Pitstop: Slight the drawcard for classic bike fest

Superbike legend Aaron Slight will be the star attraction at the 26th Classic Motorcycle Racing Festival at Pukekohe on the weekend of May 1.

In past years organisers have opted for overseas stars but this year they have decided to honour one of New Zealand's two-wheeled heroes, who won 13 world Superbike championship races during his long career as a Honda works rider.

He was twice runner-up and four times third placegetter in the world championship and won a record three Suzuka eight-hour classics in Japan. Slight will ride a variety of classic machines during the festival, which has attracted more than 200 riders with 300 bikes.

Racing at this level can be very competitive and Pukekohe rider Dave Cole on a Matchless G50 will be one to beat after winning the Australian Classic championship and all his races at the Phillip Island Classic, breaking Barry Sheene's lap record for the class.

This year the famous make celebrated is the British Velocette, represented by a large display of beautifully engineered road and racing machines. Also on show will be the 1920 Indian bike used in the upcoming film The World's Fastest Indian, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Pukekohe plaudits

Good to see Pukekohe earning plaudits over the V8 Supercar weekend after so much misguided criticism in the last few years.

The drivers were lavish in their praise for the work done on the track, which produced two days of fast and exciting motorsport.

Some of the off-track facilities are still a bit rugged but they are no worse than many across the Tasman.

And extra sealing on internal roads and pathways suggests that Counties Racing Club has made more than a short-term commitment.

The fans voted with their cash and they deserve a return visit next year.

Jones boys clash

Family ties may have frayed a little after veteran Aussie Supercar driver Brad Jones found himself upside down in his Ford Falcon after hitting the tyre barrier by the pitlane. Someone nudged him off line and suspicion fell on a Holden from Garry Rogers team, driven by Jones' nephew, Andrew.

The Brad Jones Racing team had a mixed weekend. John Bowe tested on Friday in unfamiliar racing gear after his helmet and overalls were stolen from a hotel carpark.

The gear was found in West Auckland and returned in time for racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Earlier the team had made a wonderful gesture by hosting two young Pukekohe girls from the teen cancer support group, Canteen.

The passes were given originally to Auckland company Solutionists, which designed BJR's website.

Solutionists passed them on through Canteen to Kylie Rose and Rhianon Miller.

Argyle leads charge

Manawatu driver Geof Argyle heads the New Zealand contingent contesting the opening round of the Asia-Pacific rally championship in Canberra this weekend.

The former national champion, who narrowly missed a top-three finish in the Asia-Pacific last season, will form a two-car team with Brian Green, also from Manawatu.

They will drive uprated versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII cars they used last year.

The eight-round championship visits Canberra (April 22-24), New Caledonia (May 20-22), Rotorua (June 17-19), Japan (July 22-24), Malaysia (August 19-21), Indonesia (September 9-11), Thailand (October 21-23) and China (November 25-27).

Reid improves

Aucklander Jonny Reid continues to improve with each round of the Japanese Formula Three championship.

Last weekend at Suzuka, where he has little experience, he was seventh in the first race and moved up to fifth in the second.

Van der Drift tipped

Former Hamilton karting star Chris van der Drift had two third places in the Formula BMW races at Hockenheim.

Competing for the Rosberg Team, van der Drift is in his second season in the class.

He is considered a potential championship winner.