The Classic Dirt Bike Show was once again a massive success
By John Dickinson on 22nd Feb 18
The Hagon Shocks-sponsored Classic Dirt Bike Show was once again a massive success at The International Centre, Telford, last weekend.
A superb blend of show-standard bikes, special guests, club stands, trade and retail stands and autojumble both indoors and outdoors saw large crowds making the most of everything that was on offer.
Guest of honour this year was Gerrit Wolsink, the former Suzuki factory rider, twice runner-up in the 500cc World Motocross Championship (MXGP) and winner of 14 GPs, including an amazing five wins in the USA at Carlsbad.
Gerrit, nicknamed The Dutch Dentist (because that is what he was!) now 70 years old, enthralled guests at the official Show Dinner on Saturday evening with stories of working with the Japanese team in the1970s.
2018 Classic Dirt Bike Show Telford
Fellow speakers at the dinner were Colin Dommett, Cornwalls most successful trials rider and no stranger to a microphone and Manxman Peter Duke, son of the legendary road race champion Geoff Duke, who has made such a success of Duke Video, which serves motorcycling so well.Come on, who hasn't got a shelf full of Duke Videos and DVDs at home?
Jack Burnicle, a human encyclopedia of scrambles/ motocross, expertly hosted the live interviews on the Telford stage when Wolsink was joined by other invited guests, including the legendary Alf Hagon, grass track, speedway and motorcycle sprinting star and, of course, the instigator of the Hagon Shocks company which was celebrating 60 years in business.
Now a lively 86, Alf regailed the crowds with tales recalling his many successful years of competition.
Jeff Smith, World motocross 500cc Champion in 1964 and 1965, was also a welcome guest of the show, although Jeff spent most of his time patiently signing copies of his latest book which was selling like hot cakes and the octogenarian was getting writers cramp!
There were of course hundreds of bikes for enthusiasts to stand and discuss from Concours standard to piles of disintegrating rust out in the jumble with every make imaginable represented somewhere, including rare machines like Moto Villa MX and Merlin trials machines.
Best Motocross machine in Show went to the extremely rare only two produced as far as anyone knows factory Jawa which mysteriously appeared for sale at auction in Britain recently.
2018 Classic Dirt Bike Show Telford
The specialist stands for trials, motocross and enduro spares all reported brisk business and more than a few complete machines changed hands. Everything was available to buy whatever your interest with frames, chassis kits and complete as new bikes ready to go and take your pick of tanks, mudguards, hubs, forks, shocks, etc, etc, etc
The Westmorland Motor Club picked up the prize for Best Club Stand all reported brisk business with both trials and motocross series and individual events offering the chance to sign-up or just chat about their events.
The National Twinshock Motocross Association signed up around 300 riders over the weekend with a large rise in 125 EVO class a feature, proving that the Classic scene is an ever-evolving, living, being that can only get bigger!
Modern trials were also represented with Beta, Gas Gas, Scorpa and TRS represented by John Lampkin, John Shirt, Nigel Birkett and Steve Saunders all personally in attendance and enjoying plenty of attention.
Telford has proved to be a very popular venue, centrally located with ample nearby hotels and facilities and interest in the Classic scene remains as high, if not higher, than ever.
Roll on next year.
Meanwhile enjoy this selection of pics in the gallery above, which hopefully give you a taste of the Telford experience.
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