THE COVENTRY
TO BRIGHTON RUN 2008
First things first .. a brief history lesson for those out there
who’ve
never heard of this event !
During the 1950’s a VMCC member Fred Lewis visited friends in Brighton
every year. Fred made this an official run when several of his motorcycling
chums joined him on his run south. The first run, organised under the ‘Midland
Section’ banner, was in 1962 and the event has been held annually ever
since. John & Hazel Wragg (also from The Midland Section) took over the
reins for several years, with Don & Marion Alexander (Warwickshire Section)
taking control in the mid eighties. Ian & I ‘gained’ the
run in 1995 and we are still here today (14 years later) Initially
starting from the Triumph Motorcycle factory in Meriden the start is now,
and has been for over 15 years, from the Coventry Museum of Transport.
The riders are waved off by The Lord Mayor of Coventry with the rider of
the oldest machine being trusted to carry a letter of goodwill from The Lord
Mayor down to the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, who receives us on our arrival
in Brighton.
The route is approximately 160 miles of ‘quiet’ roads, although
the traffic ‘madness’ seems to increase the further south we
travel !
Back to 2008 ..
Although numbers were down slightly this year, with only 80 making the programme,
there was certainly a diverse mix of machinery out on the roads ranging
from Robert Thomas’s excellent 1926 Raleigh model 16 to Dickie Dale’s
recently purchased 1979 BMW R80. The Lord Mayor of Coventry flagged away
our first man, at 8.30 followed by the other entrants until all were safely
on our way to Sturdy’s Castle for Coffee.
Many regulars were present, the ever-youthful Mrs Rotherham was on hand to
keep everyone in order. Mafe has been present on all runs and is a
fine example to us all. Unfortunately her Morgan had to be left behind this
year due to technical problems.
Other regulars included Peter Booth who has also been on all 47 runs and
even more amazing is the fact that he has used the same bike on each run,
his superb 1930 model 18 Norton. Brian Thomas was on his 40th Coventry to
Brighton Run and had planned to be riding his 1920 Norton – the machine
that he rode his first run on, unfortunately the petrol/oil tank had split
meaning that this was not to be.
Due to the fine weather the run was far more relaxed this year and when we
arrived a Sturdy’s Castle for coffee the car park was still full with
everyone taking the opportunity to have a natter & a nose at some of
the machines present.
Off then to the lunch stop at The Royal Oak, Shurlock Row, where we were
welcomed by yet another Landlord !
Onto the Tea stop at Newland’s Corner & the sun was still shining,
several sticky buns later we headed off, under the blue sky, through the
beautiful countryside of Shere & Ewhurst Green, over Devil’s Dyke
and our first view of the sea this year. The finish on the seafront was again
more relaxed and no-one seemed in too much of a hurry with no need to head
of to the hotel to get warm & dry !
Sunday dawned bright and warm and many took the opportunity to go for a stroll
along the seafront before breakfast, us, James & Jack included.
The machines all lined up for the concours award judging with the riders
signing off & receiving their commemorative award. Mrs Rotherham again
agreed to present all the awards as detailed below.
Fred Lewis Award (Organisers Award) – Peter Mahony 1930 BSA Sloper
C.A.Murray (Best Veteran) – Robert Thomas 1926 Raleigh
D.Knowles Challenge Cup (Best Vintage) – Brian Thomas BMW
Best Post Vintage – Ian Monk 1939 Ariel Square 4
Autocar Trophy (Best Post War) – David Sketchley 1968 Triumph
Brighton Museum Challenge Cup (Most Original) – Alan Brittain 1928
Sunbeam
Paddy Johnson Trophy (Best TT) – Not Awarded
Jim Steer Trophy (Best V.Twin) – Peter Gilbert 1939 Harley Davidson
P.Booth Award (Best Sidevalve) – Robert Thomas 1926 Raleigh
P.Williams Trophy (Best Two-stroke) – Alan Jinks 1950 James Captain
The Challenge Tankard (Best Combination) – Geoff & Sue Wheeler
1930 Norton
The Morgan Cup – not awarded
Don Alexander Trophy (Best Vincent HRD) – Richard French 1952 Vincent
Rapide
Scott Challenge – Lewis Onions Scott
Bill Moore Challenge Cup (Smallest Capacity) – R Waite / Ella Bateman BSA
Bantam / Honda
J.Rotherham Challenge Cup (The Oldest Combined Age) – Peter Booth 1930
Norton
Henley Cup (Youngest Rider) – Ella Bateman Honda
Sue Fletcher Memorial(Best Pillion) – Ron Southworth – 1928 BSA
Lineshooters (Hard Luck Story) – Lewis Onions (despite breaking down
with several miles to go Lewis was determined to finish & pushed the
remainder)
F.E.Thacker (Best Lady) – Ella Bateman
Alexander Junior Award (Youngest Pillion) – James Alexander (Age 7)
Vincent Outfit
The Riders Cup – Brian Thomas
Our thanks go to Kathy and Ian Alexander for organising a superb weekend. Also to The Coventry Museum of Transport, The Lord Mayor of Coventry, The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, The landlords of Sturdy's Castle and The Royal Oak, The staff at Newlands Corner Tea Shop and the staff at The Princess Marine Hotel in Brighton and Hove. Thanks also to the breakdown crew, the concours judges and Mafe Rotherham for presenting the prizes.
Planning for the 2009 event is well under way and is on the 25th/26th April,
hopefully the weather will be good to us again. For details of this and future
Coventry to Brighton Runs e-mail me at thegrate@btinternet.com
Bye for now, Kathy Alexander