Motorcycling nostalgia at its best at Race Retro 2008

Motorcycling nostalgia spanning over 70 years will be showcased at Race Retro 2008, the international historic motorsport show. Held from 14th to 16th March at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, the displays include the popular Ace Café and its inaugural Café Racer Concours competition, Championship Sidecar racers, the Yamaha Classic Racing Team, a tribute to Seeley machines and the vintage ‘Wall of Death’.

The hugely popular replica Ace Café will be the centrepiece of the motorcycle area of the show and to celebrate its 70th Anniversary, the Ace Café is launching the inaugural Café Racer Concours competition. The best 25 motorcycles entered into the concours will be displayed at Race Retro 2008 where they will be judged by a panel of experts led by current president of the TT Riders Association, Colin Seeley, a former manufacturer of the finest racing motorcycles of the classic British period. Other judges include ex-racers Dave Croxford, who’s racing career began at the Ace Café, Peter Williams, a former works development engineer and rider for the original John Player Norton team, and James Hewing, Chief Executive of the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC).

Supported by Autoglym, Triumph Motorcycles, and the VMCC, the Ace Café 70th Anniversary Café Racer Concours carries a cash prize fund of £1,000 plus accessories and products prizes from the sponsors. Full details and entry particulars can be found on the Ace Café London website. (ace-café-london.com)

One of the special features at Race Retro 2008 will be a tribute to British Sidecar World Champions, from Eric Oliver to Tim Reeves, with many of the World Championship winning outfits showcased. The display will range from the inaugural 1949 winning Norton/Watsonian racing outfit of Eric Oliver/Denis Jenkinson to the latest LCR/Suzuki F1 racing outfit of reigning champions Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance, portraying the development of World Championship sidecar racing through the years. Tim Reeves, World Sidecar Champion for the past three years, will be joined by ten times former champion Steve Webster MBE, to conduct the show opening ceremony on one of the three days. They will be joined by several of the other former British champion riders and passengers. A memorable gathering and showcase for the elite of our sidecar racing community and their special racing machines.

Former Yamaha works racing team engineer and current Chief Executive of Arai Helmets Europe, Ferry Brouwer and the Yamaha Classic Racing Team, from Holland, will display six fully race prepared ex-works Yamaha GP racing motorcycles from the Japanese manufacturers glorious GP racing past. Ferry, a Yamaha racing two stroke guru, will be joined by team mates including former works Yamaha GP riders Rod Gould, the 1970 250cc World Champion, Dieter Braun, the 1973 250cc World Champion, and Chas Mortimer, the 1978 British 250cc Champion and seven times GP winner. The team will be on hand to talk about their years as GP riders on the ‘Continental Circus’ and their current parading schedule with the Yamaha Classic Racing Team machines.

Graham Boothby’s International Historic Racing Organisation (IHRO) will focus on Seeley machines, which form a major part of the current IHRO race series. Expect to see several variations on the Seeley, ranging from the Mk1 G50 through to unusual examples such as the Seeley Gold Star. Current TT Riders Association president Colin Seeley, along with his old works riders, John ‘Mooneyes’ Cooper and Dave Croxford are expected to be on hand to share their racing experiences throughout the Race Retro weekend.

Live motorcycle action will be provided throughout the three days of the show by the popular and spectacular Ken Fox Troupe, riding their vintage 1926 Indian V-Twin motorcycles and other specially adapted machines on the genuine vintage ‘Wall of Death’.

There will also be a variety of classic motorcycle club and racing series stands, many guest celebrity riders from the classic ‘Continental Circus’ racing days and the current historic racing scene as well as interviews on the live stage by former TT winner and accomplished TT commentator Charlie Williams. And not forgetting the convivial motorcycle friendly atmosphere of the Ace Café where you can enjoy your bacon or sausage wad washed down with a mug of hot tea. Motorcycling nostalgia doesn’t get much better than Race Retro 2008.

For more information on Europe’s premier historic motorsport show and the latest updates, visit raceretro.com