Hall of Fame

Sheene Suzuki to star in HoF demo

Barry Sheene’s 1976 world championship-winning Texaco-Heron Suzuki RG500 will be in action at the Hall of Fame awards evening on June 7.

The famous bike will be ridden up the Royal Automobile Club’s Captain’s Drive ahead of the main awards ceremony and dinner. It will be joined on static display by the 1977 Suzuki on which Sheene retained his world championship. Both have recently been restored and serve as an excellent tribute to the great Londoner.

Other active exhibits include an ex-John Surtees MV Agusta, demonstrated by baker-turned-amateur racer Paul Hollywood, and a McLaren F2 that Piers Courage drove to victory in the Tasman Series. In addition, John Watson will drive a Chevrolet Camaro Z28 in the livery of Penske Racing (for whom the popular Ulsterman drove in Formula 1).

Latest guest list additions

The latest names to join the Hall of Fame guest list include nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, Murray Walker, three-time Indy 500 king Dario Franchitti and Sebring 12 Hours-winning brother Marino, Cosworth co-founder Mike Costin, Grand Prix winner John Watson,
Le Mans runner-up and Formula 1 racer Howden Ganley and James Hunt’s son Freddie.

The shortlists

In case you needed a reminder, the Formula 1 final three features Mike Costin & Keith Duckworth, Gilles Villeneuve and Nigel Mansell. The sports car hopefuls are Phil Hill, Brian Redman and Pedro Rodríguez. From the world of two wheels, you voted for Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene, while the Americans in contention are Mark Donohue, AJ Foyt and Roger Penske. The winners will be announced during the event on Wednesday June 7.