THE MIKE PERO SPONSORED SOUTHERN CLASSIC
LEVELS INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
To set the scene, just a little background to the event and the geography of New Zealand... Timaru is in the South Island that covers an area twice that of England. Total population is just one million, (not counting the 30+ million sheep) yet such was the enthusiasm and organising ability of the Classic Action Motor Sport committee that some 290 race bikes were entered – a remarkable number from such a small population. Categories catered for are prewar, with the three MK.VIII Velocettes adding status to the event, through to the pre-1989 class. An RG500 Suzuki and an RC30 Honda were just two of a field of 30. Four, very special, Australian-owned, ex-factory machines were made available to mark the launch of the wonderfully informative Mike Sinclair biography. The great Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey and Randy Mamola all sent personal messages of congratulations. The book, Mike Sinclair – King Kenny’s Spanner-man, penned by Kerry Swanson, available from fishpond.com.au for NZ$39.99, indicates clearly, as if there was any doubt, that Grand Prix racing is just a short step back from all-out war. Brilliant engineers Mike Sinclair and Paul Treacy, who headed up Kenny Roberts’ successful World Championship-winning team made themselves available and race prepared the Tom Dermody’owned 1992-93 YZR500 Yamaha, that was ridden in the All Japanese Championship by Australian Kevin Magee, and an immaculate RGB500 owned by former International racer, Stu Avant and Tom Dermody. Gregg Middleton, another arch Australian enthusiast took along his ex-greg Hansford 750cc water-cooled Kawasaki and the KR 250cc that Greg took to second place in the 1979 World Championship. Hughg Anderson