Date: 19 June, 2016
Location: Cadwell Park, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9SE
Every June motorbike enthusiasts flock to the snug Oxfordshire market town of Banbury for the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC) Banbury Run.
This year’s event takes place on Sunday June 19 in 65 rolling acres of the British Motor Museum’s wondrous parkland just north of the town in Gaydon.
The museum building opens at 9am with the opening classic bike riders leaving from 10am and the Heritage Centre itself being accessible three hours earlier.
Bikers with a vintage or veteran motorcycle built in 1930 or before are eligible to join in the fun. Hundreds of motorcyclists are expected to the event, which is now in its 68th year.
Baton capers and flat tankers
What makes this year’s run so special is that it is part of the VMCC 70th Anniversary Baton Relay, sponsored by Footman James.
The run began on April 3 and will travel all around the country to commemorate the special anniversary. It will at some stage pass through Birmingham, northern England and Scotland before taking in Northern Ireland and Wales. Southern England will be its next stop-off point before making its way to the Banbury Run.
In Banbury, the Northamptonshire VMCC section is handing over the baton on the eve of the event. It will then be shown off in a parade prior to the Bedfordshire branch taking it on.
By then, it should be in the final stages of its epic journey. The baton will grace Cadwell Park’s three-day event from June 24-26 and then go back to the club’s Burton on Trent HQ.
The Norton Owners’ Club (NOC) has a particularly good reason to look forward to the event. Its members are exhibiting some flat tankers which are guaranteed to turn heads and stir hearts.
Don’t leave without…
• Visiting the Footman James stand: Where you can discuss your classic bike insurance requirements with an expert.
• Trying to pick up a bargain: More than 100 auto-jumble stands should offer a variety of choice
• Having a browse round the British Motor Museum: It claims to have the biggest historic UK car collection on the planet. Tickets cost £10 for adults and includes free admission to the museum, which is open from 10am-5pm
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