VJ DAY COMMEMORATIONS
VJ DAY RUN
(AKA MAYDAY RUN • NEW DATE) Just before we sent this magazine to print, the Coronavirus was wreaking havoc with events including the traditional Mayday Run; a route from Locksbottom near Bromley in Kent to Hastings on the South Coast. For 2020, it was to mark VE Day but, being postponed, it now commemorates the 75th anniversary of VJ Day on Saturday 15th August.
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n 1979, a young Naval engineer, named Tim Gooderson, founded the Mayday Run on what was then the first official May Day Bank Holiday Monday. He and a group of his mates rode their motorbikes from Locksbottom in Kent to Hastings on the south coast; a distance of about 60 miles. Over the years, this spontaneous ride-out grew to become one of the biggest free-to-attend motorcycle events in Europe. In 2018, on its 40th anniversary, Police estimated that 46,000 bikers invaded Hastings, making the event bigger in one day than the Isle of Man TT Races are in a fortnight. On 8th May 1945, Germany finally surrendered to the Allies after six long years of hard gruelling war. While the war in the far east was still ongoing, Europe had a big reason to celebrate. While the war had brought about millions of military and civilian deaths and casualties, the end of the war in Europe (VE Day) signified a new era of peace and Britain partied like it had never partied before. Friday 8th May 2020 was declared a Bank Holiday to allow for celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, that was before we saw the Coronavirus take hold. Tens of thousands of bikers were planning to ride the traditional Mayday Run (VE Day Run) from Locksbottom to Hastings on this new Bank Holiday to celebrate the end of WWII in Europe.
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VJ DAY — SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 2020 As VE Day Run was postponed, it will now commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day — Victory over Japan Day which marked the end of WWII — on Saturday 15th August. The VJ Day Run is not an organised ride out. There is no start time, or prescribed route. Bikers just meet in Locksbottom from around 7am and head off to Hastings via any route they like, when they feel like it. This is a spontaneous mass movement of people who share a love of motorcycles and for 2020 they will also be sharing a desire to celebrate the end of WWII tyranny. Hastings is about two hours from Locksbottom and the roads are rammed with bikes. Families often sit by the roadside and wave the bikers on. When the bikers arrive in Hastings they will find a very warm welcome. Parking is organised in the sea front car park and all along the promenade. Over 60 bike traders and exhibitors of all types will have set up stalls. A giant video screen in the town centre will be projecting the national celebrations from London and around the country. Every biker will want to be a part of the biggest free-to-attend biker event in the UK to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day. For more information visit www.bike1066.com, or follow us: www.facebook.com/bike1066.
April-June 2020 • South East Biker Magazine
