Subtitled ‘A Guy Fawkes Ride’ this year‘s Norfolk Run took place in wet and windy weather on Sunday 4th November. The bad weather did not deter the 21 hardy individuals who took part in the ride; despite the conditions, only a couple of those who had booked to attend did not turn up. The machines taking part in the run were, in the cyclemotor class: a VéloSoleX and a 25cc Cyclemaster; in the autocycle class: two Raynals (one pre-war and one post-war), a James Jl and a Deluxe model Scott Cyc-Auto. The mopeds were: four NSU Quicklys, an assortment of six Raleighs (all ‘Mobylette-style’ models and one carrying a pillion passenger on the run), a Puch and an Ariel 3. Also taking part were a BSA Bantam and a Brockhouse Corgi making 20 machines in all.
The machines started the run all together, the departure being recorded by a photographer from the Eastern Daily Press. The run was along virtually traffic-free lanes (I only saw two cars on the route—and one of those belonged to the EDP photographer) through the pleasant Norfolk countryside to the Stokesby Ferry Inn on the Norfolk Broads. Arriving just before opening time, we all posed while Alex Mutimer took a group photograph before going inside to dry out and warm up.
After lunch and a drink we had to reluctantly leave the warmth
of the pub and brave the weather outside for the short run back
to the starting point. When all had returned the awards
were presented. The awards had been decided by a vote
amongst all the participants and the results were:
Best Cyclemotor—N Hope’s British-built 45cc
VéloSoleX;
Best Autocycle—K Flood’s Scott Cyc-Auto
DeLuxe;
Best Moped—J Woolston’s Puch. All
excellent machines in very good original, unrestored
condition.
Thanks to Ian Munroe and John Woolston for all their work in organising the event and to Country Motors for the sponsorship of the awards and attendance plaques.
[This report was first published in ‘Buzzing’ February 1991. The photos below have not been published before.]
