycle a racey stance.
In fact, this configuration was used for competitions such as the Leinster 100 and the Ulster Grand Prix where there were flat out sections. The shape of the handlebars enabled the rider to put their chin on the tank for a more streamlined posture.
Some bikes stand out because of the personal connection with the owner/ rider and the story that connects the two. This 1933 Francis Barnett Cruiser was purchased by the current owner in the 1970s for a tenner. The bike was housed in two tea-chests and rebuilt in 1972. It was then used to pass his motorcycle test and has been his pride and joy to this day. Anyone with an old bike will know what that connection feels like!
Back to the run itself… despite a forecast threatening the usual British unpredictability, riders were greeted by early sunshine and dry roads, providing near-perfect conditions for a spin around the country lanes of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. The bikes assembled in the paddock area where they were cleaned, tinkered and fettled. If you have a penchant for old bikes, this is a carpark of dreams. From pioneer veterans with belt drives and rudimentary front brakes, to the more advanced overhead-valve singles and twins of the late 1920s – the field was a fantastic snapshot of the heyday of the motorcycle.
An impressive sight was when three Bradburys were rolled into the assembly area and parked up next to each other. It is not often that you see one of these fantastic old bikes, let alone three together. It was in fact a bit of a family affair: Mike Wills (the VMCC Bradbury Marque Specialist) and his two lads.
The entrants set off in waves with machines divided into classes which included pre-1915 veterans, early vintage (1915 – 1924) and late vintage machines (1925 – 1930). The run was kick-started by David Cooper on his fantastically ornate 1902 Quadrant Autocyclette with surface carburettor, a myriad of levers, running on solvent fuel.
An extract from “A Short History of the Motorcycle” by Richard Hammond best describes what this bike would be like to ride:
“Given that the rider seemed to be responsible for each and every aspect and element of their ‘steed’s’ operation, right down to the sparking at the spark plug and the mixing of the combustible combination of petrol and air being fed into the confines of the chamber, it would seem that while offering all the excitement a modern-day motorcycle can bring, these early machines were fit to be operated only by an octopus with an engineering degree and absolutely no lear whatsoever.”
Based on the above excerpt there is no hiding from the fact that motorcycles of this era are a true test of man and machine, particularly when you chuck in Sunrising Hill, a notorious climb that features an incline with gradients exceeding 16% in places. There is no denying the fact that many bikes find it all that little too much, where riders often have to dismount to push, zig-zag to reduce the gradient, or use all their skill to balance torque and traction.
As the bikes came home and the paddock filled once more with satisfied, oily and tired riders, it was clear that the Banbury Run is far more than a ride—it’s a celebration of spirit, of heritage, and of the indomitable character of those who keep Britain’s motorcycling past alive.
There was a breath-taking mix of motorcycles running the event this year, and in total there were over 300 bikes and riders taking part. There are too many to showcase in this article, but here are a few beauties that were snapped at the event.
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This is a bit of a self-build, but one that really makes those heads swivel and focus. It is a 1923 142.5cc, two-stroke Atlas engine mounted in a period push-bike, and adorned with some unique period features. It is not the real deal, but this bike represents the ethos of the era where riders would make the most of what they could afford and cobble up. The owner is Derek Langdon, and check out that exhaust!
The next bike is one that we know well and is owned by a friend of the Club. It is a 1915 Norton 490cc Brooklands Road Special (BRS) which has no clutch and direct belt drive to the rear wheel, so can be a bit of a handful to master. The BRS was a byproduct of Brooklands racer and master tuner Dan “Wizard” O’Donovan, and according to Norton, were ‘for those who desire exceptional power and speed for competition in a machine suitable for road work.’ Rewind the article back to the words of Richard Hammond and you will get a feel of what this bike is all about!
This remarkable contraption rolled into the event where we were able to snap a couple of photos.
It is a De-Dion powered 1901 Royal Enfield 4½hp Forecar Quadricycle. For information on this automobile, click here for a video produced by the Classic Motorcycle Channel.
This is a 1927 Vickers Enfield 1000 V-twin (which is still on the original cast iron pistons!) owned by David Brown. A real “rabbit chaser” as he describes the bike, and it looks the business with those lifted pipes and Brooklands silencers.
In 1918 the All British (Engine) Company Ltd released what would become their most iconic motorcycle – the ABC 400. The motorcycle had an overhead valve 398cc flat-twin engine with its cylinders mounted across a duplex cradle frame. It provoked a lot of interest with innovative front and rear leaf springs and internal expanding brakes fitted to both wheels, and caused a stir with its unique looks at the annual Motor Cycle Show, where orders started to pour in with an initial price tag of £110. This 1920 machine features a unique paint scheme and has been very successful in competitive road trials in the UK. It is owned by the VMCC Marque Specialist Keith Sams.
This 1925 Husqvarna 550 was imported to the UK from Sweden many moons back and was restored by the owner and rider Rodney Hann. It has competed in many Banbury Runs and is a sublime example of this Swedish marque.
This sidecar outfit is a beauty. It is a 1913 Royal Enfield 180 that is quite the workhorse. In fact, in 1913 a fire brigade near Sevenoaks used a similar outfit to make speed to an incident, where it was able to transport four men and several coils of fire hose. The roads around about this part of the world are known to be up and down, but the Enfield stood its ground.
This old gem is an early 1910 Douglas Model D and is an early primitive model with a 340cc twin-cylinder side-valve engine. The drive to the rear wheel is via a belt attached to the crankshaft, with the optional assist of manpower on the pedals. This was the first visit for the old bike to the Banbury Run.
This bike has some serious provenance with the Banbury clan. It is a 1912 499cc v-twin Humber ridden by Peter Cottrell. The same bike was ridden by his father in the sixth Banbury Run (June 1954). It is started by means of a crank handle on the rear wheel which remained as a Humber feature for several years.
This is a 1926 New Imperial Model 8. The photos say it all, what a wonderful machine.
This is quite an unusual motorcycle to see on the roads of Britain. It is a 1929 Griffon G80 (247cc) ridden by Peter Brooks. Griffon is one of the oldest French makes and started to produce motorcycles in 1902. The Griffon badge stayed put for many years, even when the company was taken over by Peugeot. This particular machine spent the vast majority of its life on a flat island near La Rochelle, 50 metres above sea level. The owner remarks “it dislikes any sort of hill”, but we have not been otherwise been told that it failed to make the stern Sunrising Hill!
This is a 1925 Matchless M3 (980cc v-twin). It sounded awesome, and has been recommissioned recently, having been off the road for many years.
Unrestored bikes that wear their battle scars never fail to disappoint, and this one is no exception. It is a 1925 350cc Rudge 4 Speed 4 Valve. The rider was Chris Fennell who is the second owner from new! Chris has taken the bike on some mammoth runs, most notably Lands End to John O’Groats – an expedition of some 874 miles – “fair play” does not even cut it!
Phelon & Moore manufactured motorcycles in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire and stood out with their sloping 40-degree single-cylinder motor that formed a stressed member of the frame. This one is a 1925 500cc OHV and had a wonderful patina.
The final motorcycles that are mentioned are a couple of complex O.E.Cs. The Osborn Engineering Company, or O.E.C. were pioneers in the industry, and in 1927 patented a complex Duplex Steering system devised by O.E.C. engineer Frederick Wood. It was a test of the market that was dominated by the classic girder-fork. The system was a novel mechanism whereby the handlebars steered chunky parallel upright tubes connected by substantial links. In fact the O.E.C. was described by the technical press as the most unorthodox machine of the year! O.E.Cs were available with various engine options, and here we have a family team on a 1930 750cc JAP and a 1930 350cc single that can just be seen in the background.
There was a warm and friendly atmosphere throughout the day, helped along by the presence of families, many of whom have made the Run a yearly tradition. The VMCC clan was, as always, impeccable, and the team of volunteers deserve applause for the smooth running of such a large and complex event.
To finish, here is a video montage of some of the highlights of the event.
an article by The Girder Club
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