Winter Classic Showguide 2025

St a r G u e st

WAYNE R E N D R A G JANUARY 11-12, 2025 Former World 500cc Champion

PLUS : Former British champion

Roger Marshall

Saturday 9am-5pm I Sunday 9am-4pm

NEWARK SHOWGROUND, NG24 2NY Y

www.classicbikeshows.com

T ICK ET INF O : Adult advance: £13, On the gate: £16, Under 16s: FREE FREE PARKING!

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The classic start to your biking year May the whole Classic Bike Guide magazine Winter Classic gang wish you a Happy New Year!

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et’s hope it’s a good one, so when the day comes put that old mince pie down, head to Newark and enjoy a great look around the hundreds of great bikes, scooters, stalls and events.

With a new year comes new goals for many of us, whether that be to finish that bike in the shed, to ride more, get to a rally or even to have a garage clear out.

The Winter Classic show hopes to help with all of those, with parts and tools to help finish projects, gorgeous club stands to enthuse you to take your bike out more (or further), and perhaps even have your own stand to pass on parts

you don’t need but others may.

There always seems to be a buzz at the Winter Classic, I know we go away feeling we’re ready to accomplish something more this

Timetable Saturday 10am

Wayne Gardner and Roger Marshall talk to Steve Plater on the main stage

11am to 12pm

Blast from the past: Fire-up area demonstration. Bikes and scooters with Steve Plater, Wayne Gardner, Roger Marshall plus John and Norman Ronald

12.15pm Wayne Gardner with Steve Plater on the main stage 1.30pm to 2.30pm

Blast from the past: Fire-up area demonstration. Bikes and scooters with Steve Plater, Wayne Gardner, Roger Marshall plus John and Norman Ronald

3.30pm

Wayne Gardner, Roger Marshall and Steve Plater onstage

Sunday 10am

Wayne Gardner and Roger Marshall talk to Steve Plater on the main stage

11am to 12pm

Blast from the past: Fire-up area demonstration. Bikes and scooters with Steve Plater, Wayne Gardner, Roger Marshall plus John and Norman Ronald

12.15pm Wayne Gardner with Steve Plater on the main stage 1pm to 2pm

Blast from the past: Fire-up area demonstration. Bikes and scooters with Steve Plater, Wayne Gardner, Roger Marshall plus John and Norman Ronald

3pm

Awards with Wayne Gardner and Roger Marshall on the stage

new year and hope you do too.

Helping create an exciting buzz to start off this year is none other than World GP champion from 1987, Wayne Gardner. The Australian was part of a golden era, battling Lawson, Spencer, Rainey and Sarron; when the bikes were exciting to us and dangerous to the riders. So expect some riveting stories on the stage talking to Steve Plater. His great mate from the UK, 11-time British champ and TT podium finisher Roger Marshall, will also be with us, sharing the show spotlight and no doubt remembering those on-track battles.

When you’re wandering around and find a club stand you like, don’t be afraid to chat to the volunteers – the knowledge these groups have is incredible. Let them pass it on to you to make your life better!

Bike fans, go and see the

scooters, and scooter fans, have a look at the bikes – I always make a beeline for the scooter hall as the machines are brilliant, the folk are only too happy to chat and the superb soundtrack in there makes it feel like a real party.

With most of the show

undercover, even the weather will find it hard for anyone to not have a good time at the Winter Classic.

We’ll see you there.

and the Classic Bike Guide gang

VISIT WWW.CLASSICBIKESHOWS.COM

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Meet Wayne Gardner

Australia’s first 500cc GP champion Star guest at the Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic show is a true 500cc Grand Prix legend.

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isitors to the Newark event will have the chance to meet a racer nicknamed ‘Iron Man’ by Japanese fans and admired the world over: Wayne Gardner – the Wollongong Whiz – was the first Aussie to become world champ in motorcycling’s premier class.

The 65-year-old’s passion for motorbikes started at an early age, and he was racing on minibikes by the age of 12 in his native New South Wales. After finishing school, he began an apprenticeship but

Wayne will be joined by his former teammate and British champion Roger Marshall at the Newark event.

soon quit to chase his dream of racing glory.

