THE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE CLUB

  SOUTH LINCS. & PETERBOROUGH SECTION

 

 

 

    NEWSLETTER – 20th May 2026

    V.M.C.C. SOUTH LINCS & PETERBOROUGH SECTION

    Good evening, I hope we have a good few bikes here tonight but with the weather the way it is, there’s no telling as I assemble these words.

    Recent Events       See reports on our web site.·        

    Wednesday 15th April: Bring and Buy.  Dieter  provided his own brand of entertaining salesmanship to turn a great miscellany of jetsam, some returning from previous sales, into hard cash.  £208 in fact for the club coffers another record.

    Sunday 26th April Showers Run with Martin Peacock.  No showers this year as eighteen riders and one pillion set off on a gloriously sunny morning.  We rode to the Buttery Café in Woodford, Northants on a route approximately southwest passing through Stamford.  The Stamford traffic wasn’t not too bad but a layer of loose chippings on the Tinwell road out towards Ketton got our attention. After that it was a steady run out to South Luffenham, turning south for Barrowden and Harringworth. Working our way southeast to Deene and Upper Benefield, we enjoyed the Benefield bends, before turning off for Brigstock and Grafton Underwood leaving us with a short run to Woodford.  The sunny day and quiet lanes made for very pleasant riding if marred by stretches of lumpy, bumpy and sometimes severely potholed surfaces.

    The café was ready for us with tables set out and staff on hand to take our orders.  Our food arrived not too long after, leaving us to enjoy lunch in the sunshine with views out over the Nene valley. 

    Sunday 3rd May Tansor Run meeting the Northants Section with Gary and Kay.  A disappointing four bikes turned up although a few more made their own way there.  By dint of planning and navigational error Gary turned a 7½ mile journey into an enjoyable 40-mile ride.  The weather was fair and there was a good turnout at the village hall with local people, us and a large group of Northants members.

    The cakes were excellent and a very fair swap for contributions to charity.  Gary was saved from himself by talking so much he was too late to go back for seconds.  There was a good range of bikes on display too providing interest on top of the sweet and savoury treats.

    Wednesday May 13th Midweek Run with Peter and Barry.  The forecast was dire and clouds menacing so having as many as seven set off from Tesco’s car park in Bourne was a good turnout.  Depending on your point of view, fortune favoured the brave or, at least, the fates were kind to fools for there was only light rain here and there punctuated by sunshine and a strong north-westerly wind.

    Peter’s route sent us west to Irnham before looping back to Gosberton and turning south to Crowland.  From there it was just a matter of riding towards Thorney and turning off for the Golf Club.  Poor Kem suffered a minor “off” near Nene Terrace but wasn’t put off his lunch and his Honda was rideable despite some scrapes.

We were made welcome and had a table laid out ready leaving us to settle in and  order our food and drinks.  Everyone enjoyed their food with hearty choices being welcome on such a cool and windy day.

    Upcoming Events

    See the SL&P web site lists this year’s events and their organisers.  Contact Gary for notification options.  gary.sleeman1@gmail.com

    ·         Sunday 31st May: Out West Run with Jonathan and Angie.  10:30 am for an 11am start at the Stibbington Diner, Stibbington with a coffee       stop at Connington Airfield.

    ·         Wednesday 3rd June: Breakfast Meeting 10:30-12 am at the Country Kitchen, Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck, PE11 3UG

    ·         Saturday 6th June: Rutland Rattle Tiddler run with Paul Frost.  Now fully booked.

    ·         Wednesday 10th June: Evening Fish and Chips Run 6:15 pm for a 6:30pm start, meet in the layby on the A1175 between Market Deeping        and Tallington Lakes.

    ·         Wednesday 17th June: Evening Bike Show 7:30 pm at the Lakeside Bar and Restaurant,  Tallington Lakes.

·         Sunday 28th June: Longest Day Run to Launde Abbey with Martin Peacock, 10:30 am at the Tesco car park off Cherry Holt Road in Bourne             for an 11 am start.

    Martin
     

 

    NEWSLETTER – 15th April 2026

    V.M.C.C. SOUTH LINCS & PETERBOROUGH SECTION

    Good evening, with three runs between issues it’s a bumper newsletter this time.  A good start to our riding year in fact.  Tonight we have our spring Bring and Buy so I hope you have plenty of cash to exchange for the many and wonderous items on sale.

    Recent Events       See reports on our web site.

    ·         Wednesday 25th March: 80th Anniversary Baton Run to meet Kings Lynn members in Upwell.  Gary promised bumpy roads, potholes and suicidal pheasants on the route.  There were certainly plenty of bumps and seriously fractured road surfaces with wheel swallowing potholes but the pheasants had gone to ground. 

