Behind the Scenes Tour - Rudge V-Twin Motorcycle

  • 21st May 2026
  • 10am - 1pm
  • £80 per person
  • Museum admission included
  • Meet at Museum Entrance

BOOK

NEW for 2026! Enjoy an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Rudge V-Twin motorcycle, the ultimate record-breaking Brooklands speed machine.   

Start your experience in The Members' Bar in the original Clubhouse with tea and coffee as you enjoy an in depth presentation about the history of Brooklands Museum and the Rudge by one of our experienced guides.

You will then go for a 45 minute up close technical tour of the Rudge, followed by an exclusive behind the scenes visit to our archive building with our Collections Manager.

About the Rudge V-Twin Motorcycle

  1. The record-breaking 1922 Rudge at Brooklands

    The 1922 Rudge on display here at Brooklands Museum is more than a motorcycle; it’s a landmark of motorsport innovation and endurance.

    This is the very machine that set the final motorcycle speed record of the 1922 season, a defining achievement in the golden age of British racing. Built to order in January 1922, the powerful V‑twin Rudge became the chosen mount for two remarkable riders, Bob Dicker and Bert Mathers, whose determination and skill would etch their names deep into Brooklands history. 

The Riders Behind the Records

Bob Dicker was already a familiar figure at Brooklands long before he climbed onto the record‑breaking Rudge. As the lead mechanic on the assembly of the Vickers Vimy, the aircraft that completed the first non‑stop transatlantic flight in 1919, Dicker embodied the innovative spirit that defined Brooklands. His partner, Bert Mathers, shared that same courage and mechanical instinct ideal attributes for the punishing long‑distance attempts that lay ahead. 

Riding in 1½‑hour relays, the pair maintained impressively consistent lap speeds for more than eight hours. Their efforts resulted in seven broken records in a single day, including world‑record speeds over 500 miles (74.96 mph) and 600 miles (71.27 mph). They also achieved a standout accomplishment: a six‑hour record averaging 75.02 mph, a feat that showcased both the riders’ endurance and the machine’s extraordinary reliability

Rudge motorcycles were no strangers to the iconic banking and long straights of Brooklands. From as early as 1914, the company was producing purpose‑built high‑speed machines such as the Rudge Brooklands Motor Bicycle, marketed explicitly as a “Brooklands Racer.” These early models established Rudge as a serious contender in the racing world and laid out the groundwork for the record‑breaking engineering that would follow in the 1920s.

Sign up for our latest news

Sign up now