Classic Festival returns to Pukekohe for 2015

[sidecar bob]

and the MV Agusta's

I forgot about them, theyre so last week.

[SlashWylde]

Am I correct in thinking that events are still on for today despite the weather?

[trustme]

Weather ,! What weather ?? Fair bit of practice was wettish but racing was on a dry track.
Should be much the same again tomorrow.
Good racing conditions this arvo, not too hot, not too sunny , dry warm track.

Almost starting to like Puke,
Almost .

[nodrog:Me]

Am I correct in thinking that events are still on for today despite the weather?

Im pretty sure motorcycles still go in the rain.

[quickbuck]

Im pretty sure motorcycles still go in the rain.

Yup, and tyre companies spend millions developing tyres for such an occasion. Then they sell them to racers so they can partake in such events....

Pretty lucky really otherwise there would be no motorcycle racing in the UK at all.

[Mental Trousers]

Almost starting to like Puke,
Almost .

Don't fall into that trap.

[Voltaire]

I got black flagged and a telling off for........having my jacket only 1/2 zipped up.

The 1934 KTT Velocette 350 I was riding sure was fun. Waiting to be picked up on the main straight when the primary chain came off for 4 races not so much, next time I'll take my phone, a hat, book and some sammies.

On the plus side I got to watch jay Lawrence give it to the Ducati 900ss with the airhead BMW, just seemed to run out of legs....
, great ride Jay.

[sidecar bob]

I had the most fun at a race meeting since I was at Puke last time.
I flogged the old MV around in the regularitory parade, affectionately known in our pit as "the Metamucil challenge"
We had a History of Britten presentation on Saturday night chaired by Kevin Grant, Britten owner, with Andrew Stroud & Steve Briggs on the stage, I could have listened to their stories till midnight.
Both Kevin's Britten & the CR&S yellow & black bike were demonstrated several times over the weekend at very close to full race pace, with Stroud finishing with a full front straight wheelie on the blue & pink bike.
I Got third in the series in pre '76 solo & sidecars, both on BMW's.
Tried to give Voltaire a few pointers on getting down behind the fairing on his Beemer up the straight, but he still looked like he was going for milk on Sunday, ahh well, next time mate.
Long may the festival remain at Puke, thanks very much to Kevin Grant & the team that made it all happen.

[Voltaire]

After I got my milk took this with my phone.

[Motu]

Oh dear, look at the bike park - no one came!!!! They blew it last year going to Hampton Downs, and looks like they aren't coming back. I didn't go either, didn't miss it one bit.

[merv]

Is motorsport in serious trouble worse than other sports with lack of attendance? I watched a bit of the the Hampton Downs car meeting on TV3 this afternoon and the turnout looked worse than for the Barry Sheene bike meeting, meaning lucky if a few hundred showed up.

[quickbuck]

Is motorsport in serious trouble worse than other sports with lack of attendance? I watched a bit of the the Hampton Downs car meeting on TV3 this afternoon and the turnout looked worse than for the Barry Sheene bike meeting, meaning lucky if a few hundred showed up.

Apparently 79 entries... and yup, a very pitiful audience....

My thoughts are that Motorsport in this country in general needs to take a leaf out of, dare I say it, Rugby Leagues book.
That sport was rubbish in the 80's. Nobody wanted to watch.
Now they start up a 9's Series (13 is a standard team size for non fans) and it just takes off!

Why?
Because the FANS have their favourite tem they want to follow!

What do we do in motorsport?
Well alienate the fans mostly. No promotion, no national coverage, no advanced warning of events to the public.
Well, I say NO, but to be fair there is some, but it is not good enough.

We NEED a Dean Lonergan!
That guy can promote anything!

[Motu]

The Classic Festival is not about ''Teams'', ''Fans''....objectives and outcomes. People go to see great bikes - on the track and in the parking lot. Sometimes they'll go to see a big name like Ago or Paul Smart, but your Voltaires' are just the people who ride one of those bikes you wished you owned. The racing is not important to those who attend, it's an ''atmosphere'' - and that's what they've lost.

[gammaguy]

Yea,

And who could forget the great Queenstown rental scooter GP held on the BMX track at the bottom of the gondola 89/90 season, Many a bent rental scooter returned that day in Qtown or the Pee Wee GP at QE2 Park 85/86 season haha, Fun times they were, Sadly that stuff has gone from the sport

I remember both of those,those peewees were wicked.

Im pretty sure a certain Mr Holden did himself a mischief at that one

[gammaguy]

Yup, and tyre companies spend millions developing tyres for such an occasion. Then they sell them to racers so they can partake in such events....

Pretty lucky really otherwise there would be no motorcycle racing in the UK at all.

Or malaysia