This was my first time to the Pioneer run, which is for pre 1915 motorcycles that are older than vintage. I took my trusty Harley Street Bob and met the other Bee members at Denham it was a nice sunny morning. There was Chris, Steve, Vinnie, Rob and me, Brian and Pat were there but could not come as they were going on Holiday and needed to pack. We were stopping at Rykas at Box Hill, Brian said he was disappointed as would have liked an egg and bacon roll, hmm, good idea I thought!!
We set off with 3 Triumphs and 2 Harleys, Steve leading with his vizy vest on, we had a great ride to Box Hill and kept a good tight formation. After coffee and egg and bacon rolls at Rykas we set off for Brighton, Laurie had arrived at Rykas before us and went on ahead. There was a lot of filtering to do at Brighton town centre and just before the sea front we got split up, but all managed to park up the top with the other motorcycles, it was only pioneer riders that were allowed on the front. We soon all met up with each other and had a look at the wonderful machinery that was turning up. The look on the faces of the pioneer riders said it all, that was a hell of a ride from South London on a 100 year old motorcycle!
After figering out the mechanical marvels of what they did back then on lovely makes like Excellsior, Indian, and Ariel, it was time for fish and chips on the front. Bob had arrived by train and had a terrible journey and wished he had come by bike, we had a great bit of banter and a good laugh , we decided not to leave it too late to go because of the traffic. Out of town we stopped for fuel, at the pumps an old boy came up and said he loved the sound of a V Twin, what cc is it? I said 1600, he said nice nearly as big as my 2 litre S&S motor, I looked over and saw a lovely Morgan 3 wheeler replica with the S&S V Twin on the front! We had a good run back, except for the M25 which started to jam up so after filtering for a few miles we peeled off at the exits we needed I was in by 4 30 pm , I had a great day in the sunshine , and would go again next year.

Pete Barton