The Vintage Motor Cycle Club
VMCC Section
We are writing to all of those who have so far made entries for this year’s Banbury Run, with a request for your help.
As we are sure you will know, this is a complex event which could not take place without the support of a considerable number – nearly 100 in 2025 – of volunteer event staff. In today’s world where quality of service is almost as important as safety, the number of people required is more than it was in the event’s earlier years. We have been assembling the team for this year’s event since late last year, and in many areas now have names against all of the jobs. There are, however, a few vacancies where we still need people willing to help. These are:
We also need one more person, someone who is a confident smartphone user, to complete the team of Timing Marshals who staff the checkpoints on the routes.
Will you be bringing someone with you, perhaps to assist with unloading and loading your machine, who would be willing to switch across and take on one of these essential roles during the day? Or could you bring an extra person, a friend or family member, who would be able to do so? All volunteer event staff receive a free admission wristband to the British Motor Museum (and there would be time in the day to take advantage of this), together with a £12 lunch allowance paid in cash when signing off.
If you could help in this way, please reply to this message to say so, and we’ll take it from there. We do hope to hear from you.
With all good wishes.
Annie and Bob
Regulations and entry forms are now avalible for the 2026 Sunbeam Club event. This event is open to non Sunbeam Club members, is not just for Sunbeams of course and follows a route sheet format. It is open to machines up to 1940.
This event runs out of Little Brington, this year it is 2 circular routes, 50 miles in the morning, 35 in the afternoon.
For an entry form click rose of shires entry 2026
For the Regulations Click Rose of the shires regulations
The organiser can be contacted via the link below
We are just about three weeks to go before this year’s Classic Stony on Sunday, 7th June and we hope that if you are bringing your classic then you are getting it ready for the big day and if you are just planning to spend the day with us then the date is firmly in your diary. We can’t make any promises about the weather, but we can promise that yet again there will be an amazing display of automobilia for you to enjoy and be part of.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHEN…
If you are coming just to enjoy the day viewing the cars and motorcycles then we will be ready to receive you from 9:30 am onwards. Our event tends to run until about 4:00 pm after which the town starts to clear, and everybody packs up until next year.
If you are displaying your car in the town’s main Market Square (you must have pre-booked a space) then we would like to see you at about 9:30 and definitely before10:30 so that we can make sure that you are in place. Please bring a copy of your Eventbright Event Ticket that you can download from the Eventbright site, and then check-in at the Information Stand where you can pick up your rally plaque.
If you are wanting to Drive Up and Display in the town’s high street and car parks then details of where you can park are on our website here. Space can be limited across the town so we would recommend an early arrival if you want a particular favourite location. Please note that we will be kindly requesting a charitable donation of a minimum of £5 from all cars and motorcycles that are displayed.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE AND DO…..
Attending Classic Stony to view the display of cars and motorcycles is a wonderful way to spend the day but there is a lot more to do and enjoy beyond just the automobilia.
We are delighted to announce that yet again (weather permitting) we shall have a fly past by one of the aircraft from the Royal Airforce’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We don’t have the exact details yet of which aircraft we will be seeing over Stony but which ever it is it will be a wonderful sight
Classic Stony is part of a week-long community festival of music, arts and dance across the whole town. On Sunday 7th there are multiple band sessions, an art exhibition and even a “big lunch” by the river! Further details can be found here
Throughout the day you are likely to need some refreshment so we are pleased to let you know that not only will the town’s normal wonderful cafes, restaurants and pubs be open but there will be a collection of additional traders on the day to provide you with some well-deserved sustenance and also to tempt you with all manner of curiosities!
Chairmans Post 30 Run
The the information below could apply to anyone straying into the ULEZ zone, as a section we cater for all ages of motorcycle, so some riding machines falling between the 40 year historic tax class and the clubs 25 year rule could be impacted. As a general rule we try not to go anwhere near the ULEZ zone, prefering to keep to quieter areas, however, if an event comes up which may be in the zone I will try to warn you. The information below comes from RAG.
Dear fellow VMCC Section official,
In my role as Convenor of the Club's Regulatory Advisory Group (and via the National Motorcyclists' Council) I have been pressing for the resolution of problems for our members arising from the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge.
You may be aware that motor cycles made after and including Euro 3 (about 2007) are exempt from the ULEZ charge because they are deemed to meet TfL’s emissions standards. This exemption also applies to motor cycles registered as 'historic vehicles' (older than 40 years) because these are deemed to be 'motoring heritage' not daily transport.
Motor cycles are exempt from the TfL London congestion charge because they do not cause congestion. 'Historic vehicles' however are not exempt.
As regards ULEZ and machines falling between ‘historic’ and Euro 3, you can apply for an exemption based on a manufacturer's certificates of conformity (if you can obtain it) or after being tested successfully at one of three TfL test centres. (It is said that most machines being submitted for such testing are passing.)
But several motorcyclists reported that, on getting 'historic vehicle’ status (to avoid the £12.50 a day ULEZ charge) they were then being expected to pay the congestion charge (£15.00 a day) if they entered or moved with the congestion charge zone.
This presumably was not because their bikes suddenly got bigger overnight and caused congestion but simply because the DVLA database could not identify how many wheels there were on an 'historic vehicle' (which, as you will know, is an inclusive registration class).
Following an approach from NMC, TfL now say this was never the case (see NMC press release at https://www.uknmc.org/news/nmc-clarifies-congestion-charge-situation-for-classic-motorcycles ). Hopefully this is a climb down but it will be up to them of course to ensure that the data base and the admin of the congestion charging system are good enough to avoid notices being issued.
In order to help NMC further it would be useful to know if any of your Section members have encountered the above problem. If they have, NMC Executive Director, Craig Carey-Clinch, would be glad to receive details.
If you can help Craig I'd be grateful if you could write to him directly with a copy to me for information.
Kind regards,
Roger Bibbings
Convenor VMCC RAG
Received 14 March 2023
Phishing e mails....Again
I have been informed that someone is using 'chiltern vmcc' e mail as a phishing link to obtain your details. If the e mail came from me I will not include any links. Do not click on anything in these messages especially links (that’s the bit in blue), just delete them. You can tell the message is fake as the e mail comes from a different sender (in brackets) after the section name.
If unsure delete the message without opening it and speak to me directly.
Howards Morgan
If you spot something while out and about, send it me and I will post it here.
The easiest way to contact me is by e mail, click the link below.
If you are a show organiser send me your information
Steve has been in touch to invite members to the Bovingdon Classic Car show on the 5thJuly.
I can't remember who asked me about Piston Rings, but I have used this company for a number of years and they have always been abe to help. When ordering rings you need to measure the bore, height of the ring and radial depth before you ask them, or have the old ring set number.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN1isbjpZ96mA...
Bucks British & Classic Motorcycle Club
The Plough is closed again, so Wednesday evening meetings have moved to the ‘Lions Of Bledlow’ Church End, Bledlow, Princes Risborough HP27 9PE
The National, in Blairgowrie, has been booked for the last weekend in July (3pm Friday 24th - 12 noon Monday 27th). Main event is Saturday 25th.
Bike Night at Tickety Brew
Due to other bike nights popping up in the local area we are now moving bike night to the last Thursday of the month
Chairmans post 30 run
Chairmans post 30 run
Chairmans Post 30 run
