The Hamilton Motorcycle Club is finally on the cusp of its biggest event in years with the 100th anniversary celebrations ready to kick off from late March. The club will be 101 by then after two false starts leading to a 12 month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Waikato Museum visitors over summer were treated to the artistic spoils of generous club donations from Hamilton street racing events staged during the 1970s. On display to complement the artworks were two motorcycles which competed at the Founders Theatre street races, being Robbie Dean’s bright yellow Norton Commando and the late Rodger Freeth’s Yamaha TZ750A, to which he later fitted infamous aerofoils to make it more competitive. Both machines were well presented.
The One Hundred Year Journey Motorcycle Show will be opened on March 27 at the Classics Museum in Hamilton. There will be 50 special machines and race bikes ‘through the years’ by club members on display and well worth the ride to visit. The show closes on April 11.
Sunday morning of March 28 is the annual Swap Meet, now held in conjunction with the Waikato Classic Club. This is staged in the Classics Museum car park. Attend the Swap Meet and visit the museum bike display – how good is that!
Easter weekend is the busiest, as Saturday April 3 starts with the annual Road Trial for the prestigious Dave Connolly Memorial Trophy. At 5pm that day is a fly-in at Te Kowhai airfield of a Tiger Moth to celebrate 101 years since the first aeroplane landing in Hamilton, which was organised by the Hamilton Motorcycle Club during the clubs first race meeting back in 1920.
The biplane display leads directly into Easter Saturday’s Centenary dinner at the Hangar, Te Kowhai airfield. Some tickets are still available.
On Sunday April 4 the Commemorative Road Ride and photo recreation begins with riders meeting in Hood St from 9.00am. Motorcycles old and new are expected to recreate the 1920s era club members famous Hood St image. Riders then recreate a slow ride to the top of the Kaimai range, where the clubs formation was first discussed. A return to the clubrooms is expected for social reminiscing and a BBQ.
Anniversary celebrations wrap up with a MotoTrials demonstration day, including vintage machinery. This will be held by the HMCC at Lake Kimihia Park, near Huntly on Monday April 5 and is suitable for all classic trials machines and skill levels.
Prominent current and former members include MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb, multi-NZ Superbike champion and Britten rider Andrew Stroud, plus four-time world champion and two-time Isle of Man TT winner Hugh Anderson.
The HMCC has an anniversary book ‘100 Year Journey’ with 322 pages of incredible HMCC history. A great read that’s worthy of any riders coffee table. Just $50 will get you a copy.
Check the club website for details and to purchase dinner tickets, T shirts, polo shirts and the centenary book at www.hamiltonmcc.org.nz.