Race Retro’s tribute to the Honda Racing Corporation’s thirty-year involvement with motorcycle sport will include a fantastic array of rare and stunning Hondas, with some of the motorcycles being brought back to life in the Fire Up Paddock.
Held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, from 24-26 February, the centrepiece of the Honda celebrations will be the late Mike Hailwood’s RC 173 500/4 cylinder, the only known remaining example of the two built at the time, which Mike won every GP he rode it in during the 65/66 seasons.
There will also be Hailwood’s 1966/67 Honda RC 181 500 four cylinder GP motorbike, rode to GP and TT success, and the Honda RC 166 250 six cylinder GP bike as ridden by Hailwood in the 250 and 350 world championships. The six cylinder is actually an RC174 297cc six cylinder rated as a ‘350′ as these incredible machines in 1966 produced 70 bhp which equates to the same bhp per litre as a modern day Moto GP bike.
Other Hondas include the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade Superbike as ridden by John McGuiness to TT wins and up to ten Honda RC 163 250cc four cylinderreplica GP bikes that will be static display.
But its in the popular Fire-Up Paddock, hosted by the charity Road Racing Legends, which supports former TT riders and their families, where the fun starts as the bikes are fired into action so visitors can enjoy the roar of the engine.
Overseeing the Hondas will be Neil Tuxworth, one of the best known race team managers with a long history at HRC and former President of TT rides association, and Moto GP presenter and former rider Steve Parrish.
Amongst the other motorcycles on display will be the entrants into this year’s Retro and Café Racer competition where individual owners compete to see who has the best bike in show. Plus there will be hundreds of exhibitors offering everything you need for the motorsport season.
Adult ticket prices are £20 when booking in advance, £25 on the gate. Children’s tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout and has been moved to a hard surface area nearer to the halls. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com.
