- Ultra-rare Moto Guzzi V8 to race at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power – one of only a handful of authentic examples
- John McGuinness and Sammy Miller amongst star riders at this year’s event
- Exotic motorcycle entrants include 1910 Edison-Puton Monowheel and unique 1939 Velocette “Roarer” Supercharged Twin concept
The 2012 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, (15 to 17 June; cpop.co.uk), the UK’s biggest celebration of power and speed, will see a huge selection of classic and modern motorbikes take part in the weekend’s on-track action – with the rare Moto Guzzi V8 at the centre of proceedings.
Throughout the course of the three-day event, the Pageant will host an exciting line-up of some of the most innovative and amazing motorcycles ever seen. It will also be a unique opportunity for motorcycle fans to witness the hallowed Moto Guzzi V8 taking to the circuit.
Raced from 1955 to 1957, the 500cc Moto Guzzi V8 concept (also known as ‘The Otto’) held the record for fastest Grand Prix motorcycle for 20 years, thanks to a top speed of 275km/h (171mph). The V8-powered monster, one of only a handful of authentic examples remaining, will be ridden throughout the weekend by Double European Trials Championship winner, Sammy Miller.
The bike represents something of an engineering milestone, with a 500cc water-cooled V8 engine producing 78bhp at 12,000rpm, featuring dual overhead cams and eight separate Dell’Orto carburettors for each of its cylinders. In spite of this complexity, the engine weighed in at just 45kg (against an overall vehicle weight of 148kg).
TT star, John McGuinness, will also be racing at the Pageant of Power. The six-time North West 200 winner and 17-time Isle of Man TT winner will take to the 1.2-mile sprint circuit on the latest incarnation of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. The 2012 model, raced by McGuinness for the Honda TT Legends team, celebrates 20 years of one of the world’s most iconic sports bikes since its debut as a CBR900RR in 1992.
The Pageant entry list, larger this year than ever before, will also feature a number of rare and exotic bikes, including the unique Edison-Puton Monowheel. The Monowheel, built in Paris in 1910, features a single wheel within which is housed the motorcycle frame, rider and a 150cc De Dion engine. Making a rare UK appearance at the Pageant of Power, the Monowheel is being transported to Cholmondeley from the Auto & Technik Museum at Sinsheim, Germany.
Another similarly rare machine taking to the Cholmondeley track is the 1939 Velocette ‘Roarer’, a supercharged twin-cylinder racing bike concept, designed to compete against the mighty BMW works outfit in the 1939 Senior Tourist Trophy. Only one example of this prototype bike was built before World War II broke out, after which supercharged bikes were banned from competition. Unusually, the Roarer’s official debut took place 50 years later at the 1989 Isle of Man Historic Parade, having been restored in 1983 by Ivan Rhodes, who will be riding it at the event.
Bringing motorcycling bang up to date will be the Help for Heroes Destination Dubai 2012 team, showcasing their Triumph Tiger 800XCs. Dubbed ‘The Harry Bikers’ after launching their charity challenge with support from HRH Prince Harry – together with a good luck wish from David Cameron and backing from Carl Fogarty and Charlie Boorman – the three bikers, Geoff, Chris, and Colin, aim to bike 6,000 miles from the UK to Dubai in as close to two weeks as possible.
They depart on 8 September, and will finish at the foot of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The men, who between them have served more than 50 years in the British army and done operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, will camp for the entire trip, to keep costs to a minimum so that as much money as possible goes to Help for Heroes. They will have a stand at the Pageant near that belonging to the legendary Ace Cafe, and be running a competition that bikers and non-bikers will love. More information about the team, their challenge and their route can be found at www.destinationdubai2012.com
“The field of motorcycle entrants at this year’s event will let visitors witness some of the fastest and most unusual one- and two-wheeled machinery the world has ever seen,” said James Hall, Event Director at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. “With so many racing champions taking part in the event, and so many exotic bikes from the past and present, this year’s Pageant will be a real treat for motorcycle fans.”
Other influential motorcycles taking to the track include the Kawasaki KR750 – which took the Isle of Man TT lap record in 1975 at the hands of Mick Grant – as well as the innovative Honda NSR500, ridden by 1978 British 125cc Champion, Bernard Murray.
Now in its fifth year, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power will take place on the Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire from 15 to 17 June, with day passes for the event starting from just £26 for an adult and £5 for a child when ordered in advance.
