The Mike Pero sponsored Southern Classic: Levels International Raceway – Timaru, New Zealand

To set the scene, just a little background to the event and the geography of New Zealand… Timaru is in the South Island that covers an area twice that of England.

Total population is just one million, (not counting the 30+ million sheep) yet such was the enthusiasm and organising ability of the Classic Action Motor Sport committee that some 290 race bikes were entered – a remarkable number from such a small population.

Categories catered for are prewar, with the three Mk.VIII Velocettes adding status to the event, through to the pre-1989 class. An RG500 Suzuki and an RC30 Honda were just two of a field of 30.

Four, very special, Australian-owned, ex-factory machines were made available to mark the launch of the wonderfully informative Mike Sinclair biography.

Read more in Issue 185 of CR – on sale now!