Classic motorcycle enthusiasts get ready to ride
The DJ Run is set to take to the road with 78 riders in this year’s event.
This year’s Durban-Johannesburg Classic Motorcycle Regularity Rally (DJ Run) has attracted an entry of 78 riders, which is less than expected.
However, what is heartening is that 16 of these competitors will be taking part in the famous event for the first time.
The 2019 DJ Run starts at 6am on March 15 from Colony Shopping Centre in Hillcrest, outside Durban, and will finish the next day, at about 3pm, at the Classic Motorcycle Club’s clubhouse in Germiston after an overnight stop in Newcastle.
“We are delighted that there are so many newcomers on the 2019 DJ Run entry list as we need renewal in classic motorsport and this is happening this year,” said Ian Holmes, the chairperson of the Vintage and Veteran Club of South Africa, which promotes this international rally.
Noteworthy among the first-timers is the Gillespie trio of father Peter and sons Alexander and Timothy.
They will be riding three very different motorcycles from Peter’s collection, a 1926 500cc Scott Super Squirrel (a two-stroke) for Alexander, a 1934 550cc Triumph for Timothy and a 1920 ABC Sopwith, with a horizontally opposed twin cylinder engine of 398cc, for Peter.
Peter, who is a true petrolhead with a collection of classic Studebakers, as well as a variety of racing cars, has also facilitated the entries of two riders from the United States, who will ride two of his other motorcycles.
William Gilmore, a police patrolman from Houston, Texas, and a person who loves long distance rides all over the world, will ride a 1930 500cc Ariel Twin Port, while Mark Ward, a South African who immigrated to the USA about 30 years ago, will be mounted on a 1930 350cc AJS.
The entry for this year’s DJ Run may be slightly smaller than usual, but it still has many former winners in the field who will be seeking to add to their records.
Riders such as Gavin Walton, Ralph Pitchford, Kevin Robertson, Martin Davis, and Allan Cunningham will be vying for top spot.
Once again most of the motorcycles are a variety of British brands as they were the most popular in the days of the original DJ road race.
The oldest motorcycle entered this year is a 1916 BSA K-Series, which will be ridden by Steven Helm.
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