SOME OF THE OLD GEAR
KINDA LOOKS QUITE NICE,
DON’T YOU THINK?
LOVELY BILL SWALLOW
AERMACCHI WITH A POLISHED TANK
Of course, there were dozens of great classic
machines. Mixing it up was a Triumph Rocket
with a Rolls-Royce/Allison C20B engine as
used in the Bell Jet Ranger and Hughes 500
helicopters, which did a few runs through
the paddock. I actually went looking for the
helicopter when I first heard it fire up. That’s
one way to get over 400hp between your legs!
While the the Spitfire and Kittyhawk aircraft
demonstrations gave me some genuine
reasons to look towards the sky.
After feeling like I was stopping and talking
to every second person, I slipped down to
turn one to watch some of the actual racing.
I found myself riveted to the performance
108 KIWI RIDER
of the Pre War machines as they bounced
around Pukekohe’s notorious first turn. That
was seriously impressive and, though I am way
too young to relate fully to the machines’ place
in history, I have to admit it still was ‘classic’
entertainment. Unexpected, visual, audial and
enlightening... something of a summary of the
event itself.
I suspect many spectators, like me, missed
most of what was going on over the weekend
because there was just so much to see – and
miss. Next year I’m going to allow a bit more
time to try and see a whole lot more of what
was on offer.