Photos from the 44th Veteran & Vintage Run 2023

Rod Hann’s report on last Sunday’s excellent V&V run is below. Many thanks to Rod for organising this run and to Carol for laying on a lovely lunch. I still cannot believe you’ve both been doing this run for 44 years…and hopefully for many more.

Sunday the 24th September saw the 44th running of the Veteran and Vintage Run. The weather was damp and dismal early in the morning but still 18 entrants signed on for the run. Coffee and biscuits were dispensed at the start at Leigh Village Hall before the start time of 10-30am. A suitable route of 24 miles took riders via Holwell, Kingstag and down the Piddle Valley before they stopped at The Three Compasses at Charminster for a coffee stop. By now the roads were dry and it was sunny. At Charminster we were greeted by members and friends of the South Dorset Section who were there just to view the older bikes. A return route of 19 miles via Maiden Newton, Frome-St-Quinton, Yetminster and Chetnole brought everyone back to Leigh Hall. Just one breakdown when a clutch packed up.

Of the 18 machines brought along there were 11 different makes represented and all of them were used before 1931.

Back at the start 34 people sat down to a nice lunch provided by Carol and a team of helpers. This was followed by the prize giving as follows:-

Most Desirable Vintage = Paul WIRDNAM – 1930 Ariel
Best Threewheeler = Alan SKINNER – 1930 AJS S/C
Bovenizer trophy (Greatest combined age of machine and rider) = Bryan POPE – 1922 Royal Enfield S/C
Most Original Machine = Kevin HELLIER – 1923 Sunbeam

It is always nice to see these early machines out on the road and being used and everyone seemed happy with the day. Roll on 2024 so we can do it all over again.

Rod Hann