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| ULSTER GRAND PRIX. Two Quality Parades
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The tradition of the Ulster Grand Prix will be upheld by the 80 strong parade that will include 3 World Champions, Ulster "stars" and a host of racing personalities on machines dated from 1938 to 1985 and representing every marque and type of racing machine as Northern Irelands fastest moving motorcycle museum.
30 years ago Ray McCullough made history by beating World Champion, Phil Read by the narrowest of margins. This year they are both back in the parade laps - two-non-stop on Friday August 17 and two-non-stop on Saturday August 18. There will be a party gathering in a paddock marquee for Parade Riders and their friends on Friday evening and a full parade machine display will feature the Luke Lawlor Yamaha for Read and the Honda 250 four for another World Champion, Ralph Bryans.
The third World Champion? Kent Andersson, the Swedish ace brings his Arai OW15 Yamaha 125 to ride the roads of Ulster. Who else? Tommy Robb rides the Jim Lilley 250 NSU, Stan Woods his RG500 Suzuki, Frank Perris the Arai TR250 Suzuki and celebrating his 70th birthday as well, Sammy Miller and Peter Jones have two £100,000 Gilera four cylinder GP bikes from 1957 and the eight cylinders will demand ear protectors, especially if Terry Grotefeld chimes in with his Benelli 250 four cylinder. Ron Chandler, Charlie Williams, John Biggs and a host of Irish and Northern Ireland stars complete the list of those who will enjoy two double laps of the UGP course.
Strangers in the camp include Daytona star, American, Dick Miles from his Maryland home to ride a uniquely engineered mini Manx Norton of 250cc. Italy is represented by three gentlemen from Verona and Mauro Borella (1981 Ducati TTZ 600cc), Roberto Crepaldi (1961 500cc Manx Norton) and Cesare Sottocomola (750cc BSA Rocket 3).
Dave Bates brings a rare original G45 Matchless and Jack Skipp a 1938 Cotton Python 250cc. Skipp's son Roger rides a perfect 344 Aer Macchi.
The value of all the machines in the parade is estimated at £3.5 million if auctioned and the fact that so many have entered is evidence of the great respect that the "Prix" has amongst the racers who now only parade to recall their glory days - and to celebrate real road racing.
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