Launching his career in 1977 and riding a second-hand 250cc Yamaha in the Australian championship, he made an impressive debut, finishing second at Sydney’s Amaroo Park. He then secured his first victory shortly after at Oran Park Raceway. With a ‘win or crash trying’ mentality, he quickly moved up to the 350cc category, but his aggressive style raised eyebrows within the racing community, leading the Auto Cycle Union to consider banning him. His sponsor at the time, Karl Praml, a motorcycle dealer in his hometown of Wollongong, intervened, encouraging Gardner to refine his skills and focus on winning championships instead of just individual races.

By 1979, Gardner was ‘promoted’ and excelled on both 350cc and 750cc bikes. In 1980, he dominated a very wet Sandown race in Victoria.

His Japanese engineer and then team owner, Mamor Moriwaki, sought a talented rider for the Australian Superbike Championship as well as to compete overseas.

This led Gardner and co-rider John

Pace to secure pole position at the prestigious 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours, beating the factory teams.

In 1981 Gardner finished fourth in the Superbike race at Daytona before winning his first race in England and coming under the wing of British track and TT star Roger Marshall. Lifelong friends, Marshall helped Gardner learn the British tracks and hone his skills still further. Not long after being in the UK, Gardner found himself racing against legends like Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene and, despite suffering a fractured ankle in the May, he removed his plaster cast and won at Suzuka that same year.

Gardner joined Honda in 1982, winning multiple races and entering his first 500cc world championship event. However, his whole racing future and commitment came into question when reigning champion Franco Uncini crashed heavily in front of him. The Italian was left in a coma for a week, the whole experience leaving Gardner shaken.

In 1984, with Honda prioritising British racing over European GPs, Gardner had to self-fund his campaign. His impressive results

earned him a reputation in Europe as well as the British 500cc championship. Suzuki began to show interest, prompting Honda to provide him with a chance to pursue the world championship in 1985.

However, his three-cylinder bike struggled against the competition’s V4s, forcing him to push beyond its limits.

In 1986, Honda equipped him with competitive machinery. Gardner made history as the first Australian to win a 500cc GP race in nine years and ended the season in second place. By 1987 everything fell into place, and he clinched the blue riband world championship, becoming the first Australian to achieve this milestone.

A standout moment in his career came at the inaugural Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island in 1989. This thrilling race saw him triumph against formidable opponents, and he repeated this feat in 1990, despite riding with a broken wrist and damaged fairing.

His new teammate, fellow Australian Mick Doohan, was inspired by Gardner’s success and went on to win five world championships.

Gardner was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991 and he retired from Grand Prix racing in 1992, concluding his career with a victory at the British Grand Prix.

His legacy includes 18 Grand Prix wins and four victories at the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance Event. However, he remained involved in motorsport, mentoring riders such as Daryl Beattie.

After his time in Grands Prix, Gardner shifted his focus to V8 Supercars, debuting in 1993 and achieving victory at the Australian Grand Prix. He later founded Wayne Gardner Racing and competed until 2000, earning a reputation for his adventurous driving style and a new nickname, ‘Captain Chaos’.

He also participated in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship until 2001, securing victories in 1999 and 2001, and was the only Toyota driver to finish every race that season in the points.

In 1998, Gardner made a one-off appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving alongside Philippe Gache and Didier de Radigues. They qualified 26th but did not finish due to engine issues.

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Essential W viewing

inter is a busy time for all of us classic bike and scooter enthusiasts. If you’re not working on a full restoration, then you’re fettling your pride and joy and tending to all those little jobs.

Once finished, surely you need to show it off? So the season

opener at Newark’s Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic is without doubt the perfect place to showcase your work.

Here is a selection of just four bikes and two scoots that have come out of the garage ready for the 2025 season that you need to check out at this year’s show.

Love is… a 1960 Lambretta TV175 Series 2 Martin Armstrong’s stunning 1995 Yamaha YZF750 It’s hard to believe that Yamaha’s YZF750 will be 32 years old in 2025.

