Golden Era Run 2020

Now firmly established in the calendar for motorcycles and three-wheelers made before January 1931, the Golden Era Run, as organised by the North East Section of the VMCC, is set to hold its 12th run on Sunday July 26, virus permitting.

This friendly, non-competitive event offers opportunities to ride in good company over carefully chosen quiet roads in the beautiful Vale of York and is open to members of the VMCC, the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club and riders from abroad. It will once again begin and end at the splendid Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, near York.

The Golden Era Run’s organising committee and supporting team were delighted last year that the event had become popular and successful enough for their efforts to be recognised by the VMCC, which presented them with the EE Thompson Award, ‘for outstanding efforts in promoting or organising Club events’.

The Golden Era Run became successful through the efforts of its organisers and because of the sustained and enthusiastic support it has received from the staff at Yorkshire Air Museum.

Led by Ian Richardson, head of memorial and heritage, the team there has always been immensely helpful in both planning and delivering this event.

The accent on interesting machinery will be aided once more by the museum, this year with the running-up of the engines of a number of historic aircraft, including hopefully the handsome De Havilland Devon and the impressive Douglas Dakota.

The museum has once again also applied for a fly-over by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, but weather and other factors on the day mean this cannot be guaranteed, of course.

The Golden Era Run was first held in 2008, being specifically intended to promote the ownership and riding of veteran and vintage motorcycles. It recognises the performance limitations of such machines so entrants are offered two alternative routes and may choose on the day which one they would prefer to ride.

A flatter route of about 40 miles suits the oldest and smallest-capacity machines, while a more hilly circuit of around 60 miles offers rather greater challenges.

Assembly and registration will take place from 9.30am, when all bikes will be put on display in a prominent and easily accessible position within the grounds of the air museum, then from 10.30am riders will begin their runs.

The first section of both runs is the same, to a refreshment stop at the attractive location of the Lakeside Cafe, at Allerthorpe Lakes, near Pocklington.

After this the riders will continue on their chosen route, returning to Yorkshire Air Museum by 2pm.

On their return the machines will be placed on display once again, under the careful watch of marshals, while the riders and supporters enjoy a fine roast lunch in the Air Museum’s own NAAFI restaurant, housed in an original Second World War aerodrome building.

A static display featuring motorcycles relevant to the Golden Era Run will be present throughout the day, to be a point of contact for visitors to the museum.

Members manning it will be there to discuss and promote the purpose of the Golden Era Run while the machines are out on their rides, but also to answer wider questions about the VMCC, its purpose and membership.

The all-inclusive cost of entry to the Golden Era Run will be £27, which will include for all entrants a memento of the event, a printed programme and a box of Yorkshire Tea kindly provided by Taylor’s of Harrogate, a long-standing supporter of this event.

The space available within the museum’s grounds to assemble entrants’ motorcycles, and to accommodate diners in the NAAFI, means that there must be an upper limit of 70 machines.

That number of participants, however, ensures that the event is memorably friendly and convivial; a major factor which encourages many riders to take part in the Golden Era Run every year.

For organisational reasons it is not possible to enter the Golden Era Run on the day, so please book in advance.

Contact Graham Wilson by email on [email protected], or mobile number 07772 724078, or Graeme Rimer on email graeme.rimer@btinternetcom, or mobile 07526 484729.

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