VRRA set for big Shannonville round

The second event of the Vintage Road Racing Association series will be run on the Nelson circuit of Shannonville Motorsport Park July 6-7. Of the four rounds, no other configuration offers spectators a better chance to follow an entire race without ever losing sight of their favourite bike, racer or particular battle.

Let the VRRA racers take you back, as they push their CB350 twins and Gpz550 fours, just like the ones your neighbour came home on and made you crazy for bikes. Feel the tension as Lee Newbury, Dave Mascioli and Jason Darlington do battle on the mighty Kawasaki 550cc engine in Period 3 (up to 1982). Watch the XS650 Yamahas in Period 2 (up to 1972), that you got your first ride on (and your teeth kept shaking for a week!).

Dominic Aubry has promised to take the black MBP Ducati 900ss out in the Period 4 (up to 1989) Vintage challenge, where he will have his hands full against the Kawasaki Ninja ZX7 of Collin Duncun. And we’ll be in for another epic battle, as Aubry races the Whyte Brothers Kawasaki Z1 superbike (this 1973 model was built by Steve Whyte) against Tim Ruhl on his spaceship Suzuki Katana race bike. Their race in the first round had everybody talking.

If Repsol replicas are your thing, Vickie Fournier will be back with her NSR250 Repsol and watch out for all the FZR400s and FZR600s screaming around the track in the Period 4 races, P4F2 (middle) and F3 (light). And if the older bikes make you drool, where else can you watch motorcycles from the Fifties and Sixties vie for points as they push these 60-year-old machines beyond their intended street use.

Nortons, Triumphs, BSAs, BMWs, MotoGuzzis, Hondas, Suzukis, Kawasakis, Yamahas, MotoMorinis, Villiers, Aermacchis and Sidecars will be part of the action, featuring two-stroke and four-stroke configuration, singles, twins and fours.

Come and let these vintage racers take you back to a time before stress and deadlines and mortgages. Take a break from the present and come live the 3D past. Cost is $10 Saturday/$10 Sunday (includes parking).

–By Brian Lourenço/courtesy VRRA

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