Festival Introduction
Triumph ‘Classic Racing Festival’
Hampton Downs 8-9-10th February
The NZ Classic Motorcycle Racing Register are hosting their 34th Annual Classic Racing Festival at Hampton Downs on Feb 8-9-10th. For 33 years the club has held the event at Pukekohe Park Raceway but due to that track being upgraded for the Australian V8s in April, the facility was not available so hence the shift to Hampton Downs.
Triumph NZ are the major sponsor for the event and in addition to two days of great race action plus trade stalls, Triumph are running a track day on the Friday and on the three days demo rides of their full range will be available around the countryside. So for some this could be called Hinkley heaven but the classic BSA-Triumph triples have not been forgotten.
The Classic Register are flying Ron Chandler to NZ for the event. Ron won the last International event on a Works Trident in 1973, 40 years ago. This is regarded as the last ‘Factory Racer’ machine built as his engine was built by Arthur Jakeman in December 1972 with the machine put together by Les Williams & Doug Hele. Ron had won the British 500cc Championship on a Matchless G50 in 1967 and turned professional in 1968 racing a G50, Seeley G50 and HIR Kawasaki with some good Grand Prix results through Europe. But as Ron says, ‘If you wanted results in 1972 you had to have a Trident, they were fast.’ He bought a Rocket 3 engine off BSA sidecar ace Mike Bodice who didn’t like it, went to Rob North to commission a frame and then headed to Meridan to see his old pal Arthur Jakeman. (he first met Arthur on the Continent when Arthur was mechanic for Percy Tait and the 500 twin Triumph T100 ‘Works’ racers. They all hung out together, and Arthur & Ron are still great mates).
Ron went to France in 1973 with Tony Jeffries and their Tridents and won the ‘Rouen International,’ the largest race in Europe at the time with 2,000 pounds prizemoney for first place. (equivalent to $42,000 NZD in today’s money.) Ron is bringing his ‘Works’ bike and his story of how he re-found his old bike many years later, will be in the official ‘Festival’ programme. A number of NZ based ‘Works Replica’ Trident & Rocket 3 machines are coming out for the occasion and negotiations are proceeding with some Australian owners keen to bring their bikes across. In addition to making ’40 Years’ since Ron won the last International Race on a ‘Works Triple’ there will be over 200 classic racers, singles and twins plus classic and post-classic sidecars in action.
Promotion for the vent has stepped up this year and our Platinum Sponsor Kiwi Rider are printing 10,000 complimentary A3 Event posters in their Dec 10th issue and there will be advertising in all 3 NZ bike mags and event news.
Meridan T150 & T160 Tridents and Small Heath Rocket 3s owners will be able to parade their bikes at Hampton Downs during the lunch break on both the Saturday and Sunday. So get those triple rolling as the BSA-Triumph triples now have their day in the sun, and for those who like Hinkley triples as well, this is one event to not miss.