    About ten of us took on the route’s challenges and wet, windy forecast.  We set off from Market Deeping to Peakirk, east to Thorney before turning south for Whittlesea.  The fierce wind was behind us going east to March until we turned northeast along severely broken up lanes to Upwell.  The resulting crosswind meant Bob’s 2-stroke smoke was streaming from his silencer at right angles.

    Joanne’s Pantry was already occupied by the Kings Lynn bunch but there was enough room for us to squeeze in to the mercifully warm space.  Our breakfast orders were delivered promptly leaving us to enjoy coffee and a good natter as we worked through our platters.  Gary handed the 80th Anniversary baton to Pete Escott, the King’s Lynn section chair and the gathering gradually wound down as we departed into the ferocious westerly headwind.

    Sunday 29th March Daffodil Run with Cath and Eddie.  Stibbington Diner was chaotic, a building site with a hoard of people lined up for service in the still functioning café.  Some, like us arrived on bikes, many in cars and a few HGV drivers.  There was an immaculate Hesketh, a row of suave Saabs and our old machines including Kem’s Nimbus.We wound our way out of the busy truck park and headed for peaceful lanes to Elton, on to Great Gidding and south on the sweeping curves of the

    B660 before turning northwest on the B662 through Clopton and Pilton, north to Stoke Doyle and on to Oundle.

    This was a route I knew well and soon passed puzzled riders in Southwick and the turn into Bulwick to have my old Norton lead the way to Eddie’s place for some welcome hot drinks and selection of soups.  It was a very enjoyable ride and dry but with a definite chill in the air.

     

       Wednesday 8th April: Midweek Run with Gary to the White Horse in Colsterworth.  Seventeen of us set off from the Stibbington Diner enjoying the gloriously sunny morning.  Somehow this did not suit Roly’s Yamaha got as far as Wansworth before sticking on its front brakes and refusing to budge.  Paul W and I stayed with him offering tools and advice, some of it sensible, but it was Roly himself that managed to bleed off excess pressure so we could get on our way.  That is, once we had all three bikes started and running at the same time, a feat in itself.

    By then we were half an hour or so behind and, as the only one with a route holder, I led our trio on Gary’s very pleasant route around Northants and Rutland.  With just three of us, we were able to make brisk progress on the more open road sections, that is to say: not the dire, gravel strewn, potholed, weed ridden excuse for a cart track between the A43 and Main Street, leading to Laxton.

     

     We didn’t catch up but weren’t so far behind as to miss lunch which was served soon after we had our much-anticipated pints in hand (think ‘Ice Cold in Alex’).  Having meals ordered ahead of time worked well although it is a real chore for the organisers.  I just hope this gets to be more of a routine for our runs.  Finding places that don’t want orders ahead of time, especially on a Sunday, is getting increasingly difficult.

    As it was, we had a very enjoyable lunch with plenty of banter and baloney exchanged amongst the group before setting off for our respective homes.

    Upcoming Events

    The SL&P web site lists this year’s events and their organisers.  For notifications of up-coming events, ask Gary to add you to his mailing list, the section Facebook page or WhatsApp group. (gary.sleeman1@gmail.com)

    ·         Sunday 26th April: April Showers Run with Martin Peacock.  10:30 am for an 11:00 am start at Waterside Garden Centre.  Lunch at the Buttery Café, Woodford.

    ·         Sunday 3rd May: Tansor Cake Run to meet the Norhants section with Gary.  Meet 10:30am at the Stibbington Diner.

    ·         Wednesday 6th May: Breakfast Meeting at Runways Café, 10:30 – 12:00 Fenland Airfield, Holbeach St John, with Phil Andrews.

    ·         Wednesday 13th May:  Midweek Run with Barry and Peter.  Meet at the Tesco car park, Cherry Holt Rd, Bourne 10:30 for an 11:00 start. Lunch at Thorney Golf Club.

    ·         Wednesday 20th May: Ride Your Bike Club Night 7:30 pm at the Lakeside Bar and Restaurant,  Tallington Lakes.

    ·         Sunday 31st May: Out West Run with Jonathan and Angie.  10:30 am for an 11am start at the Stibbington Diner, Stibbington.

    ·         Saturday 6th June: Rutland Rattle Tiddler run with Paul Frost.  Now fully booked.

    ·         Wednesday 10th June: Evening Fish and Chips Run 6:30 pm for a 6:45pm start, location to be provided.

    ·         Wednesday 17th June: Evening Bike Show 7:30 pm at the Lakeside Bar and Restaurant,  Tallington Lakes.

