It’s astonishing to think that the youngest motorcycle taking part in this year’s Pioneer Run will be at least 107 years old – there may even be one that’s 126 years old! That’s the joy of the Pioneer Run, the largest gathering of pre-1915 motorcycles in the world. This year’s event, the 83rd, will take place on Sunday, 1 October 2023.
The 2023 Pioneer Run will start at Tattenham Corner on Epsom Downs in Surrey, and finish at Shoreham’s Brighton City Airport with its iconic art deco terminal building.
The event has been organised by the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club since the start in 1930 and has been repeated every year since except during WWII, the 1974 fuel crisis, the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak, bad weather in 2013 and Covid restrictions in 2020.
It used to be run in early Spring but shifted to Autumn, and adopted a new route which avoided difficult junctions and traffic hotspots.
The Pioneer Run is open to pre-1915 solos, sidecars, tricycles and quadricycles attracting both UK and international entries.
This year’s event will be started at 08.00 hrs at Tattenham Corner by the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell.
The 45-mile route:
- Start: Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs
- A217 through Reigate
- Join A23 at Gatwick
- Leave A23 at Pease Pottage roundabout
- A2114 through Handcross to Lower Beeding for coffee stop and checkpoint at Leonardslee Gardens
- A281 through Cowfold and Henfield
- A2037 through Small Dole and Upper Beeding
- Finish Brighton City Airport
First arrivals are expected from 10.00 hrs onwards.
Awards will be presented by the Chairman of Adur Council, together with the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell at the Sunbeam MCC marquee at 14.00 hrs.
Note: Parking at Brighton City Airport is limited. The paddock is strictly reserved for vehicles carrying Official Car stickers. Others, such as visitors, will find it easier to park elsewhere and wwalk in or take public transport.
Pioneer Run Awards
- Every rider who signs on: commemorative lapel badge
- Every rider who completes the course: bronze Pioneer medallion
- Combined Age Award: To the rider who finishes by 1300hrs and has the greatest combined age with that of his machine, a Cup to be held for one year, and an engraved tankard, To the next two runners-up, an engraved shield.
- Age Difference Award: To the rider who finishes by 1300hrs and has the greatest difference between his own age and that of his machine, The Laurie Fenton Trophy, to be held for one year, and an engraved tankard. To the runner-up an engraved shield.
- Meritorious Performance Award: To the rider who, in the opinion of the judge, overcomes the greatest hardship or bad luck to achieve a finish, The Bob Currie Trophy, to be held for one year, and an engraved tankard.
- Ladies Award: To the lady rider who finishes before 1300hrs and, in so doing puts up the best performance of the lady Riders, a Cup to be held for one year and an engraved souvenir.
- Most Authentic and Un-restored machine: To the rider who finishes by 1300hrs with the most authentic & un-restored machine, a tankard.
- Dutch ‘Horsepower’ Team Trophy: To a team, one from Class 1 entries, one from Class 2 entries, one from Class 3 entries, all who have successfully finished before 1300hrs and have the greatest combined ages of riders and machines collectively, a mounted shield presented by the Dutch Horsepower Run Organisers with an engraved tankard as a replica to each member of the team.
- Newcomers Award: Presented by the German Vintage Motorcycle Club, to be awarded to the most deserving newcomer.
- Ray Newton Trophy: To the best V-Twin machine to complete the course by 1300hrs, plus an engraved tankard.
- The Brian Verrall Trophy: To the Best Sidecar outfit or Three Wheeler to complete the course by 1300hrs, plus an engraved tankard.
- The Wally Lambert Memorial Cup. For the best American built machine. Plus an engraved tankard.
- The Pioneer Registrars Cup. For the best Presented machine in the opinion of the Pioneer Registrar.
