Winter Warmer

The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic takes place on 6th and 7th January at Newark Showground. The indoor venue offer a safe haven from whatever the weather is doing (although some brave traders do set up their stalls outside, braving Jack Frost and brass monkeys), and this year the organisers have added two additional halls – making this Winter Classic the largest so far…

Unlike the Bristol Show, which definitely leans towards old Britbikes, and the autumn Stafford event, which is more Oriental in its inclination, the bikes at the Winter Classic aren’t from any particular period or place. Instead the club displays and private entries in the main halls reflect the sheer scope of classic motorcycling: big, little, ancient, more modern, standard, special, road and race.

Among the clubs you’ll find Air-Cooled Suzukis, BSA Gold Stars, Pre-65 Trials, Lightweights and Two-Strokes, Tridents and Rockets 3s, Vintage Japanese, MZs and Classic Racers, Sprint Bikes and Maicos and many more.

Pre-booked private entries range from a 1962 Honda C72 through to a 1985 Honda VF1000, a Moriwaki Kwak and an original H1C, Yamaha RD and LC, alongside the best of British bikes – BSA Super Rocket and Gold Star, Triumph Bonnie, Velocette single, BSA Bantam and a tasty Triton – plus Continental chic which includes a Benelli Sei, Ducati Daytona and Moto Guzzi Lodola.

All entrants are competing for an array of awards which include £100 for the best in show; £100 for the best private entry; £750 for the best club stand, £100 for the machine with the most technical interest – even prizes for the best-dressed rocker of the day.

Then there’s the Scooter World section, dedicated to Vespas, Lambrettas and the like. This year the scooter halls are running a special Mods n Rockers theme, and visitors are urged to come along in ‘fancy dress’ (or normal attire, should you actually be suitably moddish or indeed off your rocker).

Another adjoining hall will also contain a dedicated ‘pit area’ which will reflect the atmosphere of a race paddock. This showcases a Blast From The Past bike start-up feature where highly-tuned sprint and race machines will be revved-up for your enjoyment – earplugs are optional!
Back at the core of the show, you’ll find special guest road-racer Michael Rutter being interviewed by the event host, Steve Plater. In a career which goes back to the early 1990s, when a teenage Rutter took to the track following in his famous father Tony’s tyre marks, Michael has amassed an amazing 14 North West 200 wins, an unequalled eight Macau victories, and five Isle of Man TT wins. And he’s still on winning form in the BSB Superstock class.

Due to his laid-back, modest approach to the sport, Michael has always been a fans’ favourite. He’s guaranteed to share some great stories – not just about his own career but also what it was like growing up with a legendary racer for a father – during his stage appearances with Steve Plater over the weekend.

Five RealClassic subscribers will be attending the event for free, but if you weren’t one of the lucky winners in our subscriber giveaway then you can buy discounted advance tickets until 2nd January. Thereafter you’ll need to pay £10 on the gate, but parking is completely free.
There’s even an online showguide if you’d like to learn more:

WHAT: The Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic
WHEN: 6th and 7th January 2018
WHERE: Newark Showground, Winthorpe, Newark, NG24 2NY

WHEN: 9am to 5pm Sat, 9am to 4pm Sun
HOW MUCH: £10 on the gate, discounted in advance
ADVANCE TICKETS: 01507 529529
MORE INFO: classicbikeshows.com

Photos Nigel Shuttleworth / RC RChive / Mortons archive