A band of motorcycle aficionados recently followed the course of what is thought to be the inaugural motorcycle road race worldwide, which transpired in Northern Ireland in 1904. The path, which spanned from Belfast to Derry and back, was an early sign of Northern Ireland’s long-standing fascination with motorcycles and marked the beginning of a tradition of road racing that has since been made popular by others in Northern Ireland and events like the Isle of Man TT, including the North West 200.
Today’s motorcycle road racing observes competitors and their vehicles reaching speeds of more than 200mph (or 320+km/h), sometimes leading to tragic incidents. Nonetheless, such high speeds were not witnessed when approximately 30 enthusiasts, a number of them on motorcycles nearly as old as the race itself, journeyed the original track over a weekend.
The expedition consisted of David Crawford, who was on a 1928 Moto Guzzi, and his brother Eamon, who rode a 1930 model of the same bike. Despite both bikes being in pristine condition, it’s worth noting that neither rider is a novice.
The inaugural race in 1904, known as a “reliability test”, in an attempt to mislead the authorities at the time about the true nature of the event, occurred on July 19th. It originated from Donegall Street in Belfast, moving north via what is currently known as the Coastal Causeway Route towards Carrickfergus, Cushendall, before heading to Portrush, Coleraine, and Derry. From here, the route reversed through Maghera and Toombridge, finalising at the Crown and Shamrock Inn in Glengormley.
Fifteen riders participated in the 200-mile contest, achieving speeds up to 40mph would have been considered remarkable. The earliest to finish was a Belfast man named John Paul (JP) Burney, who was riding a Royal Enfield, which resembled more of a bicycle featuring an engine situated beneath the crossbar than a contemporary motorcycle.
Joan Crawford, wife of David, significantly orchestrated the 120th anniversary commemorative motorcycle ride-out. Exhibiting an energy defying her 81 years, she managed to gather and lead the anniversary motorcyclists with the same precision expected of a military chief. The bike ride kicked off from Donegall Street in Belfast, the starting point for the original race, on a Saturday morning. Councillor Sammy Douglas, the city’s high sheriff, graced the occasion with a few motivational words.
They journeyed out of Belfast in a group, riding along the Shore Road, which was adorned with Orange Order flags from the 12th of July festivities. The procession, comprised of a mix of modern and vintage bikes, caught most people’s attention due to the old timers. Some of the esteemed wheels included a few Royal Enfields, one being a 1904 model transported in a van, a James, a Triumph Coventry, a Vincent, a BSA and a 1935 Excelsior Manxman.
Trevor Marsden, riding the Excelsior, grabbed attention due to the bicycle’s thunderous Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang-like backfire, complete with a spit of fire, each time he deaccelerated nearing a junction. “The overrun induces the backfire. The gearbox is freshly rebuilt and I’m testing it,” Trevor clarified.
During the course of the ride, Eamon Crawford’s 500cc Moto Guzzi stalled at an intersection. “I muffed it,” he admitted before kick-starting it back into motion.
The cavalcade advanced across the Sperrins, arriving in Derry under the watchful escort of two PSNI motorcycle police units. The vintage motorcycles were lined up at the Guildhall and garnered much admiration, particularly from Councillor Alex Duffy, head of the business and culture committee.
Among the participants was JP Burney’s great-granddaughter, Julie Horne, riding a brand-new Royal Enfield adventure bike, a Himalayan. “Thinking about my great-grandfather’s 1904 excursion, I can’t fathom the conditions he travelled in,” she reflected. “My ride today is over a tarmac road, but back in his time, it must have been filled with gravel and mud, and he managed to cover all 200 miles in a single day.”
The remarkable retread culminated on Sunday in Glengormley.
JP Burney, after triumphing in his initial motorcycle road race, relocated to Dublin in a few years’ time. He established a dealership for Royal Enfield on the now-renamed Pearse Street, formerly Great Brunswick Street. In 1946, the enterprise evolved into the Burney and Stanley Woods motor dealership. JP passed away in 1949, and his final resting place is Deansgrange Cemetery. In the forthcoming week, a visit to his grave is on the agenda for Julie Horne.