The vintage Motor Cycle Club - VMCC
The Vintage Motor Cycle Club

Central Lancs

VMCC Section

Phone: +44(0)1283 540 557

Email: info@vmcc.net

Chairman Ged Baines

Ged took over as section chairman at the AGM in November 2019, when Steve Parker, who had been chairman for a number of years, stepped down.

Ged is known as an enthusiastic club member, and a rider who considers a 350 mile round trip to the east coast an ideal day out on his B40 BSA. When he takes his modern BMW, mileages that others woudl do in a week are clocked up in less than 24 hours. How his recently fettled Commando will respond to such treatment may be a subject for speculation. He's often also spotted many miles from home on pedal power alone!

(Photo to follow)

Secretary Adrian Such

Adrian has been section secretary since 2012, currently rides a Norton 750 Commando, and has a couple more classics in the shed for restoration. these being of the Italian and British flavour. He has been riding bikes consistently from his teenage years, having owned alot of Japanese steeds before going to Italian and British.

Adrian has been instrumental in bringing the majority of our section regulars up to speed with the modern way of communication by using emails and have also created a 'Whatsapp' group. This is used to communicate any meetings and rideouts, it's also very handy if circumstances change and can advise everyone quickly.

He also maintains our good relationship with our neighbouring sections and communicates frequently concerning events /meets/rides happening in our area.

Adrian & Ducati











Treasurer Pete Higginson

Pete joined the VMCC in 1988 and was active in the North Birmingham and Burton & District sections before moving back to his native Lancashire in 2008. Mainly a Velofellow, he’s also a charioteer – see below.

Pete Higginson

Pete sets off on the 2011 Flat Tank and Girder Fork Run aboard his Royal Enfield Model K outfit.

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Vice-chairman Scott Hodges

Scott joined the VMCC in 2003 and became the section’s Vice Chairman in 2008. He’s the man in charge of our premier event, the Flat Tank & Girder Fork Run.

Scott Hodges

·Scott pictured here with his 1926 500cc ohv Rudge four four Special model.

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Mike Milton

Mike joined the VMCC in 1987 and was a founder member of the Central Lancs Section which was formed in 1994 and served as Treasurer until 2011. (see History section)

Mike Milton

Mike pictured here aboard his 1966 Kawasaki SG 250cc pushrod single.

History

The Central Lancs section of the VMCC was formed in August 1994 after a change of venue for the North West section became unsuitable for many members in the Preston, Bolton and Chorley areas. Members wanted to have a meeting place more central to their area. Coppull was chosen and the Central Lancs section was formed with David Hunter as Chairman, Ted Gabbott as Secretary and Mike Milton as Treasurer. Around 40 members made donations to help start up the section.

Initial meetings were at the Oak Tree in Coppull then 18 months later moved just down the road to the Alison Arms, and then again to The Bowling Green before our current venue at Charnock Richard football club.

Numerous events have been held over the years many in conjunction with neighboring sections and we have now established a regular programme of events that attract riders from all over the Northwest.

The section is also keen to promote the use of pre-war bikes and one of the highlights of the event calendar is the 'Flat Tank and Girder Fork run'. This event has recently been featured in the magazine RealClassic and is on their web site - see the full article and pictures.

Sadly some of the original membership are no longer with us whilst others do not ride as regularly now, but in recent years new members have come along to maintain the enthusiasm for riding old bikes and keep the club spirit alive.

David Hunter: Founder member and Chairman from 1994 - 2007

David has always been a keen motorcyclist from a very early age. Indeed a bad accident to his leg down the pit did not hamper his appetite for riding and fortunately for David his fourteen-year-old brother Peter, was a big enough lad to start a single, so for a while he was employed (and rode pillion) to start David's mount and carry his crutches!

David joined the VMCC in 1974 and later became the North West Regional Chairman. In 1986 when he was active within the North West Section he started the 'Worden Park Show' in Leyland to commemorate 40 years of the VMCC. The show is still held in January and now attracts a great numbers of riders each year.

As well as being a founder member and Chairman of the Central Lancs VMCC for thirteen years he also spent a number of years on the management committee of the VMCC.

He has a great knowledge of early motorcycles and is always happy to assist members.

David Hunter 1David Hunter 2

David Hunter on his 1936 Ariel Red Hunter and younger brother Peter on another of David's mounts at the time, a 1936 Sunbeam Model 9. The picture was taken in 1952.

Mike Milton: Founder Member and Treasurer from 1994 to 2011

Mike has been riding since he was fourteen and started out on a 1937 Sunbeam Model 8.

In 1969 Mike was actively riding in Borneo and then Hong Kong from 1975 until 1987. Whilst living abroad he was involved in running many motor sports including rallies, sprints and hill climbs. Mike also helped run the Macau Grand Prix and was FIM steward for various events including Moto - cross in Hong Kong.

He joined the vintage club in 1987 then a member of the North West section. He was a founder member of the Central Lancs and has been the Treasurer from its inception until 2011.

Mike MiltonMike Milton

Mike Milton with his 1966 Kawasaki SG 250cc pushrod single. It was produced with a Mitsubishi dynastart and solenoid exhaust valve lifter and was based on the old Meguro design. If you look closely without too much imagination you can see BSA and Horax styling influences. The other picture shows some of the collection of cups Mike has won in motor sports over the years.

Ted Gabbott: 1928 - 2009 Founder member and Secretary from 1994 - 2001

Sadly Ted died on the 3rd of January 2009. Ted started riding at sixteen under doctor's orders. It's true - Ted had Rheumatic Fever as a child, which for a while left him with a heart murmur. For this reason the Doctor advised him to stop riding his pushbike and get a motorbike! He joined the VMCC in the early 50's and held the position of North West Regional secretary for many years. In 1957 he and a handful of pals decided to ride Lands End to John O'Groats. They set off one Saturday to Lands End then on Monday morning set off for John O'Groats, arriving their on the Wednesday. Thursday morning they set off again and arrived back home on Saturday morning. By my calculations that's twice and a total distance of about 1734 miles, which wasn't bad to test out Ted's new mount - a 1925 Norton 16H side-valve!! Ted kept to his original Doctors orders and rode his bikes including his beloved Norton 'Nora' and sidecar into his eighties! His last combination was a Yamaha Drag Star 1100cc'V' twin! He was a long-standing member of the club and an avid supporter and rider of veteran and vintage motorcycles and will be sadly missed.

Download Mark Hodgson's article on the Land's End to John O'Groats run from The Veteran and Vintage Magazine September 1959 from here... Landsend

Ted GabbetTed Gabbet

The first picture shows the Land's End to John O'Groats run organised by Mark Hodgson. From the left: John Bone who did the trip on his 1921 New Imperial with J.A.P 250cc engine. It was the bike that Graham Prentice won the 1921 TT on! Ted Gabbott, Frank Farrington and Allen Croft. Mark Hodgson is unfortunately taking the photograph. A more recent picture of Ted on his beloved 1925 Norton 16H side valve affectionately known as 'Nora'.

Registered Address

Allen House, Wetmore Road,

Burton upon Trent,

Staffordshire, DE14 1TR