With the start and finish at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, where Graham Walker, late father of tv commentator Murray, was curator, the veterans ventured out on a 22.6 mile amble around the New Forest while the vintage machines covered a 46.9 mile route.

Riding these old machines is not without hazard. Andy Brown from the Isle of Wight picked up two punctures on his 1902 Clement-Garrard on the way to the event but still competed and completed and won the Walker Tankard for most interesting machine.

Legendary trials rider and motorcycle museum founder Sammy Miller was out on a very neat “air cooled” Austin 7 engined 1939 RCS special while his right hand man at the museum, Bob Stanley took a rare 1929 Wooller for a spin. Other delights included several early Morgans, a recently restored 1929 four cylinder AJS and a 1913 Wall Autowheel which is a tiny single cylinder engine driving a mono wheel which was then bolted to a bicycle to provide powered motion.

Murray Walker and Lord Montagu attended the prize giving which capped off a lovely day. Organiser and Clerk of the Course, Ian McGill said “It’s all gone very well. We had a good entry, the rain has held off and we’ve not even had any serious break downs to gather up.”