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I mentioned in the previous blog I'd look at Velocette at Pukekohe 2011 and admitting to a "jaundiced eye" when it comes to Velocette, I've some photos to share with you...not much text, as it's late in Sydney as I prepare this....
Left click on the images to enlarge...
Stroll around for the few days I was there with me....
I mentioned that Chris Swallow, son of well known UK racer Bill Swallow had spent some time in NZ on a working holiday and secured a few rides...this time he was riding the Phil Price ex Arthur Wheeler 1949 Mk.8 KTT, prepared by Nick Thomson.
The bike goes hard and Chris did it justice...amen to that.
The following series of pics were for a prewar race from memory...Chris "appeared" to stall the bike on the line as they formed up and push started it...but I think he was playing to the crowd...he was conveniently at the rear of the field, dismounted, in gear, back on compression and pushed off on the "drop of the flag" ...it sounded like a Mk.8 should when neatly push started and the clutch fed in...I should know, I push started my Mk.8 countless times over the many years I raced it...
Watch through the photos I took....
Warwick Darrow supplied me with a few photos that are included....
Nick Thomson prepares a rather quick 500 pushrod Velo special...now residing in a McIntosh featherbed frame and ridden by Andrew Drake, pictured....lets have a look at some of the detail that goes into the machine... aluminium stuff everywhere and the characteristic Nick mod to the gearbox mainshaft with the outrigger bearing....
The spool rear hub is machined from aluminium alloy and the rear brake drum appeared 6" diameter.
Andrew fitted a miniature camera to the bike and promised to send me an mp3 of a race...if it turns out satisfactory, I'll include it in a future blog.
There is always the inevitable MAC racer....
Cheryl Mickelson from the NZ Velocette Register arranged a photo-shoot for Velo people at 12 noon on the Sunday...some forgot, myself included....
Warwick stumped up a photo...
Cheryl, centre with camera....
Roy White and Peter Butterworth...Peter left his stable of Velos languishing in his shed this year...
Lets finish off with a couple of shots from around the NZ Velocette Register display and tent....
The first weekend in February each year, well since 1980, has seen the NZ Classic motorcycle Racing Register put on what is certainly the largest Classic Motorcycle race meeting in the Southern Hemisphere and I would go so far as to say the most "laid back" in the world....
Strong words from the Velobanjogent.....
But I been to this meeting since the first and only missed a few over the years.....
Let's look at this years...2011.
I'm covering this over two blogs, this is the general one and following will be a Velocette oriented one......
So take a visual trip with me to the meeting....
Left click on the images to enlarge....
Where is Pukekohe in New Zealand?
Situated around 70km south of Auckland in the North Island, the Auckland airport is at Manukau and its a 45 minute drive down to Pukekohe....
The road race circuit is within the grounds of the big Counties horse racing venue and utilises some of its facilities.
The New Zealanders are pretty passionate about their sport and articles covering the event appear in the main Auckland newspapers....
Here's your entry ticket...lets go...
As soon as Judy and I walked down through the parking area we spied the Velocette venue run by the NZ Velocette Register....but no more DQ, this is for the next blog...
Crossing the circuit into the paddock or as we call it, the pit area, I walked into the McIntosh Racing entourage encampment.
Ken McIntosh has a worldwide reputation for his work with the Manx Norton and stores and fettles bikes for riders from countries all over the world as well as local and I noted Californian Paul Adams' 500 Norton, Australian publisher of "Old Bike Australasia" Jim Scaysbrook's 350 Manx
See...http://www.chevron.com.au/motorbikes_mag.html
And the Japanese entourage with their Rennsport BMW.....
Ken fettles other brands....a Vincent Black Lightning, Californian Virgil Ewings' factory Jawa special, Brough Superior...
A Mk.8 KTT...ex Arthur Wheelers'.....hold it DQ, only a peek...this is for the next blog...
During a lunch break we were treated to a fly-over and aerial display from a WW2 Kittyhawk and Spitfire....great sounds from the Allison and Merlin engines...
There were numerous other brands to look at...the Benelli tent...
Former Continental Circus member Ginger Molloy's brace of TSS Bultacos...
A feature were prewar 4-cylinder machines in a special tent display, mostly US "irons", but two Danish Nimbus's caught my eye...
A resourceful lot the Kiwis, even a tent to repair your leathers...
A bit of "crumpet" found its way onto a Velocette....
A board track racer exhibit....
Spied in the parking area, a well modified Moto Guzzi from the UK on a round the world tour....
And to finish off...an interesting copy of an early steam driven bicycle that was seen "steaming" ?? around the area....
