Showtime in New Plymouth
New Plymouth Old Bike Show
26-27 July, 2014 – New Plymouth, NZ
The New Plymouth Classic Club Show usually has a theme, and this year it was the evolution of the twostroke motorcycle. The oldest was Pat Steer’s 1937 GTP Velocette, closely followed by Willie Wood’s 1938 Norman. 28 two-strokes were entered, including a Merlin Trials, two Honda 125 GP, a Yamaha TA125, Ariel Arrow, Suzuki 750 and 550 triples, Yamaha RZ500 V4 and the Alan Delatour Suzuki RG500 Mk1 square four, winner of the Finnish GP in the hands of Pat Hennen. Errol Gill, Club President, showed a 1959 Durkopp Diana, a 1962 Nzeta, a 1950 Douglas Vespa and a 1958 Piatti – an Italian design made by BSA, all immaculate restorations. Two six-cylinder bikes, a very nicely restored Honda CBX from Kelvin Pearce and Nelson Every’s original Kawasaki Z1300 provoked much discussion, mostly about power and handling relationships. The public vote saw all overshadowed by the Villiers Flyer built by 15-year-old Louis McNair, which started as a mountain bike and a couple of lawn mowers, and finished looking like a 1915 Indian Board Track racer, which had inspired Louis. It’s a runner too; he started it prior to loading up to go back home to South Auckland. A Vetter BSA triple, Don O’Connor’s beautifully restored Norton ES2 and a Velocette Valiant were among the old British classics. Only about 18 bikes had been at our previous shows and only 5 were from outside the province; it’s amazing what’s out there when you start hunting. The Custom vote was for David Cook’s Honda GB, the Special Post Classic went to Andrew Foot’s 1990 Ducati 750 – a 10 year project to produce a spectacular bike. Denis Adlam’s Triumph Bathtub was the Classic winner and Grant Rowe’s 1941 Army Indian took the Post Vintage. Grant completed the bike only days before the show, and it must be one of the best in existence for authenticity. Wanganui Classic MCC was invited to display 4 bikes, and president Brett London’s rare 1952 International Norton was beautifully presented, as were the other three. A total of 93 bikes were on show, purposely reduced from the previous shows so that onlookers could get among the bikes and photographers had better options. Overall, there was a very diverse range including an American Revtech V-twin drag bike, a 5-litre V8 trike, with 8 2014 bikes from local retailers providing interest for everyone in the large crowds attending on both days.