After draining the sump and changing the spark plug, the Sunbeam ran perfectly
Tony crossed the start line without incident, passing several bikes that had unfortunately failed to make it out of Gaydon’s car park. Still, better than my bike that had failed to even make it to the venue.
The run itself is divided into a time trial for those who wish to enter. For others such as Tony and the Sunbeam there’s a non-competitive event, the challenge being to find your way round the course using a rally style prompt sheet and to make it back without the bike breaking down. I was covering the event for a
motorcycle paper and as I drove down the lanes to meet Tony for lunch at The Brasenose Arms in Cropredy, it seemed that every little hamlet in this part of the world had been transported back in time, with the sound of flying insects broken momentarily by the chugging of 100 year- old four strokes down quiet country lanes. As I walked into the pub carpark, I glanced round to see that another Sunbeam was giving its rider a few problems. I heard a passer-by say ‘It’s funny how they always seem to breakdown next to a pub.’ The National Motorcycle Museum’s
Wesley Hall drew up to provide assistance riding a Brough Superior SS100 once owned by George Brough himself. Then, around the corner came two very rare Martinsyde Motorcycles. Originally Martin and Handasyde, the company is linked to Brooklands history by being the third largest manufacturer of aero engines during the First World War, before producing motorcycles under the name of Martinsyde and Newman. Only the Banbury Run could provide such surreal moments of motorcycling history.
Reflecting that it was possibly more
difficult to navigate via Google Maps with a sketchy signal than course notes, I made my way back to Gaydon to be met by Tony as he collected his souvenir mug. Thankfully, the weather had stayed relatively dry with the occasional short sharp shower. However, the Sunbeam looked as if it had been in a cross- country trial. Once back at the museum, it was soon cleaned and put back on
its display. Only the Banbury Run plate discloses that this bike was out on the road doing what the original owner bought it for more than 90 years ago. Continuing to use the Museum’s vehicles provides us, visitors and spectators with a unique insight into the experiences of our forefathers, and the Motorcycle Team continues to display many of the Museum collection bikes at events in this country and across Europe.
Incredibly the Museum is only the Sunbeam’s third owner. The bike was purchased new from the 1926 Motorcycle Show at Olympia, an event at which manufacturers showcased their new models for the following year. In 1968, John Cheesman purchased and restored it, and following his death in 1999 it was kindly donated to the Museum. It resides in the clubhouse close to the Sunbeam Cafe and shares a stand with a Sunbeam Bicycle also produced by the same company.
32 BROOKLANDS BULLETIN | SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2019
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