I wish I could ride like this when I'm 72 or 76: Legends of Dirt: Here's the photos

[merv]

Well like I said I'd do I went up to Wanganui to see the legends of dirt and the "big three" former world champs there were Jeff Smith (76 years old), High Anderson (72) and Shayne King (only 37).

Anderson could still ride bloody quick on his Rickman Metisse and Smith was no slouch either. This was all on a nice easy flat track at the Wanganui Jockey Club racecourse.

Here's some photos for you - Motu and others that rode bikes from Pomgolia would love those bikes but there were also quite a few classic Jap and European bikes racing.

First up, on the way Levin was spotted under a cover of hot air balloons.

Then the bikes - starting with a parade of riders, then the racing - Hugh Anderson #73, Jeff Smith #56, Shayne King started on a Matchless #74.

The guy with the braces and peaked pudding basin looked a real period piece with his hardtail bike.

[merv]

The old guys looked like they were having so much fun.

Hugh was pretty quick.

#B is Craig Brown.

[merv]

It was just like the old days with some not wearing much safety gear - sports shoes, short sleeved shirts etc.

There's Shayne King on an early (about '74/75 vintage) CR250 Elsinore.

Some of the waistlines were looking like mine too.

[Dino]

Shit I hope I am still alive at 72 or 76, bloody legends.

Nice pictures.

[merv]

The three champs then did a bit of a demo together.

[merv]

Shit I hope I am still alive at 72 or 76, bloody legends.

Nice pictures.


Yeah me too, and they just kept on riding and racing all day.

[merv]

I think the wee fellah was one of 3 generations of Garnetts that were there.

#8 was a man to watch and that is Rob Selby who worked with John Britten - he was very quick on his Cheney BSA fitted with his own 3 speed gearbox (yes only 3 speeds).

[merv]

The BSA 650 twin was pretty road oriented so not so fast around on grass, but it sounded nice.

That's Carl Garnett on the silver tanked Norton with the hardtail #96.

[merv]

Carl hung off that bike a bit like he was riding road and it looks funny to see a man bouncing on the seat on a hardtail bike - later I noticed he was standing on the pegs a bit no doubt to relieve the pain.

[Deano]

Full credit to the old school.

I"m geting faster with age........

[merv]

#115 was a Cotton with its weird power-saw sound.

Shayne King had a go on a CZ.

[merv]

Full credit to the old school.

I"m geting faster with age........

Yeah I hear that mate - sorry I was away last weekend so not around to see it. As for Hugh he's still bloody quick on the tarseal too.

Shayne King had the CZ die on him :(.

Here's a few pitlane shots for you too.

[merv]

That's the Matchless Shayne rode #74 and Hugh's Metisse #73 and there's Hugh talking to a few other young fellahs.

[merv]

A few road bikes were on display too, but sadly gathering a lot of dust parked near the dirt track, and whoa there's a Suzuki TS90 parked next to the mighty Elsinore - both quite a bike in their day.

[merv]

There's Shayne about to leave this tent and go and ride a BSA.

Some Kawasakis were there too, and then they had to get the BSA going, and that's Rob Selby # 8 out front.

[merv]

Shayne never looked comfortable with the BSA and ran towards the back of the pack on it while Rob was out front.

Meanwhile in the next race Hugh did very well once again for a guy in his 70's. Not sure who was on the #8 bike this time but it didn't look like Rob.

[merv]

Well that's all folks -wasn't a bad day out - only cost $20 admission to get covered in dirt and get dust in my eyes :sunny:.

[Buddy L]

Shayne King had the CZ die on him :(.

.


well a brand new crf450 can bearly hand the king, and im sure he wasn't taking it easy.
Great pictures by the way:niceone:

[Motu]

I didn't end up going,my daughter and granddaughter are down for Easter,so preferred to stay here to be with them.Carl sure gives everything he does 100%,good to see him hanging out the rigid Norton.There were supposed to be some trials bikes too...and I see Neil McCabe with a round head Bultaco there.Got any better photos of that Cheney Triumph Merv? I think I've seen that one and it's not my old one....that one came in from the US I think.Traffic goes both ways,and I'd hate to think mine went over to the US - it was Ivan Millar's old bike,be good to keep our own history here.

[merv]

No sorry Motu those are all the photos I got. I had one of those days where I thought the battery in my camera was charged but it clapped out on about the first shot and I ran the rest of the day on the spare battery. So gotta make sure they are both well charged tonight.

I didn't stay over in Wanganui so I will miss the trials which are on tomorrow. If the weather is right tomorrow I might get out riding myself.

Yeah Carl was a sight to see hanging off that bike - he wasn't near the front of the race or anything but being a rigid hardtail that bike wouldn't be as young as most of the others he was racing against.

Mrs merv's favourite was the guy in the braces; she reckoned he was just so cool dressed period piece as well and just riding around having fun bouncing so much on his sprung seat.

[motorbike.ventures]

Some of the gear is definately old school, very neat! Thanks for taking the time to post Merv, the pics are fab! :)

[merv]

Some of the gear is definately old school, very neat! Thanks for taking the time to post Merv, the pics are fab! :)

Gee you're a long way from Wanganui in Prague.

Did you see their website here http://www.britishdirt.co.nz/

[motorbike.ventures]

Yep, very far away! which is why I appreciate the pics (though a pity the CZ died :( )

But while we get snow I get to read your ride logs, and when you guys are putting your bikes up for the winter (for those that do) I get to tease you that I get to ride!! not not today though :( crappy weather here, give us our Summer already!

