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New Zealand’s own Grand Prix star Ginger Molloy will be racing his 250cc Bultaco GP bike that he recently used to win the Australian Historic 250cc Championship at Phillip Island. Ginger was runner up in the Premier 500cc Moto-GP Class to Giacomo Agostini in 1970, and has continued to race motorcycles for more than 50 years, still looking every bit the professional rider.
A special display is planned to celebrate 100 years of the famous Italian Benelli brand and the 1920’s American icon, Henderson. The Henderson was famous for its massive four cylinder car size engine in an era when most motorcycles had one or two cylinders. The American motorcycle industry thrived in the early 1920’s and other US manufactures copied the successful Henderson design, with almost every brand finding its way to New Zealand. Over 30 different machines are to be displayed with such rarities as Militaire, Cleveland, Ace and Indian all represented in what may well be the best display of these bikes ever assembled anywhere in the world.
Steve Wynn, the famous Manchester Ducati agent who sponsored the legendary Mike Hailwood’s record breaking return to the Isle of Man TT, now lives in New Zealand and has arranged to demonstrate a 1954 ex-factory MV-Agusta 500cc 4 cylinder GP racer. Other exotica being raced include a 1957 BMW 500cc Rennsport GP racer and a 500cc DOHC Jawa GP racer.
This meeting has gained an international reputation for its combination of highly competitive racing combined with a “live museum” atmosphere with many of the bikes only seen in public for this event. A huge field of the famous Manx Norton’s, Matchless G50’s and AJS 7R Grand Prix racers provide very close racing with lap times that amaze many modern racers
Entry to the pits is free. Car parking is free. Entry is only $30 for a full weekend pass.
This meeting will be followed the next weekend (12th and 13th February) by a second NZCMRR race meeting for classic motorcycle only, to be held at the new Hampton Downs Circuit a further 15 minutes drive south of Auckland. (See www.nzcmrr.com for more info.)
Spitfire and Kittyhawk Flying Display
Festival spectators will get the chance to hear the sounds of 26 litres of V12 Rolls Royce Merlin in Doug Brooker’s Mk IX Spitfire and the sound of 27 litre of V12 Allison V-1710 in Frank Parker’s P40E Kittyhawk during lunchtime on Sunday only.
A 15 minute aerobatic display is planned for two of the most iconic planes of the Second World War, weather and planes permitting.
2011 NZ FESTIVAL OF MOTOR RACING
The Pukekohe Classic Motorcycle Festival is preceded on January 22nd and 23rd by the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs which is a combined Classic Car and Motorcycle event this year celebrating the achievements of NZ’s Ferrari Grand Prix driver Chris Amon. Run for the first time in 2010, a huge turn out of Formula 5000 racing cars and historic GP cars from all over the world attracted a huge crowd, and the NZCMRR are delighted to have been invited to include up to 50 machines in four races of their pre-1963, 350cc and 500 cc motorcycles. (See www.nzfmr.co.nz for more info).