    Runs needing organisers

    ·         Midweek Runs:              8th July           12th August               14th October

    ·         Ride to Founder’s Day 19th July          High Summer Run   23rd Aug                      

    Breakfast Meetings:

    Sponsors and venues needed for breakfast meetings from June onwards.  Dates are on the South Lincs events list.

    FOUNDER’S DAY 19th July

    There is an option for camping on the Friday and Saturday nights before the show.  This to be booked through the Stanford Hall website https://stanfordhall.co.uk/visit-us/founders-day   Camping tickets include the cost of entry into the

    Martin

     

 

    NEWSLETTER – 18th March 2026

    V.M.C.C. SOUTH LINCS & PETERBOROUGH SECTION

    Good evening and welcome to our club night with guest speaker Mark Garside of Bonhams and the chance to learn more about buying and selling motorcycles.

    Recent Events       See reports on our web site.

          Wednesday 18th February: Quiz Night

    Gary’s questions were a mix of the simple if you remembered VMCC details from the journal, and arcane, if not obscure facts about motorcycles and their manufacturers.  Kay’s “easy” general knowledge questions were no less challenging and well selected from history, geography, catering, zoology and a touch of geometry.  The winners were Peter and Barry with Sarah and Paul, pictured here with the coveted Catnach trophy.  Terry and Martin trailed strategically by one point to leave the winners a year to compile the next quiz.

    Wednesday 4th March: Breakfast Meeting at the Mulberry Café, Elton.  This bought out about 22 people and a dozen bikes.  It was good to see Paula rising to the challenge of her Tiger Cub though finding it not quite so user friendly as her Harley.  We were given a separate area of the café but even that wasn’t enough to include Anglian Section members who arrived later on.  The service, food and coffee were very good as was the company and lively conversation.

    Note: Please bear in mind that our bookings are until 12-noon and our hosts need the tables for their busy lunch periods.

    Wednesday 11th March: Midweek Run with Gary and Kay  This attracted a dozen riders on a sunny but cool and windy day.  Mick from the Kings Lynn section joined us on his smart BSA A10 bitsa and was good company as ever.  We also welcomed Tom Ede back on his Ariel after a long absence.

    The route, thanks to road closures, was mostly new and took us through familiar places on unfamiliar roads.  Initially heading out to Carlby via Tallington and Greatford, to Clipsham on the badly potholed Holywell Road.  Crossing under the A1, we turned north to South Witham and on to North Witham where we turned west to Sewstern and Wymondham.

    Taking the road south and passing through Edmonthorpe and Teigh to Ashford where we failed to take the right turn to Whissendine.  By the time we had turned and returned, the late departing route setters Gary and Kay had caught up and led the way in.

    The welcome at Ferneley’s Dairy Barn was as warm as ever with a table ready and menus on hand.  With our orders placed, we sat and talked with our usual free flow of topics although fuel prices might just have come up this time.  Once lunch was over, including sampling their excellent ice cream, we hauled on our winter gear, fired up our bikes and headed for our respective homes.

    Upcoming Events

    The SL&P web site lists this year’s events and their organisers.  For notifications of up-coming events, ask Gary to add you to his mailing list, the section Facebook page or WhatsApp group. (gary.sleeman1@gmail.com)

    ·         Wednesday 25th March: 80th Anniversary baton handover run.  Meet at the Precincts bike park, Market Deeping 10:30 for an 11 am start to meet the Kings Lynn section.

    ·         Sunday 29th March: Daffodil Run and lunch with Eddie and Cathy.  Meet at the Stibbington Diner 10:30 for an 11 am start.

    ·         Weds 1st April: Breakfast Meeting: Thorney Golf Club 10:30-12:00 with Barry Cox.

    ·         Wednesday 8th April: Midweek Run from Stibbington Diner with Gary.  10:30 am for an 11 am start.

    ·         Wednesday 15th April: Club Night and Bring and Buy.  Lakeside Bar and Restaurant, Tallington Lakes 7:30 pm.

    ·         Sunday 26th April: April Showers Run with Martin Peacock.  10:30 am for an 11:am start at Waterside Garden Centre.  Lunch at the Buttery Café, Woodford.

    ·         Wednesday 6th May: Breakfast Meeting at Runways Café, 10:30 – 12:00 Fenland Airfield, Holbeach St John, with Phil Andrews.

    Runs needing organisers

    ·         Midweek Runs:              8th July           12th August               14th October

    ·         Ride to Founder’s Day 19th July          High Summer Run   23rd Aug                      

    Breakfast Meetings:

    Sponsors and venues needed for breakfast meetings from June onwards.  Dates are on the South Lincs events list.

    Martin