Three-time world champion motorcycle racer Wayne Rainey is scheduled to make his debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June and will be riding a racing bike for the first time in 29 years, Goodwood said of the former racer who is paralyzed from the chest down.
Despite such limitations, Rainey is scheduled to be back on his 1992 championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 at the festival, which is scheduled for June 23-26 and which will feature “The Innovators — Masterminds of Motorsport.”
“Goodwood is delighted that the Festival of Speed will reunite Rainey with a racing bike for the first time in 29 years, following the accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix that left him paralyzed from the chest down,” the announcement reported. “Rainey’s exploits at the Festival of Speed follow his first return to riding in 2019 at the Sound of Engine Festival in Suzuka, Japan.
The news release noted that Yamaha Motor Company has reconfigured the YZR500 so it can be ridden using handlebar controls.
“I’m incredibly excited to not only be attending my first Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, but to be riding my 1992 Yamaha YZR500 up the famous hillclimb,” Rainey is quoted. “It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that I just couldn’t pass up.”
After winning three world championships, Rainey served as racing team manager and currently is president of MotoAmerica.
Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl cq? said: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an amazing event that is a showcase for two and four-wheel motorsports legends – both human and mechanical,” added Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing. “Wayne Rainey is a true motorcycle racing legend who achieved three 500cc World Titles with Yamaha before his career-ending accident and injury.
“The thought of Wayne riding the legendary 1992 Factory YZR500 bike that he rode to his final championship victory is something truly amazing that I for one never imagined could be possible. We are proud to be able to support Wayne make his dream come true.”
Quail sets featured motorcycle classes
The Quail Motorcycle Gathering returns after two Covid-interrupted years with its event May 14 at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California and has announced its featured classes for 2022 as Harley-Davidson XR0-750, 2-stroke “Braaps,” “mini bikes/Big Fun,” and for those who prefer 4 wheels — BMW 5 Series and “hot rods & classic cars.”
New this year are a concessions pavilion featuring local food trucks and a special $55 general admission deal for those arriving on motorcycles. That special ticket includes a gear-valet service.
Concours on a frozen Swiss lake
Not all owners of collector cars have to put them away during the winter months. The I.C.E. St. Moritz International Concours of Elegance recently drew 45 cars — classics and racers to a frozen lake in the Swiss Alps.
Class winners were:
Jet Set on Ice — 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, one of only 4 long-nose, alloy-bodied examples
Stars on Wheels — 1968 Lamborghini Miura, the car used in the Italian Job movie
Vintage Road Racing — Ex-works and rally-winning 1967 Morris Mini Cooper S
Barchettas on the Lake — 1953 Jaguar C-type, and owned by the same family since the 1970s
Vintage Grand Prix — 1939 Maserati 4CL
The event debuted in 2019, but then had to wait out the coronavirus pandemic for its recent return.
Santa Clarita show is Saturday
Porsche Santa Clarita and Cars & Jets will host a hypercars- and supercars-themed cars & coffee from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday as the kickoff to the dealership’s “first Saturday” event season. Open to visitors during the show will be the dealership’s “Wunderground” museum.
Going to Amelia? Check this out
If you’re at The Amelia this weekend, be sure to check out the AutoMobilia magazine display in the Ritz Carlton. On hand will be publisher Sharon Spurlin and Joan Klatil Cremer, the “first female exteriors designer at GM.” They’ll be selling subscriptions to AutoMobilia and Magneto and signing up customers for the book, Ed Niles, Adventures in Ferrari Land.
Buy a subscription or book and you’ll get a limited-edition $5 Fungible Token featuring artwork by Creamer.
“Your FTs can be kept in your pocket and offered as payment (but not necessary accepted) practically anywhere automobilia is bought and sold,” according to a news release. “We guarantee our FTs will be worth more (or less) than any NFT on the market today! And maybe even tomorrow.!”
Ponies in the Smokies
Promoted as the first major Ford Mustang car show of 2022, the “Ponies in the Smokies” event is scheduled for March 23-26 at Sevierville, Tennessee.
Events include drifting — and a drifting school — car shows, a “Shotgun Alley” start/stop competition — sprint 60 feet and then stop in a subsequent 60-foot zone — autocross, drag racing and more.
Viva Las Vegas show is April 16
More than 800 pre-1964 vehicles, including several “famous movie cars,” are expected for the annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend car show, scheduled for April 16 at the Orleans Hotel. In addition to cars on display, the show includes live music by several bands and the “Queen of the Car Show” pin-up contest.
Rally offers drawing for Spitfire flight
Bespoke Rallies calls its next event a “pop-up” event, since the Spitfire Scramble is an addition to its 2022 calendar and will be limited to only 30 vehicles.
The event is scheduled for April 30-May 1 and will be based at the Sywell aerodrome and the Art Deco Aviator Hotel, with driving in the Northamptonshire countryside of the UK.
An additional lure for the event will be a drawing among the entrants for a flight in an actual Spitfire aircraft.
Bespoke Rallies next annually scheduled event is the Pyrenees 1000, scheduled for May 17-21.
Salon Privé London sets Ladies’ Day
It’s won’t be just collector cars that are judged in April at the inaugural Salon Privé London, where the middle of three days, April 22, will be Ladies’ Day with a Best Hat Competition awarding a rose gold diamond pendant from Boodles jeweler.
