The Telford International Centre once again hosted the Hagon-sponsored Classic Dirt Bike Show in February, attracting a surprising number of attendees despite the challenging weather. The presence of motocross legends Graham Noyce and Mick Andrews likely contributed to the turnout. Attendance was probably also affected by a major event happening at Hawkstone Park and a local trial competition on Sunday, prompting many families to make a weekend of it. Saturday was particularly busy as a result, with many exhibitors reporting record levels of interest.
The stars of the show weren’t limited to just people. At the end of 1978, the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) dedicated its efforts to developing a motorcycle capable of winning the prestigious World Championship. The product of this endeavour was the RC500, crafted with the most advanced technologies and materials of its time. Remarkably, there are only two of these extraordinary machines in existence. The second RC500, which served as Noyce’s practice bike, is currently displayed at HRC Japan. This was the bike that established Honda’s reputation in world competition and cemented HRC’s status as a formidable force in motocross.
Event manager Nick Mowbray said: “The private displays on show were impressive, and the presence of quads was really strong. Overall, there was a great atmosphere, and we saw quite a few younger visitors. This show tends to attract three generations: grandfathers who think they can still ride, and fathers and sons, many of whom start off with older bikes that are often available in their garages. One gentleman brought four motocross bikes to the show and successfully sold them all for a substantial sum. Interestingly, we’ve noticed that older Japanese bikes are now fetching higher prices than the British ones. All our outside pitches sold out and were very busy. To accommodate all the different stalls, we had to split the vendors over the two days.”
Hagon Products has been the main sponsor of the show for a decade and is pleased to continue this partnership, according to general manager George Hunter: “It was a good turnout. While Sunday was a bit quieter, the overall sentiment was positive. The show benefits us – without it, we couldn’t continue our involvement. We have a rich history in racing; it’s still a family business, and family members actively compete in off-road events. In recent years, we’ve started running a sales discount code, allowing us to track sales and monitor our performance after the show.
“Participating in events like the ones organised by the Pre-65 Motocross Club allows us to introduce more modern technology into traditional machines, which in turn aids our product development. This year’s show highlighted the growing trend of younger riders using older bikes, contributing to a product revival for us.”