Classic bikes rev into the Classic Motor Show

Around 200 classic motorcycles of all ages, colours, creeds and configurations will be revved and ready to excite visitors to the new Classic Bikes hall, part of the Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC from 14th to 16th November. The Pavilion, which adjoins the Classic Motor Show halls, will be turned into a 5,000 square metre temple dedicated to those who habitually worship the two wheeled classic motorcycle.

Classic motorcycle clubs across the UK have eagerly snapped up the offer of free space at the show with around 20 clubs already confirmed and the number is growing daily. So where do you start?

On the Vincent HRD Owners’ Club stand, the club is focusing on 1948 which is the Club’s 60th anniversary – one which it shares with the hugely desirable and most famous of all Vincents, the Black Shadow. Machines covering much of the company’s history will be on display including the first ever Black Lightning, the racing and record breaking machine which evolved from bike that Rollie Free used to establish a American national speed record of 150mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, by lying prone and wearing only bathing trunks and cap! The Black Lightning was a special order version of the Black Shadow built by the factory – it was 100lbs lighter and 25hp more powerful – only 16 were built of these fantastic machines by the 80-year-old marque.

Moving closer to the present day and the UK Honda Turbo Association will be displaying both UK and US versions of the CX 500 Turbo and the CX 650 Turbo amongst a display of up to seven of these bikes. Paul Cripps, the Association’s show secretary says: “Our chairman, Tim Boutle, drag-races a much modified CX 650 Turbo, which runs on nitrous oxide. This bike makes a great talking point, because it’s a real head-turner and a couple of years ago, he broke the World Record for Production Turbos on it by reaching 188mph! Not bad for a pushrod 650cc twin.”

Meanwhile over at the Triumph Owners’ Motor Cycle Club stand, the Club will be in a celebrating mood – marking the 50th anniversary of the legendary Bonneville and the 40th of the classic Trident, with 24 Triumph bikes on show including a 1948 Grand Prix Triumph. The Trident and Rocket Three Owners Club will also celebrate its 40th anniversary with a 1968 Trident.

The BSA Owners’ Club will have around 15 BSA’s on its stand along with Martin Russell, a former BSA employee who raced Rocket 3’s for the factory while the BSA Bantam Club will celebrate 60 years of production. The Historic Police Motorcycle Club will be donning the aviator shades and going back to the 70s with its display which includes the Kawasaki 1000P, better known as the motorcycle used in the American TV show ‘CHiPs’.

Other highlights include the Hesketh Owners’ Club be showing a cutaway engine and the prototype forerunner of this very rare motorcycle, the Norton Owners’ Club will be showing a wide range of bikes as part of their build up to 2009, the Club’s 50th birthday, and the Tamworth and District Classic Motorcycle Club will be replicating the front of the original Tamworth Railway Station Café with a Chrome Triumph.

Despite a truly hectic schedule, the Yamaha Classic Racing Team has invited along some of their classic riders including Chas Mortimer and Rod Gould as well as some of their great racing motorcycles. “We’ll be bringing along the YZ23C which Chas rode in the 1972 TT,” says YRCT’s Ferry Brauwer. “As well as some UK firsts such as the bike Chas won the 1972 500 Spanish GP that was also ridden by Rod, in fact they were the only two riders to be given such a bike by Yamaha. The RD56F – a replica chassis of the 1964/’65 two-stroke RD56 fitted with a FZR250R four-stroke four-cylinder engine – will also be coming.”

On top of all that, there will be a replica of the iconic bikers’ haunt, the Ace Café, who will be bring a display of Café racers including its new offering known as ‘Little Miss Dynamite’. Founder Mark Wilsmore will also be on the Classic Bike Stage talking about the history of the Ace Café as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Sponsors of the new Classic Bike hall, specialist insurance broker Footman James, are teaming up with their long time partner the Vintage Motor Cycle Club to create a majestic feature stand that is sure to wow the crowds. Footman James’ managing director Paul Matthews said: “We are delighted to be supporting the show in its first year and are confident it will have as great a future as its sister event, the Classic Motor Show.”

Classic Bikes at the Classic Motor Show is open from 10am until 6.30pm on Friday, 9.30am until 6.30pm on Saturday, and 9.30am until 5.30pm on Sunday. Ticket prices range from £15 when purchased in advance and all tickets include entrance into Classic Bike and the Classic Motor Show. For more information, the latest updates or to book tickets, visit classicbikesatclassicmotor.com