Gary rides with motorcycling greats
Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 July 2008
FORMER classic bike racer Gary Long has been back on track rubbing fairings with some of motorcycling’s greats.
The Camerton man took part in a three-day event in Belgium along with such giants as Giacomo Agostini, Randy Mamola and John Surtees.
Long, 38, said: “Just to be involved with machinery and people like these was something pretty special.”
The Circuit de Spa Francorchamps was the venue for the Bikers Classics event which attracted former racers and bike enthusiasts from all over Europe.
Long said: “There was such a wide spectrum of people there, including one Swiss man who knew Workington and Wigton.”
Long had the chance to ride his replica of a Honda R172R - the original model was raced in the 1960s - on several sessions on the circuit, which is used for Formula One racing.
He said: “To ride the Spa Francorchamps circuit has been an ambition of mine for many years and to finally be to descend the famous Eau Rouge section flat out in top gear so something that I can tick off my ‘to do’ list.”
The riders were divided in groups depending on the engine capacity and performance of their bike.
Long was initially grouped with 350cc bikes because that was the size of his Honda model when it was raced.
His replica though has a 400cc engine and he was dangerously faster than the other bikes he was, at first, put with. It meant he had to switch to a larger-engine group.
Long retired from racing several years ago having been a regular at the Isle of Man TT events and road races in Ireland including the North West 200.
He is taking part in another classic get together this weekend at Mallory Park, Leicestershire.
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