JC Payne builds The Run Machine

JC Payne worked with leading fleet service group VMS Fleet Management on the project for Middlesex County Cricket Club.

The vehicle,based on a Peugeot Boxer van, has been built from the chassis up by the specialist vehicle convertor in Westgate to meet Middlesex Cricket’s exacting specifications.

Dubbed the Run Machine, the vehicle has been created to aid in the club's campaign to drive community awareness and engagement.

The Run Machine has been designed so it can transport Middlesex Cricket’s equipment to provide cricket on the go to clubs, schools, activation centres or high streets, anywhere around the county, with the aim of significantly boosting cricket participation numbers within Middlesex.

JC Payne and VMS have designed and adapted the vehicle so that all cricket equipment, a bespoke pop-up inflatable cricket net, two BOLA junior bowling machines, plus two LED flat-screen TVs to play engaging Middlesex Cricket promotional video content would be housed within the vehicle itself. Fully liveried up with Middlesex branding, the Run Machine will be touring Middlesex and surrounding areas later this year.

The Run Machine was unveiled on August 16 at the Vitality Blast Match at Lord’s where Middlesex took on rivals Essex.

Martin James, managing director of VMS Fleet Management, said: “We are proud to have been able to provide this very special vehicle for Middlesex Cricket to help them to raise awareness of the sport in local communities.

“Upon speaking with the team at Middlesex about their ideas for creating a piece of engaging, movable promotional activity, we knew we could help.

“Our infrastructure combined with the ability of JC Payne to design, build and fit vehicles to exacting specifications for our clients meant that together we were able to produce and provide this one of a kind vehicle to Middlesex.

“VMS Fleet Management hopes that the Run Machine will help take the sport to the people, and potentially help to inspire and generate future sportsmen and women.”

Middlesex Cricket’s commercial director, Rob Lynch, said: “I would like to personally thank Martin and all the team at VMS and JC Payne for all their hard work in bringing this project to fruition.

“From what was initially a creative vision, to work with JCP and VMS and to make it a reality has been incredible. The flexibility they’ve shown in designing the vehicle to our exact requirements has been key to us getting an end product that we are delighted with.

“We can’t wait to get out on the road, taking cricket around the county, in the hope that we can help inspire the next generation of cricketers within Middlesex.”