History

History of VMCC

On 28th April 1946, a band of 38 enthusiasts assembled at the Lounge Cafe, Hog's Back, Guildford, Surrey, with the object of forming a Motor Cycle Club for owners of machines manufactured prior to 31st December 1930.

The majority of those who attended that meeting over 75 years ago had ridden there on Vintage machines and, despite very bad weather conditions, came from as far afield as Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire and Leicestershire. The Press also attended and excellent photographs were obtained of the event. The Police and the AA also assisted in regulating the traffic and the parking of machines.

Founder of VMCC Charles Edmund “Titch” Allen OBE, BEM 1915-2010

THE FOUNDER: Charles Edmund “Titch” Allen OBE, BEM 1915-2010

After lunch, 'Titch' Allen, who had been the promoter of this meeting, took the chair and outlined his ideas. His main objective was to promote the use and preservation of 'Vintage' machines and from his vision, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club was formed.

Initially, membership was restricted to owners of motorcycles manufactured prior to 31st December 1930, solos or sidecars, but not three-wheelers, and the idea that someone without a motorcycle should be able to join provided that they acquired a suitable motorcycle within six months was firmly rejected. It was hoped that the Club's activities would include Rallies, Hill Climbs, Trials, a Workshop and Museum, a Library, a Sales and Wants system for spares and motorcycles, Insurance for difficult cases, a free of charge Bulletin and an Annual Dinner. As the years have passed by, many of the activities envisaged on that day have materialised and are now accepted as the 'norm' by VMCC members. Without the vision of those Founder Members of the Club, motorcycling history would not have been preserved. Membership today stands at over 12,000 - but this has been achieved without losing any of the camaraderie or helpfulness usually associated with smaller clubs.

Today the club is open to members with or without machines, it encompasses any motorcycle over 25 years old on an annual rolling basis and includes three-wheelers. This ensures that each year new and exciting machines become eligible for events and rides, although some, such as the famous Banbury Run, are still limited to specific ages and classes of machine at the discretion of the organiser.

THE FOUNDER Charles Edmund “Titch” Allen OBE, BEM 1915-2010

For more information on many of the unique benefits that can be gained from becoming a member of the VMCC visit the dedicated Join Us page.

VMCC Roll of Honour

Year Name
1946-1950 Captain J. J. Hall
1950-1953 R. N. Judd
1953-1957 Brig. C. V. Bennett OBE
1957-1959 C. E. Allen BEM
1959-1961 E. E. Thompson
1961-1964 P. A. Moffat
1964-1965 J. Stuart-White
1965-1967 H. G. Tyrell-Smith
1967-1969 W. D. Bell
1969-1971 A. J. Mortimer
1971-1973 J. P. Griffith
1973-1975 W. Green
1975-1977 W. J. Rotherham
1977-1979 T. F. Wootton
1979-1981 I. Rhodes
1982-1984 W. J. Flew
1984-1986 W. E. Hume
1986-1988 I. Young
1988-1989 K. Hallworth
1989-1990 P. Beaney
1990-1991 F. P. Heath
1991-1992 G. H. Hallard
1992-1993 M. J. West
1993-1994 D. R. Mitchell
1994-1995 Mrs C. M. Nash
1995-1996 J. V. Moore
1996-1997 L. G. Ore
1997-1998 Dr. R. N. Hill
1998-1999 S. J. Jenkin
2000-2001 G. Davies
2001-2002 Mrs R. A. Davy
2002-2003 F. Dolman
2003-2004 R. G. Blackwell
2004-2005 G. Brazendale
2005-2006 P. C. Vines
2006-2007 D. M. Davies
2007-2008 H. A. Wiles
2008-2009 Mrs B. Barber
2009-2010 C. S. Seaton
2010-2011 W. C. S. Phelps
2011-2012 C. Bell
2012-2014 V. R. Blake
2014-2016 T. J. W. Penn
2016-2018 R. Hann
2018-2020 A. Alexander
2020-2022 M. Wills
2022-2024 John Holt
2024- Neil Lewis
Year Name
1946

