First 25 Years of the Cemetery Circuit - the exhibition

[merv]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this thread but here goes.

If you are interested in looking at racing motorcyles and checking out a bit of history and you haven't seen this exhibition already, hurry along now and have a look as it runs only until 15 January 2007.

Me, I'm a biker from back before the Marlboro series days, so this held special interest for me as I was around for the tail end of the first 25 years of the Cemetery Circuit and had the pleasure of seeing the likes of Dale Wylie, Pat Hennan, Ginger Molloy, Keith Turner and others race at Wanganui and I was also alive when Geoff Perry was.

So going to Wanganui yesterday meant I just couldn't miss going to the exhibition and luckily they held it open until 8pm last night so those that had watched the races could still see it. Thumbs up to Mike Laws and his Council for being so proactive for us bikers. The exhibition is at the Alexander Libary up near the Sarjeant Art Gallery just back from the main street of town.

Check out these couple of links describing it http://www.wanganui.govt.nz/news/commslink/issue290.asp

http://www.mnz.co.nz/news2.aspx?SectionID=29&ArticleID=8901

OK for those that can't make it I'll post a few photos which I am sure you will love. Richard Scott and Bob Toomey were also there last night while I was there with all of us revelling in the history. Those boys of course will have to wait for the second 25 years display before they feature.

p.s. Scotty certainly had to do well yesterday with a bike spannered by an ace like Bob Toomey.

[merv]

So let's get on with the photos. There were some interesting bikes there. I wasn't around when that really old stuff raced there (Motu you might have to tell me about that stuff - remember I'm a plastic bike baby), but that TZ750 - yummmmm!!! That TZ last had a win in the hands of Paul Pavletich just a few years ago.

Check out that roll of honour board - I saw 10 of those 16 race.

[merv]

That TZ looks cool from the back too even with the fairing off it.

That BSA is a bit of a rarity.

CR77 (CB77 on the road 305cc) Hondas were just before my time too but that is a tidy example.

[merv]

My Bro' appears having a good look at the bikes - he's more into the old British stuff than I was but I don't mind looking either.

Then you get into the stuff I remember in those last two photos - number 10 is Geoff Perry's TR500 - that bike was fabulous in its day tuned by Dick Lawton. RG is Ron Grant's TR750, another fabulous bike of its era.

[merv]

Next to Ron Grant's bike is the RG500 (not named after Ron) used by Pat Hennan and now owned by Alan Delatour.

They are basic looking bikes these days and very narrow in their setup. It amazed me the RG500 could suck air through its 4 carbs with the bell mouths damn near touching the fairing sides - no ram air in those days and with the square four with disc valves the carbs face sideways of course.

Sadly they have suffered the marching of time and looked a bit corroded and scrappy and could do with some TLC restoration.

[merv]

The TZ350 was a machine in its day too (see number 3).

Then around the walls of the room are the written and pictorial displays which recount the circuit through those 25 years - a good reminder.

[merv]

Plenty of history in those cups on the desk.

There's one of my favourites too - Croz (H) on the Ross Hannan Z1R during the Marlboro Series.

[merv]

You won't be able to read the displays too easy from my photos, so get down there yourself and have a look before the end of 15 January 2007.

That's all folks.

Check out race day photos here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=41145

and babe photos here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=41148

[NodMan]

Thanks Merv...awesome to see some of that history
those beasts are the foundation of what we ride today
the ole motorcycle has come a long way in last thirty years

[Motu]

Well I was watching the Jap bikes at the same time you were Merv,but I was never really interested in them - I was an old school guy in the old school days.While you were agog at the latest stuff and the new riders,I just had utmost respect for the old riders and the old bikes.....I wanted to see 7R's and Manx's,Goldstar's and Bonnies....Ginger Molloy and the other older riders.Same era,different focus....because I rode older British bikes I expect.I rode Jap bikes off road,but British on road.Well,British off road too as you can see in my avatar.

That ''sloper'' B31 comes to the Puke classic meeting every year,I always spend some time studying it as it has a shit load of modifications...did you check out the forks? The other BSA single has a TT or XR top end,can't remember which - just incredible backyard Kiwi engineering.The other ''BSA'' is a Triumph 350,designed by Val Page,and the similarities to his BSA singles are obvious.I had one and used a Triumph piston in it - same 71mm bore as the Triumph 650 and the B31.

[Bonez]

Motu there's a new Aust bike mag that comes out quarterly called Old Bike. Fantastic read. $11nz. I've just borrowed the first two copies off a mate. I'm sure it'd be right up you're alley.

[Motu]

But you have to pay money for it...I'm not into that and never have been.I'll have your old copy,you post it up to me.

[Bonez]

But you have to pay money for it...I'm not into that and never have been.I'll have your old copy,you post it up to me.Sorry, mine are borrowed. I'm sure someone up your way will have them. Our posties fuel range isn't that great.

[Podo]

Great pics Merv which certainly bring back some memories for me. particularly the top 16 riders 1951 to 1976. Number 16 was our local (Tauranga) hero Cliff Kingston. As college boys we used to go down to Gate Pa Cycles after school, where Cliff worked, to look at his bike (race kitted Suzuki T20 super six). Cliff would often come out and talk to us 'apprentice' bikers, that was a big wow for us young guys, he used to win everything back then. I have a photo of that bike, which I will post when I locate it.