The Vintage Motor Cycle Club was formed in England 60 years ago by a group of enthusiasts led by Titch Allen, who is still very much alive at 92. Titch writes a regular column in their monthly journal. The VMCC's mission statement read; "The Vintage Motorcycle Club, with more than 15,000 members united by the common appreciation of the engineering skill and vision of those who built the pioneer machines, has ensured that such machines are not preserved as lifeless exhibits in museums, but are brought to life on frequent occasions so that a new generation can marvel at the handiwork of the pioneers, and an older generation can once again view with nostalgia the machines they rode in days gone by."

The VMCC is very similar to the AMCA in many ways, but our founders were hobbyists who restored their bikes mainly as a pastime, whereas Titch and his friends, living in war-torn England used them as their only form of transport. This made the VMCC evolve as somewhat more of a riding club than the AMCA. A look at their latest journal, which I have in hand, shows no less than 177 events at various sections (like our chapters) in September alone. Because the country is about the same size as the average American State, it's possible to ride to a VMCC event every day. Weekday events tend to be section meetings, usually held at pubs, but many members ride to them in all weather, and every weekend there are "rallies" resembling our road runs in various parts of the country.

Road racing is near and dear to the hearts of British riders, much like flat track and hill climbing is to American riders, so Mallory Park race track in the Midlands was rented by the VMCC for the weekend of July 8 and 9, 2006. The main attraction was the track sessions, where members could sign up to thrash their bikes around the closed circuit track at speed. In addition there were trade stands, a Wall of Death, (with 101 Scouts), an auto jumble (swap meet), demonstrations of grass track racing, trials riding, sprinting, (drag racing), and a huge display of VMCC members' motorcycles. Although called the festival of 1000 bikes, many more showed up.

The AMCA were invited to participate in the "Avenue of Clubs" where other motorcycle collector clubs had free space to promote themselves and show their members' machines. The AMCA booth was ably manned by our European Chapter President, Steve Slocombe, assisted by Peter Reeves, Geoff Skilton, and various other notables. Our English contingent were demonstrating the art of AMCA judging to the VMCC members. There was much interest, and new members were seen signing up. Interestingly, the VMCC have no form of judging such as ours.

Tickets were sold ahead of time for the event and the track sessions were sold out weeks in advance. I arrived early in the morning without a ticket, fearing I may not get in. I explained who I was, and on seeing my card, I was waved through with "We are expecting you, Mr. Gagan, carry on through and park down near the VMCC tent, or wherever you wish." Talk about the VIP treatment! I soon met the VMCC's Chief Executive Officer, James Hewing, who said I was welcome to go out in any of the track sessions. I could see this would be fun.

On finding Steve and the European Chapter members, I learned Steve had brought a VL (what else?) for me to ride. Not just any VL, but his big inch, special racer, on which he set a speed record, and uses in drag races on a regular basis. Stripped of all road gear, and with racing tires, it is stroked, and bored to the max. Because it was a race bike with number plates, I was to go out with these serious road racing machines.

Steve's racing leathers were a tight fit on my svelte little body. I squeezed in though. The boots were no problem as they were about 2 sizes too big. It was just as well I was riding the Harley, as a foot shift would be a bit tricky with the boots. Unfortunately, Steve's full face racing helmet was too small, but I was able to perch a Harley-type cap helmet atop my oversized cranium. I was certain I wouldn't get through inspection with this outfit, but at least I could ride the bike down to the pits. Steve explained that, with top speed and drag racing in mind, he had set the oil pump as high as it would go, so I might foul a plug if I didn't keep cracking the throttle to clear things out. "It rattles a bit, but don't worry, it's well sorted out," he assured me.



Down in the pits, the scrutineer was checking a Velocette KTT rider's full face helmet Snell ratings, leathers, bike safety wiring, etc., and when he was finished, he glanced at me, and just waved me on. Obviously, the VIP treatment was working again, but was this a good idea?

I soon found myself down on the grid, revving the hell out of the Harley and making a fearful racket from those short, straight stacks. I had lots of noisy company, though, and was it exotic! Scattered amongst the KTT's, Manx Nortons, G-50s, etc., I noticed Sammy Miller on his AJS Porcupine, Ivan Rhode's Velocette Roarer, and the Brough Superior "works scrapper." Gee whiz!

Meanwhile, back to the Harley. Let's face it, folks, they do vibrate a bit when they are being revved like that. The shifter knob spun off and rolled under an AJS 7R, much to the amusement of its rider. Steve deftly hurdled the fence and rescued it for me and I screwed it back on. Side stands are a definite no-no on road race bikes, and the Harley jiffy stand was making itself much too obvious by wanting to drag on the ground. A kind pit worker came and tied it up for me with safety wire. I figured I had it made, but then I noticed a pool of oil developing underneath it as a result of the high pump adjustment. So I attempted to roll back and forth a bit so as to not be too obvious. Perhaps the oil would be blamed on someone else. There were amused looks, smiles and thumbs up from the other riders, looking at the unusual road race bike and its rider with a helmet looking like a walnut shell on his noggin. Added to this was that with the blue smoke, I was creating clouds, enveloping myself and the other riders. We were on the line a long time- the Harley needed some track time to clear the oil.

Finally, the flag dropped and we were off. Fortunately, I didn't get the hole shot. I made a careful first lap, as unlike the other riders, I had never been around this circuit before. Mallory is a great track, and at the speeds I was traveling, I only needed to use the brakes in anger while approaching the hairpin, which I did with care, because the brakes weren't the Harley's best feature. It certainly had surprising power for a side valve, though, and put me in mind of an XR-750 I had years ago. It steered very well on the high-speed corners and I actually managed to get past a couple of guys. In all fairness, though, I did have over double the displacement of any other machine on the track.

I settled down and started to enjoy myself, plotting my way through the corners as quickly as possible, scraping the footboards on both sides, and sliding off to the side a bit like a modern road racer to keep the bike a bit more upright, as clearance was limited. Stylish I was not, but it was fun. Not too many laps after I started I was lapped by the faster machines who screamed by me on both sides like a swarm of angry hornets. This is what our English friends refer to as "parade laps."

After enough hot laps to tire me out and use up all the adrenaline, I rode the Harley back into the pits where the plugs finally fouled up, and all dissolved in a pool of oil. What a great ride!

Congratulations to the VMCC on their 60th; thanks for the good time and thanks, Steve, for the ride on the world's fastest VL!