and the plethora of options that rob us of time, it was a waning deal. Hopefully the new format continues and helps spur a renaissance of all things motorcycling.
LEGENDS AND LEGENDARY Adding to the experience was a massive marquee with a swag of important historic machines, some beautifully brash new ones and a bunch of timeless legends from our rich racing heritage, as in the legends who rode those machines. It was a catchup session par excellence with riders who are or were household names. The thing that really stood out were the personalities and undimmable sparkle in the eyes of these racers, some who now have a few extra miles on the clock but when they were out on the‘ display laps’ as they were called, they demonstrated that talent does not fade fast. The opportunity to get that sneaky inside pass on a rival from way back was not to be missed and despite being on older machinery, those lads can still punt.
It was a parade of our motorcycle racing royalty as well as the machines they rode. On the newer front was a machine the younger members of the crowd didn’ t seem to understand, the Crighton CR700W. When the 220hp 129.5kg( dry) fired into life, there was a sound that only the older spectators may have recalled – a rotary powered motorcycle. Then there were those glorious two-strokes, the thoroughbred race machines that defined a generation. Personally, I found it a little odd and quite disturbing to see young folk moving to get away from the smoke, rather than walking into it, applying the best deodorant the racing world has ever brewed. Whatever, I thought I smelled magnificent for the rest of the day. My eyes may have stung just a little bit but it was so worth it. Yes, I am a closet two-stroke fan, just don’ t tell anyone … The racing was the third round of the NZSBK Series and it was top notch. The smaller classes in particular fielded full grids and with many of the younger crowd lured by the manufacturers’
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