Bob
17th January 2005, 02:38
Legendary Isle of Man TT racer Geoff Duke officially opened the National Motorcycle Museum for the second time. The 82-year-old who first opened the museum venue in 1984 returned to the site to cut the ribbon to mark the reopening.
Speaking after the ceremony, museum development manager Nick Hartland said: Its been very tough from the fire in September 2003 to December 1st last year, when we actually reopened. It was a very hard time indeed for everybody, but a lot of hard work has been put in and the museum is bigger and better than ever.
The museum attracted 400 visitors a day over the Christmas period. Around 650 machines are on display, with the aim being to increase this to 800 by 2007 as repairs to other fire-damaged bikes are completed.
Speaking after the ceremony, museum development manager Nick Hartland said: Its been very tough from the fire in September 2003 to December 1st last year, when we actually reopened. It was a very hard time indeed for everybody, but a lot of hard work has been put in and the museum is bigger and better than ever.
The museum attracted 400 visitors a day over the Christmas period. Around 650 machines are on display, with the aim being to increase this to 800 by 2007 as repairs to other fire-damaged bikes are completed.