C. E. Allen BEM
H. C. M. Beaumont
Brig. C. V. Bennett OBE
W. Boddy
A. B. Bourne
H. E. Cohen
A. M. MacLachlan
F. A. McNab
G. W. Walker

1947 C. S. Burney
G. Bradshaw
1948 C. J. H. Day
A. R. Lowry
T. A. Roberts
1950 R. A. Beecroft
L. P. Peters
F. W. Prescott
M. F. Walker
1952 C. A. Lewis
I. V. Mutton
1954 M. McEvoy
1960 H. R. Fowler
H. Karslake
H. G. Tyrell-Smith
1963 G. S. Davison
J. R. Stuart-White
1967 J. R. Boulton
P. M. Chilvers
Mrs A. Moffet
W. H. Wilshere
J. W. Robbs
1968 E. A. Hewett
1969 J. P. Griffith
1974 W. E. Hume
1976 D. MacDiarmid
A. J. Harper
1977 G. A. T. Brett
1978 L. H. Wills
1979 F. E. D. Burke
A. S. Doughty
S. L. Halsall
1983 W. L. Henshaw
1984 R. T. Dent
1985 R. F. Currie
F. P. Heath
R. H. Platt
J. R. Walton
1986 D. Earnshaw
K. Hallworth
1987 P. J. Morrissey
L. G. Ore
1988 Mrs A. Heath
1989 L. Cole
R. H. Derrick
D. W. James
1990 E. L. Collin
1992 S. J. Jenkin
S. Woods
1993 J. W. Lincoln
1994 M. R. Jaggard
J. Mitchell
1995 D. M. McMahon
1996 C. Hunter
J. Sizer
1999 R. N. Weekes
J. Davies
2019 C. Bell
2000 H. V. Sucher
2001 T. Richardson
2005 B. L. Cosgrove
2010 P. F. Davy
2012 A. Donnithorne
2014 Mrs B. Barber
2017 R. Wright
2022 Mrs A. Durrant
R. Clark
G. Sleeman
Mrs K. Sleeman
Dr K. German
J. Makison
R. Minto
K. Gibbons
C. Bennett
P. Robotham

In Grateful acknowledgement of the VMCC members whose bequests have helped promote the aims and ideals of our club

Year Name
1999-2000 Mr Bill Sheppard Bristol
2002 Mr Norman Reed Manchester
2003-2005 Mr Richard W.Twist Solihull
2010 Mr S. Poole-Hallworth Stockport
2011 Mr David Blanchard Bexhill on Sea
2011 Mr Edgar Mears Wolverhampton
2011 Mr George Moore Guildford
2011 Mr Harold Freeman Jersey
2017 Mrs Joyce Cobbing Newent
2018 Mr Haydn Layton Cumbria
Steve Allen Ben Allen
Archie Beggs Mrs M. D. Rotherham
T. F. Wootton M. Worthington Williams
Ian Young J. MacCauley
Colin Bell Tony Cowley
A. Collett G. Davies
A. Johnson Bette Barber
Dr Reg Eyre

Bonhams


Contact Us

Opening Hours:

VMCC Allen House

The Vintage Motor Cycle Club

Allen House
Wetmore Road
Burton Upon Trent
Staffordshire DE14 1TR, UK


Phone: +44 (0)1283 495100

Membership +44 (0) 1283 495100

Shop Phone: +44 (0)1283 495101

Library Phone: +44 (0)1283 495111

VMCC Motorcycle Insurance: +44(0)121 274 5355

Email: general@vmcc.net

Monday - 9:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday - 9:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday - 11:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday - 9:00am - 5:00pm

Friday - 9:00am - 3:00pm

Saturday & Sunday - CLOSED
Membership: membership@vmcc.net

Library: Maddie Matei library@vmcc.net

DVLA: Peter Bennett dvlaliaison@vmcc.net

Editor/Small Ads/Advertising: Peter Henshaw editor@vmcc.net

Accounts/Direct Debits: Beverley Rushworth accounts@vmcc.net

Retail/Transfers: Terry Wood shop@vmcc.net

Marketing: marketing@vmcc.net