group of bikers The Ace Cafe Reunion Run, or the Brighton Burn-Up as its known, in September is one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest, motoring events to fill the tarmac along Madeira Drive - although its immediate competitor, the Brightona, grows ever larger as well. Some claims put the total number of participants as high as 40,000. But whatever, the city is certainly heaving with motorcycles of all shapes and sizes on the day.

Ace Cafe is the famous bikers' cafe on London's North Circular Road. Built as a cafe for road hauliers in the 1930s it became the favourite haunt of Britain's motorcyclists, part of teenage culture and post-war rock 'n' roll. It closed in 1969: end of an era.

But in 1993 Mark Wilsmore had the idea for the Ace Cafe Reunion, an annual event at the old Ace Cafe site. And so it's gone from there and in 1997 the old cafe itself was reborn.

The Ace Cafe Reunion is for both Mods and Rockers - young and old - bikes and scooters - young and old.

Bikers come from all over the country; in fact, all over Europe - and maybe even further afield.

This is a a sight worth seeing! Bikes start to arrive mid-morning and fill up the Drive: the noise, the smell of petrol fumes, the wave and wave of arriving bikers all generate an atmosphere of excitement. A great coming together.

By the time the Drive has filled up, a vast range of motobikes is on display. If you look long enough, I reckon you'll find what you're looking for. Bikes and bikers of all ages; bikes, trikes, sidecars; every manufacturer's name in the history of the motorcycle in represented. An exaggeration perhaps, but you'll certainly find Vincent, Norton, Kawasaki, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Victory, BSA, BMW, Triumph, Suzuki, National Chopper Club, and many customised machines, especially trikes.

There's also a stage, DJ, rock'n' roll, bands, etc.