90 years of Ulster Grand Prix are celebrated in city

The special event was held in conjunction with the McKinstry Skip Hire Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week, in the grounds of Lagan Valley LeisurePlex.

Visitors were able to see a static exhibition of several road racing motorcycles which won at the Dundrod circuit and meet some of road racing legends.

Members of The 30 Motorcycle Club of Ulster and The Vintage Club of Northern Ireland assembled at the LeisurePlex and completed a tour of the Dundrod circuit on their classic or vintage motorcycles after which their bikes went on display.

Participating in the event was David Crawford on a 1928 Moto Guzzi 500cc Sport which he has restored.

Among the winning motorcycles on display was a 350cc Yamaha, owned by Brian Reid, one of the famous Dromara Destroyers and ridden by him to victory in 1985 on the circuit and which also won the World Championship Formula 2 in 1985 and 1986.

Another Dromara Destroyer, local legend Ray McCullough, brought one of his winning bikes as well as the 250cc Yamsel which he rode to victory at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1971; this bike is owned by Eddie Mateer and was the last bike to win an international championship road race at Dundrod in 1971.

Eddie also had on display the 1991 Honda RS 125cc, ridden by Robert Dunlop that year which also had successes at the North West and Isle of Man TT. Also on display was the 1989 250cc Honda Gemini bike ridden by Joey Dunlop that year with success at many of the main races and is now owned by Mr Cleaver Brown.

During the evening there was plenty to keep the whole family entertained with a series of performances by ‘Trail Star’ featuring motorcycles and stunt bicycles.