Crank Handle Run, 2023

Posted by Chris Graham on 5th May 2023

Chris Graham reports on the Crank Handle Run, which saw participants enjoying some of the best rural countryside that Surrey has to offer.

This 1952 Ferguson TE-F 20 is owned by SEVAC vice-chairman Anthony Bradford but, because he was busy organising the event, it was driven on the day by Jamie Stevens.

On April 16th – a cloudy but thankfully dry and wind-free Sunday – members of the South Eastern Vintage Agricultural Club (SEVAC) and other enthusiasts gathered at the Edenbridge & Oxted Showground near Lingfield, in Surrey, in preparation for this year’s Crank Handle Run.

Steve Fuller is the owner and driver of this very smart Ferguson TE-20 P3. The tractor has been fully restored and is a regular at SEVAC events.

The 15-mile route was a mixture of on- and off-road sections and there was a break point organised on a farm that was about half way around.

Photographed at the Edenbridge & Oxted Showground before the run’s 10.30am start, here’s Luke Homer’s 1963 Massey Ferguson 35 basking in the morning sunshine. This tractor has been mechanically restored, but retains its fetching set of working clothes.

While there weren’t as many tractors involved this time as in previous years, organiser and SEVAC vice-chairman Anthony Bradford was very pleased with how things went overall. He was also keen to extend his thanks to landowners John and Louise Young and the Bigwood family, who kindly gave the tractors access to their property. Without their support the run simply wouldn’t have happened.

Jamie Stevens makes his way to the start aboard Anthony Bradford’s TE-F 20.

Here’s a selection of photographs taken both at the start, and on the road in Crowhurst village, spotlighting the Ferguson and Massey Ferguson enthusiasts involved.

A Massey Ferguson 40 Industrial, owned and driven by SEVAC committee member, Lyncoln Cranfield. Lyncoln is the organiser of the SEVAC road run that takes place during the summer, around the family farm in Chailey, East Sussex.

Luke Homer and his Massey Ferguson 35 on the road, with Steve Fuller in ‘hot’ pursuit.

This Ferguson TE-F 20 Lenfield Narrow is a Kent tractor that’s been beautifully restored by Anthony Bradford. On this occasion it’s being driven by ex-Edenbridge & Oxted Show chair, Louise Young, who is a great supporter of the event and allows run participants to drive over her land at Park Farm.

Here’s another Lenfield Engineering-supplied tractor, this time a very smart, 1971 Massey Ferguson 135. It was restored by its owner, Chris Brooks, who is driving it here. He’s a SEVAC committee member and helps with – and participates in – many local events.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Classic Massey & Ferguson Enthusiast, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE