MODEL 6 IN BRIGHTON'S NORTH
LAINES
22 March 2009
It was at the tail end of the 2009's Pioneer Run
that a Sunbeam of late 1920s vintage appeared following the veteran
machines into Madeira Drive along Brighton's seafront. With just enough time
to grab the camera a blurry shot taken...
Having spent
a great morning watching the finish of the Pioneer Run, the good Mrs
Sidevalve and myself headed inland to the 'boho' North Laines in search of veggie
delights for lunch. Foodie thoughts were interrupted by the distinct sound
of an old single cylinder motor cycle and the glimpsed silhouette of
flat-tank machine and rider. We were intrigued. It's usually classic
two-stroke scooters that catch our eye hereabouts. It turned out to be the
machine we had seen earlier.
We managed to find the machine at rest: a 1928
500cc Longstroke (if I recall correctly) and its rather pleasant rider, Jez
from Ramsgate, who kindly posed for a photo. It was a must really as
Jez's period leathers were spot on in terms of detail. He had travelled over
to Brighton to catch the Pioneer Run as we suspected. Then, he was off on his way
and we were treated
to the sound of the 'Beam's exhaust note reverberating along the narrow
lanes and into the distance!
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