classic racing

  • Classic Racing

    Classic Racing

    by

    While it’s winter in the northern hemisphere – which makes short-circuit motorcycle racing a little tricky – the sun is shining on the other side of the world. Stuart Francis reports on the classic track action in New Zealand… The tenth Totalspan CAMS Southern Classic Festival in New Zealand attracted nearly 200 individual entries at…

    Continue reading »

  • Backwards Glance: The Manx Grand Prix

    Backwards Glance: The Manx Grand Prix

    by

    RealClassic reader Brian Sussex recently uncovered some wonderful photos, handed down through his neighbour’s family. Arthur’s uncle George, it seems, was a clubman racer who ventured to the Isle of Man in 1934 to participate in the premier amateur event of the year, the Manx Grand Prix… The Manx GP began in 1923 when there…

    Continue reading »

  • Classic Italians in action

    Classic Italians in action

    by

    RC Regular Stu loves his old Italian tiddlers. When he recently discovered an old book, A Million Miles Of Racing, part of ‘The Racing Year’ series, one story in particular grabbed his attention… The book outlines the Ulster grand prix in 1950, and in particular the ultra-lightweight 125cc race which was the first time the…

    Continue reading »

  • RealClassic Reading

    RealClassic Reading

    by

    ‘And The Wheels Went Round’ by John Chisnall and Anthony Davis was published last year. Roy Workman is a sidecar rider so the two racing outfits on the front cover prompted him to buy it… John, the passenger, was the main contributor to the stories with Tony, the rider, adding his thoughts. What a great…

    Continue reading »

  • Triumph Racing Champions

    Triumph Racing Champions

    by

    To kick off a special exhibition dedicated to their racing champions, the Triumph factory visitor experience put on an exclusive event hosted by Steve (Stavros) Parrish which featured collector / restorer Dick Shepherd and two-times TT winner and 675 pilot Gary Johnson among members of the company’s factory staff. Amazingly, we had a secret agent…

    Continue reading »

  • Ride Of My Life

    Ride Of My Life

    by

    In Ride of My Life, racer and writer Frank Melling tells of a few of the bikes and experiences, bad and good, that he has encountered during a lifetime of motorcycling. Frank always tells it as he sees it in his own honest, fascinating and often humorous manner, and in a way that every motorcyclist…

    Continue reading »

  • A Racing Read

    A Racing Read

    by

    For British motorcycle road racing fans of the mid-1960s to mid-1970s there was no better racer than Peter Williams. Usually riding underpowered bikes, Peter embodied the spirit of the British underdog at a time when most fans were still intensely patriotic and yearned for British success. This book, ‘Designed To Race’, charts Peter’s early life,…

    Continue reading »

  • Matchless G50 CSR

    Matchless G50 CSR

    by

    Nicknamed the Golden Eagle, the Matchless G50 CSR is ridiculously rare – an homologation special of an exclusive, limited edition works / clubman’s racer. Not the sort of thing you see on the streets every day, but we know where you can find one. Or two! The National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull display this 1962…

    Continue reading »

  • Thunderfest Fun

    Thunderfest Fun

    by

    A remarkable range of classic bikes and cutting-edge competitors rocked up to Darley Moor circuit for the seventh Thunderfest on the Mayday Bank Holiday. As you might expect for a British bank hol, the rain tipped down all over the country – except at the demanding Midlands circuit which was blessed with sunshine and high…

    Continue reading »

  • Gripping Road Racing

    Gripping Road Racing

    by

      If you want to get close to the action, Oliver’s Mount race track offers a unique opportunity to be blown away (almost literally) by the superbikes and classic competitors. Ian Woolley held onto his hat… As winter begrudgingly melted into spring a young man’s fancy turned to, well … and after that, to bike…

    Continue reading »