MY big day out

[Jackrat]

Here's a few pic's from todays classic's day.
As you can see I have a bit of a thing for clean old BSA's,but there is a few Nortons in there as well.
Plus a close up of a Vincent 1300cc sidecar motor and the Hogfarm stand with two old school chops.
The Hogfarm were very popular and busy during the 70's-80's.
They build one off parts for any custom bike an their stuff is not the kind of thing you find plastic wrapped,cardboard backed, at some so called custom shop.
The Vincent was crossing the finish line with up to a 6 second lead on it's closest competitor in all it's races that I saw,an sounding awesome doing it to.Unfortunately with my usual good organisation I left my second memory card at home only got a few pic's,but no worries we can all go next year!!!

[Jackrat]

Anybody building a REAL custom motorcycle can contact Orb at the Hogfarm on 09 236-0196.

[Highlander]

Nice. Lookes like a good day out. gotta love the classics.

[Hitcher]

There are a few labours of love on display there.

[Motu]

Ah,was a good day alright - I didn't see you there Jack,but by the looks of your photos I dogged your footsteps.The Hog Farm,that was a long time ago - behind the Trident right? I still have some leather throw over bags I got from them,in the petrol rationing days they made saddle bags to take a couple of gallon tins.Some nice BSAs,I really liked the A10 powered Rickman,but never got a photo.Saw lots of nice bikes,met a few friends....but won't say they were nice,even saw some racing.

Some of my photos,I look for the odd and unusual.This Lombardini diesel powered bike was unusual alright,it's in a Matchless frame I think,and has a handshifter on the Albion gearbox.A genuine BSA Hornet Scrambler,it's beautifull,but I bet it's a US import,I don't think any came here.I'm not sure if this is a genuine CCM or not,the motor is,trademark cut away fins and footpegs welded to the engine cases,the rest is BSA B50 - but that's what early CCMs were.The next is a real CCM,footpegs welded to cases,but no cut away fins...long travel twinshock.A couple of the Konig Wedge - the motor is so small! Fed by a couple of Gardner carbs.

[MacD]

This sidecar caught my eye, powered by a Coventry Climax motor.

[Hitcher]

powered by a Coventry Climax motor.

Together with 100,000 Hillman Imps...

[Motu]

Not to mention fire pumps.

That bike has been around for a while.I remember seeing an Imp motor in a featherbed,not that big a squeeze as they are pretty small.Here's a nice Gilera outfit and that Irving Vincent that was cleaning up.I also saw a CZ motocrosser that had a sand cast engine,even the wheel hubs were sand cast,a real one off special.

[MacD]

Together with 100,000 Hillman Imps...

Yes I know

Pretty cool little cars (in their own way).

Just don't try and tow another car with one by tying the tow rope around the rear panel below the boot lid...

[Big Dave]

I've put a heap of shots from today on www.kiwirider.co.nz - day 3
got some real nice action pics

didn't see you blokes - but I spent a lot of time at castrol.

[Motu]

I said g'day as we passed each other on the bridge stairs....guess you must be deaf as well as blind....

I saw heaps of people I did say hello to,guess some may of recognised me too,but not got around to saying hi.Lots of people,lots of noise.

[Big Dave]

I said g'day as we passed each other on the bridge stairs....guess you must be deaf as well as blind....

oops - next time slap me - I had my ipod on and pink floyd at 11 pretty much all day.

[Riff Raff]

White Trash and I headed out there yesterday for a looksie and to catch up with me old mate Flame who'd travelled up from Welly to watch the classics.

Had a good time - lots of noise, heaps of atmosphere and plenty of people happy to have a natter to you about their pride and joy.

Caught up with a certain Motomail Saleswoman who was swinging for the first time - doing really well too. You're not supposed to look that terrified just before you go out there tho luv. She's on outfit #128.

There was a huge field of sidecars - awesome to watch and some very interesting swinging styles.

Great day with plenty of "ooh" and "aah" factor.

[Motu]

I've been going to the Classic Festival since the very first meeting,although haven't been to every single one - so I've seen a few changes over the years.

Most notable to me this year were some of the bikes winning - bikes that shouldn't.Like the ES2 Norton,never a bike assosiated with high performance...if you wanted a fast Norton single you got a Manx,or something else - anything but an ES2! So good to see one dominating it's class.

No one could miss the row of identical 3TA Triumphs (although there some were 500s) Once a bike you couldn't give away,these guys have swooped on every bike and every part in the market,now rebuilding a 3TA is a difficult task (a mate of mine is,and has noticed the spares disapear overnight).They were always a bike sitting there waiting in the wings as a bike that could be made to go fast,but nobody bothered.When I had my Rickman Metisse it took a unit 500 motor,and I got to collecting lots of parts as no one wanted them.I had T100C cases,but built up a couple of motors with T100C internals in 3TA cases,as I didn't want to damage the rare cases I had.One day a mate picked up a T90,the high performance 350cc twin.We had a lot of fun putting all my go fast 500cc parts on...cams,twin carbs,twin point ign etc.We ended up with a little bike that could really fly.Finaly someone has found they aren't such a silly bike after all.

Twenty years ago if you said a 3TA could beat an AJS 7R you'd be laughed at - yesterday we see 3TA's cleaning up the 7R's.

[Paul in NZ]

No one could miss the row of identical 3TA Triumphs (although there some were 500s) Once a bike you couldn't give away,these guys have swooped on every bike and every part in the market,now rebuilding a 3TA is a difficult task (a mate of mine is,and has noticed the spares disapear overnight).They were always a bike sitting there waiting in the wings as a bike that could be made to go fast,but nobody bothered.When I had my Rickman Metisse it took a unit 500 motor,and I got to collecting lots of parts as no one wanted them.I had T100C cases,but built up a couple of motors with T100C internals in 3TA cases,as I didn't want to damage the rare cases I had.One day a mate picked up a T90,the high performance 350cc twin.We had a lot of fun putting all my go fast 500cc parts on...cams,twin carbs,twin point ign etc.We ended up with a little bike that could really fly.Finaly someone has found they aren't such a silly bike after all.

Twenty years ago if you said a 3TA could beat an AJS 7R you'd be laughed at - yesterday we see 3TA's cleaning up the 7R's.

I have noticed the same. I think it was the Coles that got them going so well? I'm told that they have staggered cranks (ie 72 deg or summat instead of 360) and a lot of effort went into number 1, now they can virtually mass produce em! Clever! Same thing happened to Honda CB350 twins in ChCh when the CAMS boys found you could make a racer pretty cheaply and they were reliable!

There are some clever beggars out there! Good on them!