All roads lead to the Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui on Boxing Day as the iconic motorcycling event celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Organiser Allan "Flea" Willacy said the largest and arguably the most popular street circuit motorcycle racing meeting in the country would be even bigger this year, with numerous past champions and current stars descending on the River City to take part in the celebrations.
While event promotions have only just begun, the race meeting and Wanganui are already in the limelight with a motorcycle display at the i-Site information centre attracting major attention.
The display features five machines, four of which have won on the track dating back to the 1950s. The display includes the former Paul Dawes-owned AJS classic, Pat Heenan's (US) feature race-winning Suzuki, the Steve Roberts-built Suzuki ridden to victory on several occasions by Dave Hiscock, Geoff Perry's Suzuki and the only Suzuki 8-hour bike in New Zealand kindly loaned by Suzuki New Zealand. The 1000cc machine is a full Yoshimura works bike.
Willacy said visitors and locals alike were already flocking to see the display, but worldwide attention will be centred on the display with television coverage set to screen in Europe on Motors TV. It will screen to more than 4 million viewers in France, England, Germany, Spain and Italy.