Bikers revved up for Coventry to Brighton run

[dutchman]

Bikers revved up their vintage motorcycles in the morning sunshine as they set off for the 50th annual Coventry to Brighton run.



About 80 riders gathered in Millennium Place on Saturday for the 160-mile trek.

Bikes dating back as far as 1920 were part of the line-up with the youngest model made in 1979.

The annual event, which first started in 1962, sees members of the Vintage Motorcycle Club make a convoy to Brighton.

Ian Alexander has been organising the event with his wife Kathy for the last 17 years.

He was due to ride his own vintage bike in Saturday’s trip with sons James, 10, and Jack, five, in a sidecar but unfortunately he couldn’t get his bike working in time.

He said: “The atmosphere is always brilliant. Everyone loves the challenge of getting the bikes the 160 miles to Brighton.

“A lot of the riders know each other but only get to see each other annually during the run. It’s mainly the Warwickshire section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club who take part but we do get people coming up from the south who stay overnight and then ride home.

“There’s all generations involved. We have a few fathers and sons taking part. We haven’t got any ladies riding this year although some are going as passengers.

"There’s a whole range of bikes, including British, Japanese and American.”