It’s a bike that was full of promise and set to be perhaps the benchmark superbike in the early 1990s, except for one small problem... Honda’s launch

a year earlier of the game changing Fireblade.

Martin Armstrong’s bike isn’t a ‘pinky’ but the later, 1995 colour scheme more associated with Nori Haga in his debut year of World Superbikes. It is simply a beautiful example.

One of only a few remaining examples; the 1977 Honda CB750 Phil Read race replica There are very few bikes over the years that carry a racer’s name; sure you get race rep paint schemes but not a specific model named after them.

This 1977 Phil Read race replica Honda CB750 was one of only 150 produced

by Colin Seeley, of which only around half remain in existence today. It was the

first ever fully-faired race replica available straight from the showroom from any Japanese motorcycle importer in the world.

It cost a whopping £360 more than the standard machine at £1895 (a large sum at the time). If nothing else you just have to check out the exhaust, which is a true work of art.

A glorious 1947 Triumph Speed Triple 500 Trevor Ratcliffe’s 1947 Triumph Speed Twin 500 is a postwar baby and finished in resplendent maroon (there were only a few colours available straight after the war).

This example is from

the first year of production and it would be made for a further 10 years. 498cc, air cooled with a heady output of 28bhp at 6000rpm, this old girl could certainly get down the road. Could it be the best in show?

1949 BSA M21 Combination; a star in its own right Check out this TV star. No not the owner Paul Reynolds (or is it Corporal Jones?), but his 1949 BSA M21 Combination. Does it look familiar? That’s because it was used in Dad’s Army and also in On the Buses.

With a 600cc single cylinder side valve engine, rigid frame, girder forks and

four-speed, hand-change gearbox, these bikes were rugged and endowed with copious low-speed pulling power. The model was highly successful in their intended role as sidecar tugs and its stablemate the M20, did sterling service as despatch riders’ mounts during the Second World War.

Discover rare finds and expert traders For the traders onsite, Newark offers a great range of items including spares, parts, paints, clothing, registration plates, oils, lubes, chains and carbs; in fact just

about everything you could possibly need to complete your winter project.

All the indoor halls and outdoor stalls will be packed with motorcycle autojumblers offering

plenty of unique items.

Why not come along and meet the likes of Steel City Classics, Midland Scooter Centre, Amal Carburettor Company, Spicers Auctioneers & Valuers,

and MTC Exhausts? And that’s not all. Many more expert traders will be on hand to help you find exactly what you need and perhaps even inspire your next project.

If ever the love someone has for their scoot can be demonstrated in one picture, then surely this is it. Meet this 1960 Lambretta TV175 Series 2 owned by Kirk Wattis.

Boasting a power output of 8.6bhp, with a top speed rising to 65mph (although with a trailer that might be ambitious), it is simply a

showstopper. Back in the day it was marketed as “the Sportsman scooter” with the styling based on the late Li Series 1, but this example has a few changes such as a new headlight which turned with the steering, and floor mats instead of runners. Visit the Scooter World halls.

Steve Bains’ beautiful 1958 Lambretta Series1 Framebreather The Lambretta Li Series 1 was launched in April 1958, seven months after the TV175 Series 1 was launched. By then, Innocenti had eliminated most of the engine problems the TV175 Series 1 had.

The Lambretta Li150 was a dramatic departure from the shaft-driven LD range that had preceded it.

The new enclosed chaindriven engine was centrally positioned under the frame and had more power than the LD. With larger 10in wheels and beautifully designed panel work it was a superb scooter to ride and an instant hit. Steve Bains’ 1958 Framebreather example is a sympathetic and beautiful restoration.

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Meet the clubs and their beloved machines

The Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic promises to be a true delight for any motorcycle or scooter enthusiast, with a fantastic lineup of clubs expected for our 2025 event.

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ince the show’s inception in 2012, we’ve proudly hosted a number of great clubs, each ready to shine a light on their favourite machines.

With club members on hand to discuss the ins and outs of their pride and joy, here’s a glimpse of who you can look forward to meeting.

