IF Greytown bike racing nut Doug Fairbrother had two tails he'd be wagging them both right now. That's because this weekend he gets to swing his leg over one of the world's most famous racing bikes, a 1972 factory John Player Norton 750cc machine. The bike has been brought to New Zealandby Peter Williams, 1970 British 500cc series champion, who rode it to one of the last major victories for the famous marque in the 1973 Isle of Man Formula 750 TT, and former John Player Team mechanic Norman White. Williams was injured while racing in 1974 and the bike is now campaigned by current owner White, an accomplished rider himself. When John Player withdrew its sponsorship of Norton, White moved on to be chief mechanic for Honda UK, taking with him the reputation of ace tuner and developer. The Norton will be one of the stars of the 27th Pukekohe Classic Festival run by the NZ Classic Motorcycle Racing Register. Fairbrother, a man who has regularly raced at the daunting 60km Isle of Man TT circuit, won the ride in an internet auction, bidding through the Greytown Racing Team. In Auckland, he will ride the bike in a two-lap parade of Nortons, after which he will set off on four fast laps of Pukekohe. Fairbrother understands he is only the ninth or 10th person to ride the famous bike, which has been valued by Sotheby's at ?200,000. In addition to riding the Norton, he'll be racing against it, on the Triumph-based Spartan on which he set a world one-mile grasstrack record at Tauherenikau. Fairbrother and fellow team member Peter Thompson are also taking the race bike they developed, the GRT, to Auckland but for display only.
