This year we welcome the ever-popular Kiwi Graeme Crosby as our guest of honour. Many of you will know ‘Croz’ from the early 1980s when he burst on to the racing scene in the UK aboard big-barred superbikes and a succession of works Suzuki machinery including the XR69. There’ll be question and answer sessions in the main hall where you’ll get the chance to ask him those burning questions you’ve always wanted answering.
On top of that there’ll be the opportunity to have your memorabilia signed when Croz takes to the autograph table. Best get in the queue early as we’re expecting it to be busy!
There are more than 70 club stands this year with a huge variety of machinery on display. The ‘Different Strokers’ stand is featuring examples of the finest 750cc race-replicas from the late 1980s and early 90s. The Air-cooled RD Club never disappoints and this year has a large selection of 20 singles, twins and triples on display. As always, the VJMC stands will feature a very well turned out selection of machines – and the club’s entry for the themed stand and fancy dress will be worth popping along to see. What will it be this year? We have no idea, they won’t tell us, but it’s sure to be good. You might also want to pop along to the VJMC stand in the main hall as it will feature the rather rare Honda NR750. The NR is an interesting machine because it features a V-four layout with oval pistons and eight valves per cylinder, similar to the NR500 raced by Fast Freddie Spencer. Just like buses, these bikes rarely come along, but you’ll also find one on the Honda RC30 Owners’ Club stand too.
The FS1-E stand has 12 machines on display, and they are always immaculately turned out. The lads and lasses on both the Kettle Club and Kawasaki Triples Club stands never cease to amaze us with the quality of their bikes – expect to see a dozen Kettles and 10 H2 triples on their respective stands.
Not to be outdone by the club stands, the private entry display machines are looking good this year with an eclectic engine format mix with everything from single cylinder air-cooled scooters through a pair of Honda six-cylinder CBX1000s and an NS400R two-stroke triple to a rotary-engined Suzuki RE5.
For many though, the big draw is the autojumble that covers the entire showground site. I always spend hours each day hunting through boxes, not looking for anything in particular. One of my highlights last year was finding a genuine Suzuki dealer’s workshop manual covering the 1985 range of two-stroke machines. The price of this bit of gold? £5 sir. That’s a bargain. Don’t be afraid to get dug in and root around. You’ll never know what’s at the back or at the bottom of a crate unless you dig around a bit. And who knows what you might find. Don’t wait until Sunday afternoon to do it either – all the best stuff will most likely be gone if you leave it until the last minute. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
If you come with a full wallet, or a credit card, and aren’t on your best behaviour, you might come away with a new machine. Motorcycle specialist auctioneers Bonhams will offer an amazing selection of bikes this year with a collection of modern classics from a single collection (many with delivery mileage only) to go under the hammer, which includes including five Bimotas (two YB11s and two SB8Rs), 1977 Honda GL1000, Yamaha OW02 R7 and a Honda Evo FireBlade. None of them have a reserve so you could bag a bargain.
Whatever you end up doing, please take the time to look everywhere during your wanderings – you never know what you might find. Enjoy the show – I know I will!?
Ben Wilkins editor, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics
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Sunday schedule
09.00 – Show opens
09.00 – Bonhams sale open for viewing*
10.00 – Trials Demonstration and tips with Tim Britton Classic Dirt Bike Editor, Yrjo Vesterinen and Brian Marr outside the Dirt Bike Experience Hall. Followed by Dales Classic Trials Club Demonstration
10.00 – Bonhams motorcycle auction commences*
11.00 – Graeme Crosby on stage – Main Hall
12.00 – Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP Paddock with Graeme Crosby signing autographs
13.00 – On stage with the off road stars in the Dirt Bike Experience Hall
14.00 – Trials Demonstration and tips with Tim Britton CDB Editor, Yrjo Vesterinen and Brian Marr outside the Dirt Bike Experience Hall. Followed by Dales Classic Trials Club Demonstration
15.00 – Firing up the legends in the Classic Racer GP Paddock
16.00 – Trophy presentation on stage – Main Hall
* Bonhams catalogue needed
We’ll be updating website visitors throughout the show’s duration, so stay tuned for the latest news.
Useful links
?Motorcycle Monthly digital show guide (from page 29)
?Classic Dirt Bike experience
? Accommodation
• There’s free parking at the show and dogs on leads are welcome.
• Gates are open 9am to 6pm on the Saturday and 9am to 5pm on the Sunday.
• Tickets on the gate will cost £12, £10.50 and £4 for under 15s.
Directions
Stafford County Showground (sat nav postcode: ST18 0BD) is on the A518, approximately one mile out of Stafford (heading from Stafford towards Uttoxeter).
From the M6 Motorway, take exit 14 and take the A518 towards Stafford, and through to follow signposts for the Stafford Showground.
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