An inaugural motorcycle event, and hopefully one of more to come. This is a run-down on the first Long Man Run in Sussex – hosted by the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club at the Filching Manor Motor Museum.
Words + Photos: Rich Orriss
Those with an old motorcycle will most likely understand the turbulent relationship between man and machine. I started in a bit of a dip when I attended the inaugural Long Man Run (a Sunbeam Motorcycle Club event hosted at the Filching Manor Motor Museum in East Sussex) in October. However, once the blips had been sorted and the old side-valve in my Sunbeam had a healthy thump, it turned out to be a cracking day on the road.
We arrived at around 9:30am to book on, and there was a positive vibe from the outset. Breakfast, tea and coffee were laid on by the volunteers, making for a welcome start on a chilly morning before everyone took to the roads. The event was open to pre-war motorcycles, and there was a healthy turn out of machines – a positive start for a new event.
The most curious machine had to be the 1904 Rover fore-car with the optional water-cooled engine. It was a reminder of just how far back the history of motoring stretches, and it didn’t take much for its owner Nigel to fire the old machine it into life with a quick turn of the crank handle. It set the tone as the rest of the motorcycles started up one by one as smoke filled the air and the machines clattered out of the museum.
Unfortunately, my own morning wasn’t getting off to quite such a straightforward start. As I followed the crowd of bikes and headed down the hill from the museum, the Sunbeam began to bog down before it stopped altogether – typically at the bottom of the 1km hill! My first suspicion was the carburettor, but a bit of investigation revealed the real culprit. The liner inside the fuel tank had started to come loose and pieces of it had blocked the fuel tap. Not ideal! With the Sunbeam refusing to cooperate, there was nothing for it but to push the bike all the way back up the hill to the museum. I hadn’t quite realised the extent of the hill coming down and quickly regretted the decision not to take the kind offer of recovery back to base!
Once back at camp, I cleared the blockage and got the fuel flowing again. After the exertions of stomping up the hill and getting the bike running, I had a quick cuppa before putting the Sunbeam through its paces to make sure she was ready for the road.
Karl Foulkes-Halbard, who runs Filching Manor and organised the day through the club, has an old go-kart track in the grounds, which turned out to be the perfect place to check that everything was working properly. I managed to squeeze in a few laps around the course, which put a proper grin back on my face; it was a rather more entertaining way of testing the bike than pushing it up a big hill.
Karl was a genuinely nice chap who made everyone feel welcome and clearly wanted people to enjoy the event and the remarkable collection at Filching Manor. The ex-go-kart track is also used for the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club’s annual Test Day, when members have the opportunity to put their eligible machines through their paces away from modern traffic. I believe it is referred to as a “shake-down” run… ideal before the season of riding starts. Having had a few laps to myself, I could see the appeal. There’s something rather enjoyable about riding an old motorcycle around a circuit without having to worry about what might be coming the other way. Thankfully, everything seemed to be in order, so I was able to set off and re-join the main run, rather than spend the rest of the day looking at a stationary motorcycle.
The route covered approximately 34 miles, taking in some lovely East Sussex countryside and the famous Long Man chalk figure on the Downs. It was a cracking route, with picturesque villages and some excellent roads that suited an old motorcycle. Although I was riding on my own, trying to play catch up, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The scenery was beautiful, the roads were first-class, and the whole thing had a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere. Route maps had been provided, however I kept mine in my pocket and followed the very well sign-posted roads that Karl and his team had put out prior to the run.
I eventually arrived back at Filching Manor towards the back of the field, second to last. The final rider back (Steve) had suffered a puncture en route. Rather than abandon the event, he took his 1914 Rover home to have it repaired, then headed back out to complete the run. That’s the sort of determination you have to admire when you’re dealing with an old machine. And this is Steve upon his return, where he received a well-deserved round of applause. That meant all had survived the run, quite the rarity with 100+ year old motorcycles!! A nice touch was that Karl had sorted out a finishers medal for all the riders.
Back at Filching Manor, Karl opened up the museum and some of the sheds so that we could have a look around the collection. It was a real bonus to be able to explore the place after the run and see some of the remarkable machinery housed there which included bicycles, motorcycles, motorcars, oh and a boat.
But this wasn’t any old boat, it was Blue Bird K3, Sir Malcolm Campbell’s famous water-speed-record boat. Campbell used K3 to set world water-speed records in the 1930s, and it’s an extraordinary piece of engineering to see at close quarters. Filching Manor has a fascinating motoring and motorsport history beyond its motorcycles, and being able to see Bluebird K3 and explore the collection made the visit all the more worthwhile.
There was plenty of opportunity to chat with other enthusiasts and catch up with familiar faces, too. It’s often those quieter moments around an event that make it memorable, as much as the ride itself. And I used those moments to get as much advice as I could about tank lining! And there was one final surprise. At the end of the event, I was awarded a prize in the vintage class. Whether that was recognition for the Sunbeam or sympathy for having to push it back up the hill is open to debate! Whatever the reason, it was a lovely gesture and a nice way to round off the day.
The Long Man Run might have been a first attempt, but it was thoroughly enjoyable, and a top drawer run. There was a good turnout, a friendly atmosphere, an interesting destination, and a route that made the most of the surrounding countryside. Most importantly, it was a chance to get the old Sunbeam out on the road later in the “season”, meet some nice people and enjoy a day among fellow enthusiasts.
The fuel blockage was a reminder that old motorcycles have a habit of keeping you on your toes, but once the Sunbeam was running properly, the rest of the day was exactly what a vintage motorcycle run should be. Good roads, good company, a few laps of a go-kart track, a bit of mechanical drama, some fascinating old machinery, and even a prize to take home. Not a bad day at all.
an article by The Girder Club
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