Stafford celebrates Sheene and Suzuki
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Barry Sheene’s first premier class championship win in 1976, and Suzuki are marking the occasion by bringing BOTH of the legend’s title-winning bikes to the Stafford show…
‘BARRY BRINGS IT HOME’ were the words chosen by the Motor Cycle to headline its July 31, 1976 edition as it celebrated the news that 25-yearold Barry Sheene had captured his first 500cc world championship after victory in the Swedish Grand Prix.
The weekly newspaper went all out with several pages and plenty of pictures dedicated to the ‘Cockney whizzkid’ who – having become a household name the year before following his high-speed crash at Daytona – was now a national and international superstar.
This October 15-16 at Staffordshire County Showground the Carole Nash
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show will pay its own tribute to Bazza, having teamed up with Suzuki to bring not just the iconic orange and black RG500 from the 1976 season to the event, but also the machine from subsequent year during which Sheene followed up his maiden world title to claim back-to-back crowns.
Both bikes have been shipped over from the Sheene family home in Australia, paid for by Suzuki, and Stafford exhibition manager Nick Mowbray said: “Suzuki has pulled off something special getting these two famous and historic racing motorcycles over to the UK, and they will take their rightful place on display at the biggest modern-classic motorcycle event in the world.”
And those who love their Suzukis are in for a real treat as it’s not just the Sheene bikes which will be in attendance. This year the Stafford show will boast a dedicated Suzuki Village which will bring together all the best-known owners’ clubs and groups including the Suzuki Owners’ Club, The Kettle Club, Air-Cooled Suzuki, Team Classic Suzuki and the GT/X7 Owners’ Club.
And, as reported on page eight, three-time British Superbike champion and Suzuki team man John Reynolds is set to attend the event and will be found talking to visitors and sharing stories in the Suzuki marquee.
Trade will also feature, with Robinsons Foundry selling parts and clothing, and Crooks Suzuki and Redcar Motorcycles on hand to help showgoers with any Suzuki-based classic queries.
Suzuki GB’s Tim Davies said: “We couldn’t miss the opportunity to share these rare Barry Sheene’s championship-winning bikes with the Stafford show crowd. The GSX-R750 and TL1000S road bikes which we refurbished will also be on display, while Team Classic Suzuki will be showcasing a number of other race bikes such as the XR69 ridden at the Classic TT by Michael Dunlop, an RG500 Mk10 and a pair of RGV500s, one ridden by Kevin Schwantz in Pepsi colours and the other a Movistar machine campaigned by Kenny Roberts Junior.”
See the map on pages 36-37 of this issue for details of the Suzuki Village location at the event.