Why you must go to the Stafford show

I'll be at the Stafford Bike Show this weekend with Benzina #3 fresh off the press - on the balcony, next to the bar. Ah, the wit of show organisers. But that's not the only reason to go. This is lot 358 in the Stafford Bonham's auction. And yes, it is what you think it is - the ex-works NCR/Ducati prepped by Sports Motor Cycles for Roger Nicholls to ride in the 1977 Isle of Man TT Formula 1 race. He was just beaten into second place (some say robbed of victory) by the Read/Honda combo . Roger teamed up with Hailwood the following year, and the rest is history.


TB friend and hero Pat Slinn confirms it's the real thing, and Bonham's say Steve Wynne and Livio Lodi agree. So how much? The upper estimate is £75,000, but based on the £130,000 asked for the NCR recently sold by Made in Italy Motorcycles I'll be astonished if it doesn't make more. Just wish I could afford it.