Section History
In 1961, 36 members of the Bristol Motorcycle
and Light Car Club, which met at the Full Moon in Stokes Croft, and who
were interested mainly in vintage motorcycles, decided to set up a Bristol
section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. The VMCC, which had been formed in
1946, had by 1961, many local sections, with more forming as time went by.
The inaugural meeting of the Bristol section was held in the Old Tavern
on Blackbery Hill and the members decided to hold two meetings per
month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings. A move was eventually made to the
White Lion at Warwick Road, in an outbuilding which they furnished to suit
themselves. Another move saw them using the Worlds End in St George, and then
the Railway Tavern in Fishponds close to what was then the Vandyke
cinema, and a further move was to the Bell Inn at Stapleton. When this
closed a final move was made to the Begbrook Social Club, in Frenchay Park
Road, Bristol where the meetings are still held twice per month in the function
room.
In the early 1960s the newly formed Section and the Somerset Section held joint annual dinner and prize giving events, and on 27th February 1965 it was Somerset’s turn as host. The event took place at the Cliff Hotel, Cheddar. Peter Sparkes was the Somerset Chairman, and Ted Parker the Secretary. Cecil Roberts was the Bristol Chairman and John Burgoyne was the Secretary.
Timed Trials were very popular and trophies were hotly contested.
Originally, only two wheelers made before 1931 were eligible at VMCC events but eventually this was relaxed to allow any two or three wheeler over 25 years old and with this on a rolling basis.
 |  |
| Bill Shephard and his 1927 James | Alan Freke in 1963 on his 1954 T110 |
Wally Flew in his prime
The premier event of the Bristol Section has always been the
South West Coast Run. First held in 1964 the event has been run from a variety
of venues since, including from Henleys in Gloucester Road, Brunel Ford in
Winterstoke Road, the Kawasaki Center in Avon
Street, but now starts from Failand village hall, where the
participants return for a concours prize giving.
The route originally went to
Weston Super Mare via Portishead for a coffee stop and Salthouse Fields,
Clevedon but since the opening of the M4 the Clevedon stop is the farthest
point on the route. The entrants return to Failand via Congresbury. In recent
years an alternative longer route has been popular. Unfortunately after 55 years the event
was not held in 2019 and 2018 may have been its last outing.
It was rare in that it was for cars as well as motorcycles and often people come out of their houses to wave us by. The old timers reminisced about times gone by and machines they once had while the youngsters watched and listened to the strange sights and sounds.
The section holds a Spring Run in late May or June. Originally a timed trial held in March and called the Ray Cordy Memorial Spring Trial, the Ray Cordy is now a social run, organised at present from the Avon Valley Steam Railway.
The Autumn Run, also originally a timed trial, was organised for many years from the Wheatsheaf at Corston by Peter Winch. Now called the Bill Shepherd Memorial Run it is organised in September from varied venues. Both these events are in honor of two well respected former members.
Another popular annual event is the Cyclemotor and Girder Fork ‘Lakes Run’, organised by Alan Spencer in September, from the Manor Farm tea Rooms at North Widcombe.
The Section is and always has been, very active in organising many evening events and there is a strong following for a couple of breakfast runs and a weekly lunchtime run.
Alan Riches outside the Mitre at Kirkmichael Isle of Man, with flat tank Norton
Alan Riches parents out for a ride, possibly on a Rudge
Section History
In 1961, 36 members of the Bristol Motorcycle
and Light Car Club, which met at the Full Moon in Stokes Croft, and who
were interested mainly in vintage motorcycles, decided to set up a Bristol
section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. The VMCC, which had been formed in
1946, had by 1961, many local sections, with more forming as time went by.
The inaugural meeting of the Bristol section was held in the Old Tavern
on Blackbery Hill and the members decided to hold two meetings per
month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings. A move was eventually made to the
White Lion at Warwick Road, in an outbuilding which they furnished to suit
themselves. Another move saw them using the Worlds End in St George, and then
the Railway Tavern in Fishponds close to what was then the Vandyke
cinema, and a further move was to the Bell Inn at Stapleton. When this
closed a final move was made to the Begbrook Social Club, in Frenchay Park
Road, Bristol where the meetings are still held twice per month in the function
room.
In the early 1960s the newly formed Section and the Somerset Section held joint annual dinner and prize giving events, and on 27th February 1965 it was Somerset’s turn as host. The event took place at the Cliff Hotel, Cheddar. Peter Sparkes was the Somerset Chairman, and Ted Parker the Secretary. Cecil Roberts was the Bristol Chairman and John Burgoyne was the Secretary.
Timed Trials were very popular and trophies were hotly contested.
Originally, only two wheelers made before 1931 were eligible at VMCC events but eventually this was relaxed to allow any two or three wheeler over 25 years old and with this on a rolling basis.
| |
| Bill Shephard and his 1927 James | Alan Freke in 1963 on his 1954 T110 |
Wally Flew in his prime
The premier event of the Bristol Section has always been the
South West Coast Run. First held in 1964 the event has been run from a variety
of venues since, including from Henleys in Gloucester Road, Brunel Ford in
Winterstoke Road, the Kawasaki Center in Avon
Street, but now starts from Failand village hall, where the
participants return for a concours prize giving.
The route originally went to
Weston Super Mare via Portishead for a coffee stop and Salthouse Fields,
Clevedon but since the opening of the M4 the Clevedon stop is the farthest
point on the route. The entrants return to Failand via Congresbury. In recent
years an alternative longer route has been popular. Unfortunately after 55 years the event
was not held in 2019 and 2018 may have been its last outing.
It was rare in that it was for cars as well as motorcycles and often people come out of their houses to wave us by. The old timers reminisced about times gone by and machines they once had while the youngsters watched and listened to the strange sights and sounds.
The section holds a Spring Run in late May or June. Originally a timed trial held in March and called the Ray Cordy Memorial Spring Trial, the Ray Cordy is now a social run, organised at present from the Avon Valley Steam Railway.
The Autumn Run, also originally a timed trial, was organised for many years from the Wheatsheaf at Corston by Peter Winch. Now called the Bill Shepherd Memorial Run it is organised in September from varied venues. Both these events are in honor of two well respected former members.
Another popular annual event is the Cyclemotor and Girder Fork ‘Lakes Run’, organised by Alan Spencer in September, from the Manor Farm tea Rooms at North Widcombe.
The Section is and always has been, very active in organising many evening events and there is a strong following for a couple of breakfast runs and a weekly lunchtime run.
Alan Riches outside the Mitre at Kirkmichael Isle of Man, with flat tank Norton
Alan Riches parents out for a ride, possibly on a Rudge