[merv]

Yep, very far away! which is why I appreciate the pics (though a pity the CZ died :( )


Hi nice talking to you.

Many of the CZs kept going yesterday all the same.

It was an interesting event and suprisingly (to me) not that well supported by the public as in the crowd wasn't large. Probably because of its narrow interest I guess and being at Easter there were just a lot of other things on in New Zealand like the Rock 2 Wellington concert which my son and daughter went to http://www.wotzon.com/eventlisting.html?event_id=5016389&gclid=CIXY3KjhoZICFRqXiQod701rcw.

You've got summer to look forward to as we are still enjoying nice weather here.

[Ocean1]

It was an interesting even and suprisingly (to me) not that well supported by the public as in the crowd wasn't large.

Day 2.

I talked to several groups of riders on the way home, none of whom knew a damn thing about it. As you say, must be difficult to get the exposure nowadays, competing against very well resourced marketing for larger events.

Couple of wee shots...

[Ocean1]

Tenstuff...

[Ocean1]

Aaand again, fookin dialup...

[xwhatsit]

A few road bikes were on display too, but sadly gathering a lot of dust parked near the dirt track, and whoa there's a Suzuki TS90 parked next to the mighty Elsinore - both quite a bike in their day.

OMFG GOLDSTAR PARKING

*foams at mouth*



*THUNK*

[merv]

Day 2.

I talked to several groups of riders on the way home, none of whom knew a damn thing about it. As you say, must be difficult to get the exposure nowadays, competing against very well resourced marketing for larger events.


Thanks for the trials photos as I didn't stay over for that day. As for advertising I kept bumping a thread here and on ADV Rider and still few turned up, I figure its just such a specialist interest its hard to get people there even to see former world champs in action.

[Ocean1]

OMFG GOLDSTAR PARKING

*foams at mouth*



*THUNK*

:yes: Am now officially on the hunt for a B50 related winter project...


Thanks for the trials photos as I didn't stay over for that day. As for advertising I kept bumping a thread here and on ADV Rider and still few turned up, I figure its just such a specialist interest its hard to get people there even to see former world champs in action.

I noticed. But with no contact with KB I wouldn't have. I stopped on top of Paekak hill on the way back, to take the load off me arse and got buttonholed by an old dude in a BMW. He still had a Beezer at home, I showed him the programme from the event and he talked for a solid 30min about the old days.

I suspect there's a huge population of guys like that who'd be real interested, but they're out of the loop, the only way you'd get to them would be highly expensive advertising. It wouldn't pay of course, even with ten times the numbers you'd need serious commercial funding, not going to happen without TV coverage, which you won't get.

[Motu]

I put up a post on ADV about it,but didn't bother with this site....everyone seems a bit ''young'' - see the old Kawasaki thread,they think an aircooled monoshock is really old.I think the people that needed to know did know - obviously the VMX guys were in the loop,the Classic Register knew about it,and the Trials people knew about it.I thought the promotion was good.....but how to reach the audience in their armchairs?

[Ocean1]

I put up a post on ADV about it,but didn't bother with this site....everyone seems a bit ''young''

I like you. :)


I think the people that needed to know did know - obviously the VMX guys were in the loop,the Classic Register knew about it,and the Trials people knew about it.I thought the promotion was good.....but how to reach the audience in their armchairs?

Don't know, but there are a lot of guys who no longer ride that would have loved to see that. Once back in the loop they'd be back to any future classic meets, and who knows, some of them might even have dusted off their old Jofas...

[merv]

It was advertised for many editions of Kiwi Rider too, but then again you'd have to be reading the bike mag to see it there.

I am still in awe at how fast old Hugh and Jeff are.

[Ktmboy]

Hey, this is great. At the end of the day we have all shared this event through your pics and I for 1 have relived a past.
Seeing a pic with
1) QA50
2) TS 90
3) Eilsinor 250
4) I think a SL350 in the Back ground(early wheel stand machine).

My first three bikes all in one photo. Freakin excellent.

Hats off to the guys that made the effort to get there. Browny(and all the others from around NZ and overseas) and the legends from over seas, Congrats.

[merv]

I never got another photo of it but that bike in the background I think was an early Yamaha DT not an SL350.

[Ktmboy]

Doesn't matter. Had a Yamaha 360 as well. Used to give the mean as kick back often.

[Ocean1]

Doesn't matter. Had a Yamaha 360 as well. Used to give the mean as kick back often.

Oh yes.

Never owned one but I've got a divot out of my shin from the brother's one.

Vicious, vicious bitch.

[motorbike.ventures]

everyone seems a bit ''young''

hmm, I don't think that matters... I may have no idea who these old timers are or what they were like in their day, but it still interests me very much so! They are the ones that helped pave the way to where we are now regarding motorcycles, along with many others, and for that deserve everyones respect.

Plus I love motorbikes, and old bikes are so cool! It makes you respect so much more how far along motorcycles have come.

So old timers, rock on! :headbang: We would have gone if we were in the same country! :)

[merv]

Jeff Smith (2 times) and Shayne King (1 time) are both former world moto-x champions and Hugh Anderson (4 times) is a former roadrace world champion, though Hugh also excelled in moto-x, winning many races in Europe and NZ long after he finished with world GPs.

Hugh has been very much in to classic road racing back in NZ and this was the first time I had seen him on dirt for ages.