The show, held at Stafford County Showground on April 27-28, boasts eight-time world champion racer Phil ‘The Prince of Speed’ Read as guest of honour. He will be interviewed live on stage across the weekend, talking about his record breaking career. Phil rode his Yamaha RD56 249cc to victory in the 1964 Grand Prix world championship and went on to become the first man ever to win a world title in each of the 125, 250 and 500cc classes.
World renowned Bonhams auctioneers will be holding its spring sale at the show on Sunday with important pioneer, vintage and collectors’ motorcycles up for grabs.
Top lots include a works 1952 Vincent 998cc Black Shadow designed for a record breaking attempt at Montlhery – this bike is estimated to sell for between £110,000 and £130,000, there’s a 1926 Brough Superior SS80/100 estimated at between £160,000 and £200,000 and for a more modest £22,000 to £28,000 you could buy a 1914 Indian Model F racing motorcycle once owned by Hollywood star Steve McQueen.
Over in the Dirt Bike Hall, the legendary trials rider Yrjo Vesterinen will be joining us. With three world championships under his belt, not to mention one British, 11 Finnish and seven Scandinavian, this is one man not to be missed.
Other highlights include the return of the gravity-defying Wall of Death and a host of other unmissable attractions. Every trade, club and private entry stand will be filled and hundreds of glistening machines lined up to await inspection, including the Velocette Owners’ Club which celebrates 100 years with a whopping nine bikes and two engines on display.
Classic Bike Shows organiser Nick Mowbray said: “I’m really excited about this show. I always love Stafford because we get the real enthusiasts – the people with real knowledge. You can meet some lovely characters if you just wander around. We’ve got people coming from as far away as Alaska and having Phil Read as our guest of honour is a real coup. He is a legend in his own lifetime.
“The list of bikes we’re expecting is truly enormous and there are some true gems on there that I’m particularly keen to see for myself. The number of traders we’ve booked is unprecedented – this is a record-breaking show. It is also an international show and we’re going to show the rest of the world how it’s done. Come and see for yourself!”
With more than 33,000 enthusiasts coming through the gates in 2012, this year is promising to be another cracker of a show and one you surely cannot afford to miss.
