On the Pioneer Run with a powerful Peugeot

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The Sunbeam Motorcycle Club has been organizing the Pioneer Run for pre-1915 motorcycles every year since 1930 and, together with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, it represents one of the world's most important, historic and enjoyable events for early vehicles and it takes place this coming Sunday. Few people have experience of riding a Pioneer motorcycle though, and probably wonder just what it's like. Andrew Howe-Davies reveals all.

I have owned my 1904 500cc Peugeot for some years now and have had fun using it at Monthléry circuit and at Brooklands, but these have all been 'behind closed doors' events. My goal was always to use it on the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club's Pioneer Run. Well, I girded my loins and finally entered...

It's the event day, and dawn arrives with the worst of all possibilities - it’s a wet, wet, wet day! Once unloaded and checked over, I offer the Peugeot up to my rolling road as I've found it’s a pig to bump-start due to so much compression. This makes for entertaining viewing as it wheelspins around the potholed car park - it even made it onto YouTube!

Somehow, I missed my early start time by hiding in my van and putting all the wet-weather protective clothing I could find. I finally arrived at the start suitably clad and I was soon being push-started by my back-up friends, looking and feeling like the Michelin Man!

An early mechanical mishap

The Peugeot fired and the adventure was on - well, nearly, as only 300 yards from the start a tinkling noise was heard and I looked down to see the crank belt pulley heading off down the road!

As you all know, these early bikes have very little in the way of brakes and mine is an excellent example of this shortcoming, which is why I chose to wear lumpy Wellington boots. These I duly employed, and completed the emergency stop in an admirable 50 yards.

I walked back to see what, if anything, I could find as I was missing the pulley, nut and woodruff key. A rider who was following had stopped and helpfully announced that he had seen the pulley entering a particular hedge. Thanking him, I investigated and voila! Sure enough, my pulley was rescued. Also, back in the road was the nut - amazing! Just the woodruff key to find...

Well, 10 minutes later with friends helping me, still nothing had been found, which brought me to the 'it’s all over' phase, but I took one last look down along the road, all glistening wet, and I saw a tiny thing in the distance. I walked the 40 feet and indeed it was the key. All fitted, I was off again!

The bike ran well with a very strong pull and going very fast! Too fast, I thought, for something with no brakes, so thank goodness for the valve lifter. Reigate Hill was interesting. Thank goodness again for size 12 wellies and the a kerb which you can bump your way down!

The challenges of modern traffic

Traffic lights are very tricky when you're clutchless. I developed a valve lifter trickle approach, and if that failed then a circular route was taken into a driveway or garage forecourt to consume time, and then I could time my exit to continue. This was 80 per cent successful; the remaining 20 per cent involved my helpful mates pushing me off.

Progress was, of course, hindered by the leather belt stretching in the rain, causing slipping issues, but I made Leonardslee Gardens for a wet coffee stop, where I tightened the belt and refuelled, then set off on the last push. The last section of the route is great for our bikes because from Leonardslee its all flowing and curvaceous - lovely.

It's only marred, of course, by so many modern drivers totally unaware of what’s around them and how big their cars are, so much so they stopped completely whilst passing parked cars, forcing me to employ emergency avoidance tactics up a kerb, through a lawn and back!

Shoreham Airport appeared in sight, along with a huge sense of achievement and pride. Both I and the bike had made it! I had thoughtfully packed a bottle of bubbly just in case. Well, you never know!

My thanks go to the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club, the man who helped me find my pulley, and to my friends Perry and Gavin for following me and the endless pushing.

This event is so much the better now that the finished has been moved to Shoreham Airport, because Brighton’s roads are a nightmare. There's only one thing the end needs... a beer bar!

I'm all ready for next one now!

Words: Andrew Howe-Davies

Anybody interested in watching the Pioneer Run - and we'd recommend it - will be able to view the start at Tattenham Corner, Epsom, Surrey, from 8.00 a.m. on Sunday 1st October. The finish at Shoreham Airport, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, is open to the public and the bikes will start arriving from 10.00 a.m. There will also be plenty of opportunities to view the machines en route.

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