AJ's CB1100R to feature at 2014 HBBB

Former Australian supersport champion Shannon Johnson will take a magical trip back in time at the 2014 Penrite Oil Broadford Bike Bonanza at Easter (April 19-20) when he rides the actual Honda CB1100R taken to victory by his late father Andrew Johnson in the 1980 Castrol 6 hour race.

Johnson teamed with future Wayne Gardner to win a rain-affected race – Australia’s biggest and most prestigious event at the time -- after a monumental dice with the Suzuki GSX1100 of John Pace and Neil Chivas. The winning Honda was entered by Sydney dealer Mentor Motorcycles, and following the race was sold to Sydney collector Terry Pinson who has owned it ever since.

For the past 10  years the Mentor Honda has been on display at the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst, and is in exactly the same condition as it finished the race, although owner Pinson says he has given it a ‘birthday’ with new tyres, brake pads and hoses.

Meanwhile, a replica of the 1970 Castrol 6 hour-winning 650cc Triumph Bonneville T120 ridden by Len Atlee and the late Bryan Hindle will also be on the Broadford bill – ridden by Atlee himself!

The original Bonneville, which disappeared many years ago, was entered by famous Parramatta dealer Barry Ryan. In winning Atlee and Hindle clocked up 312 laps (607.15km) of the Amaroo Park circuit on the outskirts of Sydney.

Atlee admits he hasn’t been on a motorcycle for “quite a while”. He raced with distinction in Europe in the ’60s, and was a star back home during the ’70s. He competed in the Castrol 6 hour race every year from 1970-1980, and his son Marty became a successful racer himself, winning the Australian TT in 1996.

Organiser Peter Drakeford says he expects dozens of former competitors, officials and other people associated with the famous event which ran from 1970-1983 at Sydney’s Amaroo Park and from 1984-1987 at Oran Park, both now defunct. Many of these names will be interviewed during the gala dinner at the Masonic Centre in Broadford on April 19.

As well as the Castrol 6 hour, there will be a similar celebration of the BP Desert Races held from 1971.

For all the latest news and announcements ahead of the 2014 Penrite Oil Broadford Bike Bonanza , visit www.ma.org.au/hbbb and for more information contact Drakeford on 03 9684 0515, 0422 299 003? or peter@ma.org.au.