TT focus for classic show

The Isle of Man TT races will be the special focus of this year’s Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show. The Stafford-based show, to be held over the weekend of April 27-28, will be marking the 100th meeting of the classic road-race, which this year will be taking place in May and June. Racing began on the island in 1907, but two world wars and the Foot and Mouth epidemic in 2001 (which led to the cancellation of that year’s event) means that 2019 will mark the 100th time the legendary event has been held. To celebrate this, the International Classic Motorcycle Show will have headline guests from the world of road-racing, including Ian Hutchinson, and sidecar brothers Tom and Ben Birchall. Between the three, they have an amazing 24 TT wins to their credit. In recent years, Hutchy has been working hard to return from serious injury, which almost caused him to lose his left leg. Who can forget his amazing five wins in a week at the 2010 event, and his return to winning ways at the TT in 2015, when he took three victories? Currently, he has 16 TT wins. Joining the Birchalls and Hutchy are nine-time TT winner and popular figure Charlie Williams, as well as John Cooper, Tommy Robb, Alex George and Jim Redman. The show’s compere Steve Plater, himself a former two-time TT race winner, will be asking the questions, as well as being on the other end of the microphone when discussing his own time as a TT rider. Apart from the riders, there will be classic TT race machines on display, including a 1926 AJS GR10, which finished third in that year’s TT in the hands of Frank Longman; an ex-hg Tyrell-smith 1932 works Rudge, which also finished third in that year’s Junior TT race; a minuscule 50cc Honda CR110; a three-cylinder MV Agusta, a 1984 Ducati TT2 with TT history; and an ex-joey Dunlop RC45. Now in its 39th year, the Carole Nash International Classic Motorcycle Show is deemed to be the largest of its kind in the world. Thousands of visitors from across Europe flock to Stafford County Showground every year. It’s a must-attend event for any motorcycle enthusiast.