Page 28. Events: VMCC Cyclemotor Sussex Run, Bat & Ball 24 February 2008

VMCC Cyclemotor Section Sussex Run, 24 February 2008, Bat & Ball, Wisborough Green

February can be a rather grim time of year to ride a cyclemotor around the countryside on a club run. But in the week before the Sussex Run, the weather had been more like summer, and I’d wiped off a few of my 2-wheelers and introduced them to 2008.

February 24th is my birthday, and I’d decided that a 2-wheel spin with other enthusiasts would be a good birthday present, and might also clear away those winter blues.

This winter had been a busy one due to the arrival of baby Delphy, now nearly 6 months old. She’s already a veteran of several vintage events, the VW Splitscreen ‘Brighton Breeze’ and the Ace Cafe M/cycle Reunion Run, though she’d slept through those. My partner still refused to let me park Delphy in the 1931 Fenton Zip Child’s sidecar, which I’d set up on one of my motorcycles as soon as I’d heard that Delphy was on the way. Our compromise for the Sussex Run was for me to take my cyclemotors in the van while they drove behind.

Unfortunately, by the time we’d mobilized ourselves on Sunday morning, we were running late, and we missed the beginning of the Run.

But, undeterred, I petrolized and fired up my mount for the day, the 1957 Lambretta 48 above, and headed off to try and find the rest of the pack.

In the event, I didn’t get far before I found Fabian (below), Dave and Ray at the crossroads in Wisborough Green.

By the time I’d stopped for a chat with them, I was hopelessly late for completing the course so I decided to revise my plans.

Instead of trying to find my way around the course on my own, I moped-ed around the locality for 5 miles and then returned to park up at the crossroads.