All revved up for motorbike show in Raffrey

All revved up for motorbike show in Raffrey

16 November 2022

AFTER a break of four years Raffrey Presbyterian Church will be holding its motorbike show later this month.

The show takes place on Friday and Saturday, November 25-26, and is being run in association with Fireblade Ministries, who will be on hand to share the gospel.

All proceeds raised at the show will be in aid of Air Ambulance NI, which will have a representative at the show on Saturday.

The church halls will be displaying a variety of competition motorbikes, both road and off-road machines.

A representative from the Christian Motorcyclists Association will speak at a bikers’ service in the church building on Sunday, November 27, at 11.30am.

Among the bikes on show will include Brian Steenson’s Aermacchi displayed by Trevor Lindsay and the QUB 250 motorbike that Steenson developed along with the QUB 500 machine.

Dennis McCullough will be bringing along his Joey Dunlop 250 Honda and Mark Morrow will be showing his 50cc NSU Quickly on which his late father Jim won at the Temple road races in 1959. 

A 125cc Honda raced by the late William Dunlop and owned by local man Paddy Flynn will be at the show. Dennis Jackson will be displaying his Ryan Farquhar Ulster Grand Prix-winning Superstock machine, as well as six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea’s leathers, boots and gloves.

The Dromara Destroyers — Brian Reid, Raymond McCullough, Ian McGregor and Trevor Steele — will be in attendance on the Friday night.  Raymond and Brian will also have bikes on display.

A chat show, hosted by Alan Drysdale and Roy Neill, will take place on Friday night with some familiar faces from the racing scene at home and in the British Championships taking part.

These include Ryan Farquhar, who holds the record for the most road race wins ever, which resulted in him being named in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Also chatting will be Sam Laffins, Cameron Dawson and Andrew Smyth who all compete in the British Superbike support races in GB. From the scrambling scene will be former British champion Gordon Crockard and former Ulster and Irish champions Wayne Garrett and William Burgess.

Various items of memorabilia, photographs, race gear, books and programmes will also be on show in the halls upstairs.

Three signed and framed prints from original pencil drawings by Gary Jackson of Ryan Farquhar, Brian Reid and Gordon Crockard will be offered by way of sealed bids.

Grace Williams, Area Fundraising Manager with Air Ambulance NI, said: “The team behind the Raffrey Motorbike Show are an inspiration, organising this unique fundraising event, combining their passion for motorbikes with support for their local Air Ambulance.

“We are delighted that they have chosen to support us in this unique way again and would encourage everyone to support their fundraising event over the three days.”

Raffrey Motorbike Show will be open from 5pm to 10pm on Friday, November 25, and from 10am to 4pm the following day. The suggested donation for adults is £5, children go free. 

There will be free tea, coffee and biscuits for everyone and burgers will be available to purchase. The bikers’ service will be held in the church at 11.30am on Sunday, November 27.