The Surrey & Sussex section of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club will be making a collection on its stand in memory of popular exhibitor Mole Benn, who passed away earlier this year and used to take along his little racing MV Agustas.
He once described the 1954 MV Grand Prix as “Kept as last used, restoration absolutely forbidden!”
One of only four developed by the factory to contest the 1955 200-250cc World Championship, which MV won at the first attempt, it was just large enough to compete in the class and this is the only example that remains in private hands. With a dustbin fairing fitted (they were banned after 1957) it could exceed 125mph.
The BSA Owners’ Club will be represented both locally, with a club stand from East Sussex and Kent, and nationally because this year’s BSA Owners’ Club raffle prize – a 1971 BSA B25 Starfire finished in blue – will be there.
With hundreds of pre-1980 motorcycles on show, this year’s theme will be cafe racers. Five halls will be in use, along with lots of outside space, and there will be a large indoor and outdoor bikejumble.
The oldest exhibit, entered by the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club, will be a 1914 Rover/Sturmey Archer last used in 1972 (as witnessed by an old tax disc) which was found languishing in a garage, and other interesting machines include a 1914 Triumph TT, 1920 Douglas W, 1928 350cc AJS K6, 1930 Indian 101 Scout, 1937 500cc Vincent HRD TT Replica, 1938 600cc Panther Redwing, 1947 596cc Scott Flying Squirrel and many more, leading to such models as a 1972 750cc Triumph X75, 1975 Laverda 750SF and 1977 Kawasaki Z900 A4.
The show is sponsored by RealClassic magazine, and gates open at 10am. Admission will be £6 adults, £5 RealClassic members and seniors in receipt of state pension, under-16s free.
