Autumn Run
“Setting off for Kenilworth armed with 30 route sheets, I felt happy there would be more than enough for everyone – it was misty with the temperature at 7 degrees, so didn’t expect many to turn up. Wrong! Kenilworth was bright and sunny, and by the time 25 riders had turned up, I was beginning to get worried. In the end we had 29 machines, and what a turn out. Two Vincents Grew’s ‘48 Rapide and Dave Styles’ ‘50 Comet), Mick Jaggard’s Zundapp, Graham and Brenda’s two AJSs, Derek Morris’s 28 Matchless and a beautiful ‘27 Sunbeam Model 9 belonging to P R Nutt. Then a whole host of post war machines including a rare ‘65 Triumph TRW.
The 42 mile run headed out through Stoneleigh, Weston under Wetherley, Long Itchington, Napton, Priors Hardwick, Aston le Walls, then headed back via West Farndon over the Jurassic Way footpath on a super switch-back road, into Byfield. From there down into Priors Marston, back to Napton on to Birdingbury and then to the finish at the Friendly Inn at Frankton where most people ate a hearty lunch.
En route we mixed with several old Austins and a couple of horse drawn carriages, and at one time I was running behind the two Vins and the Sunbeam, all three travelling extremely well. They sounded beautiful!
Our thanks go to Alan Bailey for the route, the event report and the photographs also to Nigel and Debbie at the Friendly Inn for looking after us so well.