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2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Hercules Cycle & Motor Company in
Rocky Lane, Aston. The company was formed by the Crane Brothers, Harry and
Edmund, in 1910 and by the 30s was considered to be the largest cycle company
in Great Britain.
After
meeting at Hercules the procession of classic vehicles (separate groups)
ranging from Bicycles, Motorcycles, and Cars will proceed to the
Trimpley Vintage Rally at Trimpley near Kidderminster.(25 miles)
This extremely successful annual event organised by the The BVMC has
over 450 classic vehicles entered on August 1st at Bite Farm--ALL
PROCEEDS TO THE AIR AMBULANCE
The
following is taken from an e mail from JP (unfortunately I don't know
who JP is but he seems to be a pretty busy guy with a heart in the right
place).
If
you want a Testers Run in 2011 you need to support this one, don't leave
it to others!
This has to be the easiest, simplest, interesting Testers Run yet
1. 3 events in one
2. Short distance ride (25 miles) Aston - Trimpley
near Kidderminster
3. One of the best classic vehicle rallies in the
Midlands at destination (over 450 vehicles
entered)
4. Free entry to show for Testers Run, everyone else
pays
5. Our own dedicated parking area
6. Former Olympic champion Tommy Godwin starts event
off
7. Professional video coverage of Testers Run at start
and en route
8. No prior registration
9. Grouped starts
10. All proceeds to THE MIDLAND AIR AMBULANCE
11. Come in or on any vehicle, or even bowling a hoop!
Event details at
https://sites.google.com/site/herculesonehundred/
The Trimpley Vintage Rally
https://sites.google.com/site/herculesonehundred/to-dos
You
all hold the answer, its all down to you this year - I have struggled
over the last 12 years with appeals, events and websites, mostly by
myself with little support. It will be me that arranges the event at
Armoury Road on November 28th to remember the 70th anniversary of the
BSA bombing and writes to local councillors, yet again, to see if an on
site memorial can be erected, not only to remember the 53 that died but
the to remember the great company that was BSA, a company that provided
over half of the armament used in the second world war. It will be me
that organises the next years Mike Hailwood Memorial Run, the 30th,
since the tragic death of Mike & his daughter.
Its
me that's organising letters to local councilors and the Department of
Media and Culture & The Civic Society to try and prevent the Norton
factory in Bracebridge Street being demolished (and I am loosing the
battle as yet and again no one in Birmingham is really interested, they
are only interested in saving coffin factories!)- the factory has been
empty now for over 6 months (this is the first time this information has
been released by the way). And this is before I even mention the
10,000 items in the Made in Birmingham website that all need changing
(new website should be up and running in September 2010).
Now
I know most of you are in tears by this stage feeling sorry for me but
in reality you all know what I want, I don’t want your thanks or
appreciation. I don’t need my ego massaged, I don't even need your
money!
ALL
I NEED IS YOUR SUPPORT!
You
all know you have never even had to pre register, so I cannot make it
any easier for you.
All
of these events, the appeals and the website are so that people are
encouraged to remember that Birmingham was built on industry and mainly
the automotive industry. If our generation doesn’t care the next
won’t, so lets have some support please!
All
you have to do is publicise the event, bring a friend, encourage some of
the other members of your club to take part or just come along and
support the event yourself even in you car if you do not want to get
your bike out of the garage! This year anyone can come in any vehicle or
even bowling a hoop! Ron Swinburne is coming in his Army Austin K9
truck!
Last
years Testers Run was a bit of a disaster, OK fair enough, it rained
heavily but without the local Vincent Owners Club and David and Mark I
would have been pretty lonely! (Thanks also to the guy who turned up in
the car just to say as it was raining and he couldn’t come)
So
please, this year make the effort to support the event because this
years is the most important Testers Run we have had so far as it is one
of THREE events, and other people are relying on us
The events are THE HERCULES 100, THE BIRMINGHAM TESTERS RUN & THE
TRIMPLEY VINTAGE RALLY (over 450 classic vehicles entered), where we
have been so warmly welcomed and I do not want to let the organiser
down.
2010
is the 100 year anniversary of the Hercules Cycle & Motor Company
formed by the Crane brothers in the back streets of Balsall Heath. From
assembling bicycles on the pavement, the company rose to become the
largest cycle manufacturer in the world by the 30s, lead by one of
Birmingham’s most successful and forgotten industrialists, Sir Edmund
Crane.
From
their formation to the first world war they certainly sold motorcycles
and sidecars, we can not be sure they manufactured them and the
motorcycles in their catalogues look very much like early Sun models. In
the 50s the company also produced lightweight motorcycles. Obviously It
could be said that this factory is not a true motorcycle factory but it
is good to remember that many Birmingham motorcycle factories started
off by producing bicycles.
90
year old ex Olympic cycling champion Tommy Godwin, who was an
electrician at the BSA, and ran a cycle shop in Birmingham for over 30
years will be seeing the event off. The procession to Trimpley will be
in three groups, classics, moderns and Ron Swinboune (sorry Ron but even
the cyclists are faster than you!)
This
year for the first time we have a professional video team at the start
who will be videoing everyone and their progress to Trimpley, copies
will be available for purchase.
I
will be on Carl Chinn’s on Radio WM this Sunday to publicise the
event.
I have to put the same effort in every year if 1 person or a 1000 turn
up, so its down to you now, if there is a poor turnout this year it will
be the last one!
I
looked forward to seeing a lot of you on the 1st!
THE
BIRMINGHAM TESTERS RUN is sponsored by Carole Nash Insurance
All
proceeds this year are for THE MIDLAND AIR AMBULANCE.
This years run is only 25 miles to THE TRIMPLEY VINTAGE RALLY at
Trimpley near Kidderminster where we have been allocated our own
exclusive enclosure. Free admission for our group.
Getting to Hercules - click
here for map
I
thank you
JP
THE BIRMINGHAM TESTERS RUN
SUNDAY AUGUST 1st FROM THE FORMER HERCULES CYCLE FACTORY
ROCKY LANE
ASTON, BIRMINGHAM
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