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 On 28th April 1946, a band of
38 enthusiasts assembled at the Lounge Cafe, Hog's Back, Guildford,
Surrey, with the object of forming a Motor Cycle Club for owners of
machines manufactured prior to December 1930.
The majority of those who
attended that meeting over fifty years ago had ridden there on Vintage
machines and, despite very bad weather conditions, came from as far a
field as Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire and Leicestershire. The
Press also attended and excellent photographs were obtained of the event.
The Police and the AA also assisted in regulating the traffic and the
parking of machines.
After lunch, 'Titch' Allen,
who had been the promoter of this meeting, took the chair and outlined his
ideas. His main objective was to promote the use and preservation of
'Vintage' machines and from his vision the Vintage Motor Cycle Club was
formed.
Initially, membership was
restricted to owners of motorcycles manufactured prior to 31st December
1930, solos or sidecars, but not three-wheelers and the idea that someone
without a motorcycle should be able to join providing that they acquired a
suitable motorcycle within six months was firmly rejected. It was hoped
that the Club's activities would include Rallies, Hill Climbs, Trials, a
Workshop and Museum, a Library, a Sales and Wants system for spares and
motorcycles, Insurance for difficult cases, a free of charge Bulletin and
an Annual Dinner.
As the years have passed by,
many of the activities envisaged on that day have materialised and are now
accepted as the 'norm' by VMCC members. Without the vision of those
Founder Members of the Club, motorcycling history would not have been
preserved.
Membership today stands at
over 15,000 - but this has been achieved without losing any of the
camaraderie or helpfulness usually associated with smaller clubs. |
