Classic TT Motorcycle racing returns to SA in 2024 with some BIG names….
Classic Motorcycle racing is a growing phenomenon in South Africa, to the point that there is a bit of an annual rivalry on the go between the Boertjies and the Souties, sort of an Ashes for motorcycles between SA and the UK. It has been happening for a few years now with seemingly little attention from the media or the public at large.
By Sean Hendley
We wandered down to the Gauteng leg at the beginning of this year and watched Michael Dunlop duke it out with our very own AJ Venter in an atmosphere at RSR that was electrifying. Check out that video on our YouTube channel.
In 2024, the internationals are coming back in force with talk of some famous names like John McGuiness and James Hillier throwing their hats in with Michael Dunlop and Steve Parish to come and scrape a knee.
The first round will be at the East London Grand Prix Circuit during the last weekend of January 2024, (26th and 27th), before the whole circus hits the road to the big smoke and much fanfare at the world renowned Kyalami circuit.
That’s where you will find us on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2024.
Guy Mylchreest and the 45’s team will be putting on a family show of some note at Kyalami, arranging a racing festival for the whole family to enjoy with stalls, jumping castles, music, food stalls, concours competition – and the spectators will also be able to get those once in a lifetime signatures and selfies with legendary racers from both countries.
We popped in to his workshop out on the East Rand and had a bit of a chat with some of the local racers about the event and their bikes.
Don’t kid yourself looking at these old bikes, this is serious racing and there is nothing standard about them.
Rules allow for safety upgrades to the bikes such as 17 inch wheels, better brakes and suspension but engine modifications have to be period correct – but with the correct bit of mechanical wizardry these guys can eke every little bit horsepower out of these classic machines.
Check out the video of the chat with them above…. Way too long to transcribe here.
For more info, click here and as soon as we have a link where you can book and get tickets we will let you know, so keep an eye on RideFast for regular updates and all the lekker SA motorcycle news.