First up we have the Bandit Owners’ Club, founded in 2003 for likeminded enthusiasts with a passion for the iconic Suzuki machines.

The club provides a space for members to meet, make friends, and attend

shows and events, proudly displaying a diverse range of Bandit motorcycles from various years and sizes.

Even after more than 20 years, the club remains strong, with some founding members still around to share stories from the early days.

Today, it stands as the largest Bandit-only club in the UK, a close-knit family united by shared interests.

Next, we have a club that will be celebrating its 50th anniversary – the UK Gold Star Owners’ Club which was formed back in 1975.

Five decades later it is

still the place to be if you own or enjoy Gold Stars, with regular attendance at shows and events throughout the country allowing them to keep in the public eye. Dedicated to the preservation, maintenance and enjoyment of Gold Stars, we can’t wait to see them again.

These clubs are certainly not alone. A variety of other bike-focused clubs will be joining us, such as last year’s winner of the best biking club stand, the Italian Motorcycle Owners’ Club. Its display for the 2024 show featured well-known models and some very classy rarities, including

a 75cc Pirotta. We’ll be keen to see if they can pull off another beautiful display.

If scooters are more your style, why not visit the likes of the Maico Owners’ Club or the Generations SC club – two of the many Scooter clubs that will be joining us.

The Maico Owners’ Club can trace its roots back to the late 1950s, originating from the heyday of Scootering.

Likewise, the Generations SC will be taking the short trip from this newspaper’s home town of Horncastle in Lincolnshire to celebrate 25 years as a club.

Feel the thrill of the fire-up area

Competition

The superb fire-up area will roar to life once again in the Stanley Sheldon Hall at the Newark Showground, where you can see, hear and feel the power of incredible machines from all eras.

Step into this part of the show and you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the smoky atmosphere, where the echoes of revving engines and the smell of burning fuel fill the air. It’s your chance to get up close and personal with the action, as our star guest – the former world champ Wayne Gardner – and compere Steve Plater light up the hall with an impressive lineup.

You can expect to see all kinds of machines being fired up, from classic race bikes and sleek road bikes to high-speed sprint machines,

If you sign up for your Winter Classic tickets ASAP, you’ll have a shot at winning a 741-piece toolkit worth £8995 from TengTools! Don’t worry if you miss the advance ticket deadline, as there will still be an opportunity to enter for this grand prize over at the Classic Bike Guide stand in the Lady Eastwood Pavilion.

The competition closes on September 1, 2025. There are no cash alternatives available. The winner will be drawn at random. Winners will be contacted via an official Mortons email. We never ask for bank details. Terms and conditions apply. To view the privacy policy of MMG Ltd (publisher of Classic Bike Guide and also this publication) please visit www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

iconic scooters, thundering drag bikes, and even nostalgic strokers.

Each start-up brings its own thrill, with engines glowing hot and

exhausts crackling in a wonderful display of power and engineering.

It’s a true celebration that helps kick start the new year.

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FANCY A SCOOTERING SUBSCRIPTION? SEE STAN AND THE TEAM OVER IN THE CROCKER HALLS

Scoot over to Newark in January for all things Scootering 2025

WINTER CLASSIC

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oin us in January for a real scooter extravaganza! This annual gathering brings together a passionate group of scooter enthusiasts showing off some of the UK’s finest rides – whether custom, classic, or just downright cool.

As the first major gathering of the year, this event kicks off the season with clubs from across the country showcasing their twowheeled beauties and sharing stories from years gone by.

With two of the Crocker Halls dedicated to the one and only Scooter World, Newark becomes the ultimate destination for a mix of custom, club, classic, and trade displays. You’ll find everything from meticulously restored vintage Vespas and Lambrettas to cutting-edge custom builds that push the boundaries of scooter design.

At the 2024 show, the

Veteran Vespa Club earned the coveted title of Best Scooter Club Stand with a display commemorating the 60th anniversary of its inaugural ride from London to Brighton.

Featuring 26 of their finest Vespas and two members from the original run, they set the bar high – so who will triumph this year? Alongside the Club Stand award, there will also be prizes for the Best Scooter in Show.

Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or simply curious about the excitement, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Scooter World. From browsing parts and accessories in the trade stalls to admiring the unique modifications on display, you’re sure to leave with inspiration and maybe even a few new additions for your own collection.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic start to the season!

Celebrate Scootering’s 40th anniversary with editor Stan and the magazine team When you’ve had your fill of mince pies, what better way to start the season than with a visit to our winter warmer show!

Held over the weekend of January 11-12 at the massive Newark Showground, the Winter Classic is established as the show that kicks off the new year to a great start.

With halls full of two-wheeled exhibits, trade stands, guest speakers and the legendary ‘live run’ area, there’s something for everyone. High on the list of attractions

for scooterists are the two halls dedicated to Scooter World. There you’ll find a gathering of clubs, traders and exhibits to brighten even the darkest of winter days, whilst outside, there’s an autojumble and enough food outlets to satisfy even the largest appetite.

Always a spectacular event, the 2025 show has a special place in our hearts as it kicks off Scootering magazine’s 40th anniversary year.

Our team will be there, will you?

Stan and the Scootering team.

VISITING THE SHOW? COME TO OUR STAND FOR SOME GREAT DEALS …

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SPECIAL GUEST: GRAHAM NOYCE

FEBRUARY 22-23, 2025 The Royal Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN | Gates open 9:30am

SPECIAL GUESTS

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CHAS MORTIMER PLUS AUCTION

FEBRUARY 8-9, 2025 Telford International Centre, TF3 4JH Autojumble opens 9am, Show halls open 10am

Spectacular collection of classic off-road machines Hundreds of trade & outdoor autojumble stands plus Cracking club displays

SAVE 20% IN ADVANCE! Adults from £16 Under 16s FREE FREE Parking

Hundreds of classic motorcycles on display, Indoor & outdoor trade & autojumble, Outstanding club displays

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Customer services: 01507 529529 Trade enquiries: 01507 529430

Discounted advance tickets close 8:30am, February 21, 2025.

Discounted advance ticket: £16.75 Under 16s go FREE accompanied by an adult

*Discounted tickets close 8:30am Monday, February 5, 2025.

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Useful bits to know E stablished back in 2012, the Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic offers a welcome respite from the hectic holiday season and a chance to get lost exploring the many hundreds of stunning classic machines on display.

What better way to kickstart your 2025 than with a mix of traders, dealers, and autojumble plots? It’s the perfect place to grab a box of parts and spares, as well as finding that inspiration needed to finish your restoration for a summer of riding… or perhaps pick up a new project.

Not only that, but we also offer free parking for all, including a clearly signposted disabled parking area, along with a variety of amenities including bar, catering and toilet facilities.

Open to all ages, the show provides free entry for kids under 16 years of age.

If you’re not sure what’s going

on or where you are, there’s an information desk situated in the George Stephenson Hall, where our cracking private entries can also be found along with other trade and club areas. Not only that but you can also download the CBS app for the latest updates and show news: Simply go to www.classicbikeshows.com/app and get the app today.

Located at Newark Showground NG24 2NY, our visitor entrance is located at the showground’s blue gate as shown on the corresponding map.

Check us out on Facebook @ classicbikeshows and Instagram @classicbikeshows and twitter @classicbikeshow for the latest news. To learn more about the show visit www.classicbikeshow. com/newark where you can sign up to our newsletter list.

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THE HALLS GEORGE STEPHENSON HALL Clubs, private entries, trade, information desk

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GEORGE STEPHENSON HALL

OUTDOOR TRADE

Trade and autojumble

LADY EASTWOOD PAVILLION

Stage, Clubs, trade and autojumble

STANLEY SHELDON HALL

PRIVATE ENTRIES

Blast from the Past (Scooter and bikes) Crocker Halls 1-3 Scooter World Private entries, trade, clubs

TRADE CAR PARK

Seating Clubs

Mod Radio Custom Bikes and Scooters

Scooter World Clubs Scooter private entries

JOE HALLAM

Get your roast dinner here!