A day at the “Paperclip”
It could have been the ‘seventies all over again when a big group of stars from the past descended on Queensland Raceway on 4th November, along with a breathtaking collection of rare and valuable racing machinery. The oldies shared the circuit with Mark McVeigh’s Moto DNA Track day. Star of the show was the latest machine in the collection of Tom Dermody – the actual works YZR500 Yamaha raced by Kevin Magee in the 1982 All Japan 500 Series. This V4 500 was subsequently ridden in Japan by Yamaha test rider and occasional GP rider Toshihiko Honma, who was given the bike by Yamaha on his retirement. Resplendent in its original oo88 (Japanese telecom) livery, the bike was fettled by ex-Kenny Roberts team technician Paul Treacy and former Yamaha works engineer Mike Sinclair. Magee was soon into his stride on the YZR and completed quite a few trouble free laps while adjustments were made. Stuart Avant brought along his newly restored Mk8 Suzuki RGB500, while Queensland builder Garry Middleton aired some of his fabulous collection of ex-Gregg Hansford bikes, several of which were ridden on the day by 4-times World Champion Kork Ballington. John Boote flew in from Christchurch, and wearing his original leathers, sampled many of the bikes on hand. The day was soon being referred to as a ‘Tuning Day’ for the eagerly-anticipated 2016 Barry Sheene Festival of Speed, where many of these machines will be demonstrated on track or on display. JS