Classic Off-Road and Racing Show - 2010 |
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 Alan Wright’s Classic Off-Road and Racing Show gets bigger and better every year. Now in its new home at the International Centre at Telford, it can accommodate far more in the way of exhibits in warm, well lit halls to attract the enthusiast from the world of competition machinery as well as the traditional auto-jumble it was originally based on.Run over the weekend of 13-14 February, Alan had certainly maximised on the plusher surroundings and attracted some premium exhibits, both from the dirt and tarmac brigade. Stars not only in respect of the actual machines, but also riders from the classic days themselves could be seen wandering round or on stands like the evergreen Sammy Miller who excelled at both disciplines. Special guests like John ‘Mooneyes’ Cooper and Neil Hudson could be found on the stage being interviewed about the good old days. MotoGP commentator Julian Ryder was there to bring fans up to date on the modern world and so the list goes on. One exhibit that also spanned old and new, was the official Greeves factory stand, which not only showed bikes from their classic past, but their brand new trials bike that looks set to take the modern rock hopping world by storm. Carbon fibre abounds on this machine that looks no heavier or bigger than a modern mountain bike despite its powerful liquid-cooled single cylinder motor. This being a far cry from the air-cooled Villiers power plants that used to power the scramblers and trials irons from their impressive history. As usual those looking for elusive spare parts for a rebuild were kept happy with a plethora of stands catering it seems for every off-road competition machine from around the world. Complete bikes were also for sale for those looking to get back into the sport without the time or knowledge to restore their chosen mount. Riders were not forgotten with classic clothing to match the bikes on sale, tools to do the restoration work and clubs to advise on spares etc and competitions to run the newly rebuilt bikes in. Having sorted out the parking problems that beset last years move to Telford, it was a slick show in anybodies book. Certainly if this year’s is anything to go by, next years show has got to be a must attend for any competition fan old or new! Article by Ian Kerr
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