The first meeting of the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club was held on the 14th July 1924 at the Sunbeam showrooms of John Marston Ltd on Holborn Viaduct. For the first year membership of the club was limited to owners of Sunbeams but ever since it has been a club for all makes of motorcycle. There are two distinct parts of the club, events for pre 1931(veteran and vintage) machines, with some events extending to 1939 and sporting trials riding, with particular emphasis on modern and pre 1965 competitions.
The famous Epsom to Brighton Pioneer® Run, the premier event for pre 1915 machines, was started by the Sunbeam Club in 1930; from the 77 entries in 1930 the event has grown to 360 entries in 2009. It is necessary to obtain a certificate of authenticity for your machine from the Sunbeam Dating Committee before you can enter the Pioneer® Run. Machines are entered in one of three classes according to age; before 1905, between 1905 and 1909 and between 1910 and 1914.
Various runs are arranged throughout the year for veteran and vintage motorcycles where entrants can feel comfortable riding along with other machines of similar performance. Examples of these runs are residential events such as Welsh Week based on Aberystwyth, the Warwickshire Weekend and the Shropshire Mid Week Break and one day events such as the New Conyboro Run, Chiddingly, the Rose of the Shires Run at Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, the Garden of England Run, Headcorn and the Graham Walker Run, Beaulieu, Hampshire.
The other area of interest, trials riding, includes such events as the Southern Experts which the club has run since 1931, the Greybeards Trial for riders over 40 on a handicap system, the Gordon Jackson Trial and the Dick Little British Bike Trial.
Fred Pinhard was a driving force behind the formation of the Sunbeam Club and it is in his honour that the Pinhard Trophy is named. Since 1950 the Pinhard Trophy has been awarded by the club to the best under 21 year old sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction. A host of previous winners have gone on to excel and these include Mike Hailwood and John Surtees to name just two.
Don’t forget, the club is open to all makes of motorcycle and you are most welcome to join for the very reasonable sum of £15 per year plus a joining fee of £2. Membership of the club entitles you to an entry reduction for all Sunbeam veteran and vintage events. Other club benefits are typical of a motorcycle club and include discounted road and breakdown insurance, discounted ferry services, bi-monthly club magazine, website and monthly club night.
More particulars are available from the Club Secretary Ian McGill, 13 Victoria Road, Horley Surrey, RH6 9BN or visit our website -
www.sunbeam-mcc.co.uk.
John Hodson
I want to go faster, I want to go faster..
