Croft Autumn Classic Bike Weekend – Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd October 2022
The Classic Racing Motorcycle Club makes its annual visit to Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire next weekend (October 1st & 2nd 2022) with a unique timetable of races, parades and displays by magnificent solo and sidecar machines that will recreate a weekend from the golden era of racing from the 1960s to the 1980s.
There will be a wide variety of machines in action from the 1960s and 1970s which will include iconic machines from the UK such as Manx Nortons, Matchless G50s, BSA Goldstars, AJS 7Rs, Greeves, Weslakes, Triumph Tridents and BSA Rocket 3s.
From the European manufacturers there will be examples from the marques of Bultaco, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Benelli and BMW rubbing shoulders with the early Japanese bikes from Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. From the 1980s will be such icons as P&M Kawasakis, Suzuki GSXRs, Yamaha TZs, Ducati V twins, Honda VFRs, and Yamaha FZ750s.
Add to that a diverse field of beautifully prepared sidecar outfits powered by engines from BMW, Hillman Imp, Yamaha, BSA, Triumph and Norton and there are all the ingredients to make it a great weekend of Classic racing.
In the paddock marquee, there will be an impressive display of over 50 Grand Prix and Historic race bikes, many of which will be taking to the track on Sunday afternoon to be put through their paces. Amongst them on track will be the weekend’s special guests, Charlie Williams and Alex George, who between them have won an amazing 11 Isle of Man TT races.
Three of Barry Sheene’s own early 1980s Akai-sponsored Yamahas have recently been brought back from Australia and restored to full working order ready for Croft’s Autumn Classic Bike Weekend. Make a point of checking out the pair of the late double World champion’s TZ750s and a TZ500.
There are over 20 races each day and Sunday’s programme features the final rounds of the ACU National Championships. These two races have attracted a superb high-quality field that has all the ingredients to make for spectacular races by the title contenders.
Early entries to the meeting include Isle of Man Classic TT winner Dominic Herbertson, Manx GP winner Alan Oversby, double UK champion Joe Barton, Classic Racer of the Year Ant Hart, ACU Classic champion Rich Molnar and Mark Cronshaw who currently leads this year’s ACU Championship.
No CRMC race meeting would be complete without the sidecars, where there are two races each day with over 20 outfits assembled to do battle around Yorkshire’s premier race circuit.
Practice starts at 09.30 on Saturday followed by racing from 12.00 until 18.00. Racing resumes at 12.00 noon on Sunday and includes the Grand Prix bike display mid-afternoon. Adult admission costs £15 in advance or £17 on the gate, accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free of charge. For further information, please visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.
Footnote – Information on the Special Guests:
Like many riders living within easy reach of Liverpool’s Isle of Man ferry, Charlie, from Chester, was drawn to “The Island” and its TT races where he achieved remarkable successes. From his first visit in 1971 when he was on the podium in the 250 Production race, the success just kept on coming. For the next fourteen years Charlie started in 52 races, winning eight and standing on the podium in another twelve occasions. Only a dozen riders in TT history that now spans 115 years, have won more TT’s than Charlie. After a break of 30 years, Charlie returned to the Isle of Man to compete one last time in the 2014 Classic TT where he finished a creditable 9th on a 1962 Manx Norton. After his competitive career ended, Charlie became a radio presenter and commentator for Manx Radio at the TT races for whom he worked for many years.
Originally from Glasgow, Alex came to fame when he won the 1969 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix which he followed with a glittering career both at the TT and on the Grand Prix circuits when he raced in the World Championships. He was tenth in the 500cc class in 1973 but his best year was in 1975 when he finished in seventh place in the 500cc World Championship including three podiums. He also raced in the F750 World Championship and won three TT races of which his first was in the 1975 Production race when he rode the legendary Triumph, Slippery Sam. But perhaps his greatest win was in 1979 Classic TT when he beat Mike Hailwood by a mere 3.4 seconds after six hard fought laps. His career effectively came to an end with a crash at the 1982 TT, although he did return to take part in the 1992 Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix where he finished in a creditable 11th place on a 500 Manx Norton.
Pictures (courtesy of Tony Todd/Phil Wain). Classic race action will be the order of the day at Croft and some of Barry Sheene’s bikes will be on display.
Cartersport are long established professionals who offer a wide range of services to clients in the motorsport industry. As well as offering the basics, we specialise in many unique and diverse profiles which we undertake for many well known names and brands so feel free to have a browse through the various sections of our website and if we can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Cartersport are long established professionals who offer a wide range of services to clients in the motorsport industry. As well as offering the basics, we specialise in many unique and diverse profiles which we undertake for many well known names and brands so feel free to have a browse through the various sections of our website and if we can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.