Photo by Neil

The V1000 Brittan with kiwi ace Jason McEwan loving every moment of it's neck snapping acceleration at Auckland's Pukekohe Park Raceway! This bike, designed by the late John Britten from Christchurch NZ won the national superbike series and then headed off to Daytona USA to take on the might of the factories at the World Battle Of The Twins series. A 10 cent seal that blew was all that stopped the bike from causing a major upset by winning the series. The factory Ducati team had no answer to this incredible bike and indeed they still had no answer the following year when the BrittenV1000 returned and won every race. The complete bike was designed and built by John, possibly the only non kiwi parts are the tyres, suspension and gauges. To learn more about what the Britten Motorcycle Company is doing today click here

photo by Sean Cross

This is me on my 1982 Ducati 900ss taking part in the traditional Boxing Day street racing on the Cemetery Circuit at Wanganui. The bike was standard here, in fact I rode it from Auckland to Wanganui, which is some 6 hours riding, on Christmas Day 1989 and made the necessary safety changes in the motel carpark! I rode it through the streets to the event to register and have the Duke scrutinized, raced all day, changed the bike back to street legal that night, and then went on a 4 day tour of the North Island of New Zealand on the way home!! I wasn't placed in the top 10, or even the top 15!! But I did have a great time and the Ducati never missed a beat, despite being revved to 10,000rpm several times!!

 

both photo's by Sean Cross

The picture on the left is taken at Pukekohe Park raceway near Auckland. The rain didn't slow the Ducati down much due to it's smooth power delivery and 'tree stump pulling' torque. The bike has been modified substantially by now and aftermarket fairing, seat and 2 into 1 exhaust fitted. On this day I went on to a second and a third place and eventually finished 2nd for the season in the 750-open class. This was all the more remarkable considering that there was no allowance made for the Duke having only 2 cylinders and I came up against some very powerful multi cylinder Japanese bikes.

The picture on the right was taken at Bay Park Raceway at Tauranga. In the lead is arch rival Bruce Saunders on his very fast 960 Moto Guzzi Le Mans. Bruce got the better of me on this occasion but it was always very close between us. We are great friends off the track but there is no quarter asked for or given when the green flag drops!! As they say, "the bullshit stops when the green flag drops!"

 

photo by Andrew Kearns

Here is Bruce and I just before a race at Taupo. See how friendly we seem here???

 

photo by Sean Cross

Yes, in New Zealand we will race anything with two wheels and an engine!!!

 

photo by Sean Cross

Victor Kearns at speed on his Bimota DB1RS at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

 

photo by Neil

The late, great, Robert Holden. Sadly he was killed at the notorious Isle of Man TT Circuit in 1998. Seen here on Dallas Rankins powerful 960 Ducati at Pukekohe Park Raceway in 1997, he was a fierce competitor who had much talent which saw him win many races and titles both in New Zealand and in Britain. He never won the TT, but it was just a matter
of time, he was getting quicker with every visit to the island. Find out more about the
Isle of Man TT races here.

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