Honda’s 50th TT
Added on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Honda’s 50th TT
It is 50 years since a small motorcycle manufacturer from Japan arrived on the Isle of Man, for the annual TT races. Many 1950s riders sneered at the Honda machines and never imagined that one day Honda would all become a world-class company, making some of the fastest road and racing motorbikes ever seen.
Victories for Honda riders like Mike Hailwood, Stuart Graham, Joey Dunlop, Luigi Taveri, Jim Redman, Phil Read and Carl Fogarty have provided spectators with some of the best `real roads’ racing over the decades. Race machines like the Honda 250 six, the five cylinder 125, CBR1000RR Fireblade and the legendary V-4 engined, RC30 VFR750R have made an enduring impression at the TT.
To celebrate 50 years of TT competition, Honda UK and the Isle of Man Treasury have minted a special 50p coin, which will be on sale at the 2009 TT races.
The coin depicts Honda racer John McGuinness, as he powered his CBR1000RR racebike to a 130mph lap record, at the 2007 Centenary TT event. McGuinness was on the Island recently to watch the process of minting the special 50p piece, which will go on sale on 1st June 2009.
The mass-production version of the coin is finished in cupro-nickel, whilst the 5000 examples of the polished silver version are aimed at coin collectors and TT race fans.
Steve Plater and John McGuinness will be in action on the famous 37 miles TT course in 2009, plus race fans are welcomed to an Open Day, at Isle of Man Honda, on June 7th, which is the Sunday of TT race week.
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