The APS Classic Festival, held at Manfeild’ s Chris Amon Circuit, is the new home of the festival after the sad demise of Pukekohe Raceway. Last year, held in the Manawatu town of Feilding for the first time, the event proved that it can work elsewhere. This year, it was even bigger. In fact, it was huge. It was a case of get the entry in early or miss out as the classes booked out, kind of a problem worth skiting about unless you missed out … I opted to stalk the entry opening and secured my spot. With a track day available on the Thursday( I opted out and went to work) the actual threeday event kicked off on Friday with practice and qualifying. Saturday February 1 saw the racing get underway and for 2025 included some Class TT events for the first time in years. But first – the machines.
THE BIKES Two-stroke exotica was both on display and on the track. With the late Roger Freeth’ s Viko Special TZ750, complete with the famous wings, a 1981 TZ500H, Modenas KR3 made for Kenny Roberts’ team, a pair of BSL500 GP bikes( Kiwimade) and a‘ modern’ Suter 500, it was the type of event not often seen on our shores, let alone the track action.
KIWI RIDER 29