Dublin, 1-3 March 2019
Despite awful weather over the weekend, the 2019 edition of the Carole Nash Insurance sponsored Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show reported attendance figures of 27,980, an increase over its record breaking 2017 event.
An increase in standard was again evident in the 47 entries to the Ireland International Custom Show. Two winners (best Irish and best international guest builder) won expenses to represent the show at the 2020 AMD World Championship.
Noel Connelly's Bonneville racer inspired "Speed Freak" took top honors as Irish Champion, finally breaking a run of second places stretching back to 2011. Noel's Evo Sportster-engined ground-up build featured an S&S dual throat carb and many handmade parts, using 10 mm 5086 aluminum and brass laminate construction front forks, carb air stacks and seat hump surround.
In second place was C&C Choppers' Panhead-engined hardtail chopper "Shadow Play", with Greg Pienkowski's Arlen Ness inspired Honda CB550 "Yellow Digger" taking third place and "Best Custom" prizes.
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| Irish Winner: Noel Connelly's 'Speed Freak' used 10 mm 5086 aluminum and brass laminate for the front end, carb air stacks and other handmade parts |
The international winner was Twistedspine Motorcycles from England with "Copper Penny", an old school chopper converted from a stock 1200 Sportster, featuring a one-off stainless steel frame, springer front end and handlebars, handformed tank, fender and oil bag.
Bristol Bobbers' "Queen Ann's Revenge" took second place with the Yamaha XS650 engined board tracker, having finished seventh in the 2018 AMD World Championship Retro Modified Class. Patsy McArdle became the first Northern Irish prize winner as his rigid bobber "Ruby" took third place, featuring an 1,850 cc Ultima engine, Weber carb and extensive 24 carat gold plating.
Out thanks again to Zodiac International for their generous sponsorship of the prizes and Ace Cafe London for providing Goodie Bags to all of the winners.
The show saw Franklin Motorcycles, the first appointed Indian dealer in the Republic of Ireland, showcase the 2019 Indian FTR 1200 S Race Replica. Keith Reynolds, of Franklin Motorcycles, said: "The FTR is a truly unique machine. It is the first time a mainstream manufacturer that competes in flat track racing has taken one of its track bikes and developed a version for the road. It's an incredible motorcycle that we believe will carve out a niche in the marketplace just for itself."
Also present to open the show and present awards to the winners of the AMD World Championship affiliated Ireland International Custom Show was Valerie Thompson, holder of eight land speed records on two wheels. www.irishmotorbikeshow.com
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| Irish second place: C&C Choppers' 'Shadow Play' also won the award for Best Paint |
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| Irish third place: Greg Pienkowski's 'Yellow Digger' was extensively engraved by Don Blocksidge |
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| International
Winner: Twistedspine Motorcycles' 'Copper Penny' features a fully
rebuilt 1200 Sportster engine, one-off stainless steel frame, springer front end and bars |
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| International
second place: Bristol Bobbers' 'Queen Ann's Revenge' features a
Kruyswater raw steel frame and three leg springer front end |
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| International third place: Patsy McArdle's 'Ruby' features gold leaf pinstriping and extensive 24 carat gold plating |