The Greatest Show on Earth

FOR FANS OF CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES, THERE’S ONLY ONE PLACE TO BE OVER THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 22/23.

Thefilm with which this title refences was made in 1952 – which sits neatly in the middle of the period which both our magazine, The Classic MotorCycle, and this Stafford show celebrates. What happened in 1952? Well, the Vincent Black Shadow was the fastest production motorcycle in the world (125mph), Geoff Duke was the superstar world championship rider for Norton, BSA Bantams were being built in Birmingham in their thousands and Thunderbird, Gold Star, Dominator, Red Hunter and Porcupine were names which every British schoolboy was as familiar with as Matthews, Hutton and Fangio.

Very loosely, motorcycling from around 1900 to 2000 is covered by both The Classic MotorCycle and the April Stafford show. Those aforementioned models of motorcycle above will most likely all be at Stafford, along with hundreds of others, both much older and considerably younger, and not just from Britain, but from all around the world. It really does create some spectacle. And each motorcycle is united by one thing – its owner is an enthusiast, with that owner wanting to share and spread his or her passion with like-minded souls. Stafford is the place where it all happens.

For the whole weekend, and now for over 40 years, the showground is dominated by motorcycle chattering, as old friends renew acquaintances and new friendships are formed, with the unifying subject being classic motorcycles. There are places to look at things, to buy bits, to barter, to banter… If you are interested in anything, or indeed everything, motorcycling from ABC to Zenith, then there’s only one possible weekend destination. Come along and get involved; we’ll see you there.

James Robinson Editor, The Classic MotorCycle

Saturday

9am - Bonhams’ Stafford Autumn Sale opens for viewing

10am - Jack Burnicle talks to Giacomo Agostini in the Main Hall

10.30am - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area

11am - Owd Codgers’ trials demonstrations at the Classic Dirt Bike Experience

11.30am - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

11.30am - Live music by Daisy Belles on the bandstand

12pm - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area, plus special guest, Giacomo Agostini

12.30pm - Live music by The Daisy Belles on the bandstand

1pm - Jack Burnicle talks all things with Giacomo Agostini on stage in the Main Hall

1.30pm - Owd Codgers’ trials demonstrations at the Classic Dirt Bike Experience

2pm - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

1.30pm - Live music by The Daisy Belles on the bandstand

2.30pm - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area, plus special guest, Giacomo Agostini

3.30pm - Jack Burnicle talks with Giacomo Agostini on stage in the Main Hall.

4pm - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

5pm - Show closes

SUNDAY

9am - Bonhams’ Stafford Autumn Sale opens for viewing

10am - Jack Burnicle talks to to Giacomo Agostini in the Main Hall

10.30am - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area

11am -Owd Codgers’ trials demonstrations at the Classic Dirt Bike Experience

11.30am - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

11.30am - Live music by The Daisy Belles on the bandstand

12pm - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area, plus special guest, Giacomo Agostini

12.30pm -Live music by The Daisy Belles on the bandstand

12.30pm - Jack Burnicle talks with Giacomo Agostini on stage in the Main Hall

1pm - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

1.30pm - Owd Codgers’ trials demonstrations at the Classic Dirt Bike Experience

1.30pm - Live music by The Daisy Belles on the bandstand

2pm - John McCrink hosts the live start-up of some incredible machines in the GP Paddock area, plus special guest, Giacomo Agostini

2.30pm - Live stunt show with ‘On The Edge Display Team’

3.30pm - Jack Burnicle talks with Giacomo Agostini on stage in the Main Hall.

4pm - Awards presentation in the Main Hall

5pm - Show closes

Somewill say that the only reason Giacomo Agostini has the statistics which back up his claim of the being the best motorcycle racer of all time is that, for some years, on the all-conquering and vastly superior MV Agusta he had little or no opposition. That may be true to some extent –though he could only beat what was put up against him – but arguably his greatest ever achievement came when he switched to Yamaha and took two more world titles, the 1974 350cc crown and 1975 500cc title. In doing so he became the first twostroke rider to win the premier class crown. And he’d only won all his titles because of the four-stroke MV, right? Fittingly, he returned to MV and in 1976 claimed the marque’s last ever 500cc GP win, it also being the last four-stroke to triumph in the class and his own last GP victory. It was the perfect end to a largely perfect career.

Born in Brescia in central northern Italy in 1942 to a relatively well-todo family, young Giacomo had to hide his motorcycle racing from his parents, though he was soon excelling in hill climbs and then road racing - clinching the important Italian national 175cc title in 1963, then the 250cc crown the year after, both times on single cylinder Moto Morinis. He also claimed two fourth places in 250cc GP outings, at Solitude,