Motor Cycles

The programme for the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2005 included the following piece:

'Golden bike era celebrated

Two-wheeled racing variety will once again be provided by the Lansdowne Classic Motor Cycle series. Two races, one on each day, will feature up to 40 racing machines from the 1950s and '60s such as Matchless G50s and Manx Nortons.

For the first time there will also be a parade of special bikes, including one of the six famous George Beale Honda 6 replicas, owned by Dennis and Derek Bunning: an iconic bike of the '60s.

Also 100 years of Velocette will be celebrated with the appearance of the 500cc Velocette Thruxton which won both the Barcelona 24 hours and the Brands Hatch 500-miler in 1966. Keith Heckles, who rode the bike to second place in the '67 Production TT, will race it on Sunday.'

Here are photographs of three of the bikes which took part in the races.

The 1958 500cc Manx Norton of Dave Beckett

The 1958 500cc Matchless G50 of Tim Jackson

The 1962 350cc AJS 7R of  David Lock

The colours of the number plates differ to comply with the relevant ACU regulations:

'The front and side number plates for each class of motorcycles are:

Class	Background	Numbers
F125cc	Red background	White numbers
125cc	Black background	White numbers
250cc	Green background	White numbers
350cc	Blue background	White numbers
500cc	Yellow background	Black numbers
Over 500cc	White background	Black numbers
Formula 400	Blue background	White numbers
Supersport 600	White background	Blue numbers
Formula 600	White background	Blue numbers
Supermono	Black background	Yellow numbers
Stocksport	Red background	White numbers
FII Sidecars	Red background	White numbers
Open Sidecars	White background	Black numbers (incl three wheelers)'