Shows, Meetings and Events

This page lists bike events and shows that featured my or other KR's or related bikes you might also be interested in.  At the bottom is a list of upcoming events that I'm aware of.  Please get in touch if you know of other relevant events or anything else that would improve this page.


February 2003 I went to the Donington Park Classic Japanese Bike Show with my wallet stuffed full of money and the car boot emptied ready for piles of KR bits and manuals.  Nothing.  Nobody seemed to have any idea what a KR250 was and I left, a bit disappointed.
July 2003 I went to the VJMC show at Lotherton Hall.  I desperately wanted to go on the KR but just couldn't get it running right (see Diary page).  There were no other KR's there so it would have been nice to show it off.  I couldn't find any parts in the autojumble there either but it was definitely worth going.
September 2003 The local LC boys on the RD Forum planned a meet down at the Marina in Hull so I asked 'em if I could join in on the KR.  It was a good turn-out in excellent weather and as well as all the LC's and Powervalves we managed an NSR250 and TZR250 as well as my mate Graeme on his RG400.  The KR attracted some interest and didn't disgrace itself despite needing the customary bump-start to get home again.  Hopefully another bigger local meet is being planned where we get all the local two-strokes to turn up - I'll publish details on here when I get them.
KR at the Hull RD/LC meet
October 2003 The Classic Mechanics Magazine Show at Stafford was more like it.  I didn't find any other KR's or any bits or manuals there either but I did get to meet some more KR owners.  I arranged to meet Alfons and Hans Smit from the Dutch Triples Club (who have a pair of KR's between them - see the Owners page) but then realised that we wouldn't know how to recognise each other.  I hastily knocked up a T-shirt with the website logo on and hung around the VJMC stand - it worked perfectly.  And I finally got to meet KR-expert Doug Perkins too.  This proper KR works-racer was at the show the previous year but sadly not this time :-
KR250 racer - Stafford 2002
February 2004 I didn't make it to the Donington Park Classic Japanese Bike Show and autojumble this time.  I should have gone though 'cos look what was there :-
Doug's KR250 at the 2004 Donington Show
July 2004 I didn't go to the Classic Kawasaki Club Rally either.  But Mark Speaight upheld the honour of the tandem twin with this excellent photo :-
Mark's KR250 at the 2004 CKC Rally
July 2004 This year the KR did make it to the VJMC Lotherton Hall Show.  If there was an award for the most people who said "Blimey, ain't seen one of those before", I might have come home with a trophy as well as my commemorative mug :-
My KR250 at the 2004 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show 2004 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show commemorative mug
August 2004 Here's a pic taken at the Dutch Kawasaki Triples Club Rally, sent in by my old mates Alfons and Hans.  That's their silver KR looking nicely at home amongst the aircooled strokers :-
2004 Dutch Kawasaki Triples Club Rally
August 2004 Now this is a bit special !  The KR Owners Group in Japan organised an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the KR250.  They held it at the Kawasaki factory in Akashi (birthplace of the KR) with the assistance of Kawasaki Japan, and guests of honour were Mr.Shintani (original KR250 chassis development test-rider) and Mr.Kiyohara (ex-Grand Prix rider and owner of a works KR250 racer which he still races in classic events).  Big thanks to Tono-san for the details and pictures - check out the English-text write-up on his  KR website.  How's he going to top this ?...
Six KROG KR's outside the Akashi Works Mr.Kiyohara and Mr.Shintani Tono with his wife Hime on the works 250 racer KR launch photo on display in Mr.Kiyohara's bike shop KROG 20th Anniversary Party
October 2004 The Classic Mechanics Magazine Show at Stafford soon came round again quickly - it only seems like a few weeks since last years show !  Well worth attending though - I finally got to meet Darin after more than a year of emails and phone conversations and I had a nice chat with Doug about our respective KR's.  I bought a handful of polished allen-bolts to replace all the bodywork fasteners on my bike and I had a good talk with Phil from Z-Power who's going to check out the availability of various new parts for me.  Thanks also to Richard Young for helping me out with getting a set of new KR indicators to Mark Speaight.  The pictures below are of Mick Grant's gorgeous H1R and Norman's KR250 that was entered in the Bonhams auction - it's now in the Channel Islands.
Mick Grant's 500cc H1R racer KR250 in the Stafford auction
March 2005 What do you think ?  (Lime) green with envy ?  Yes that's me with Kork Ballington and KROG in Japan.  Thanks to Tono-san for arranging the  2005 KR Meeting, which obviously deserves a page all of it's own.
2005 KR Meeting, Japan
June 2005 I didn't go to the World of Motorcycling Show at Beaulieu but Jamie Whitham did - here's a picture of him taking one of the 250cc Tandem-Twin racers for a spin :-
2005 Beaulieu World Of Motorcycling
July 2005 And I also missed out on the KR500 at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed :-
2005 Goodwood Festival Of Speed
Summer 2005 This little classic bike show was held somewhere in Essex in 2005.  I found the pictures on the net somewhere, but Gary later confirmed that was his KR on display :-
KR on display at some bike show in Essex KR on display at some bike show in Essex
August 2005 A much bigger event this year for the VJMC 10th Anniversary Lotherton Hall Show.  Lots of smart bikes to see, nice weather and I found a Japanese KR magazine in the autojumble !  Doug Perkins, Dave Marsden and Brian from Batley Kawasaki were all there as VJMC judges and I had a good chat with them - I even got Doug to demonstrate his 'foolproof' starting technique 'cos the KR misbehaved when I wanted to leave.  "Blimey, it's even worse than mine !"  Thanks Doug...
My KR250 at the 2005 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show (see Dave Marsden on the left !) My KR250 at the 2005 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show 2005 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show commemorative mug My KR250 at the 2005 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show
October 2005 Third year in a row I've been to the Stafford Classic Mechanics Show.  Bit disappointing this year I thought, though full marks to the LC and RD Clubs for their stunning combined display showing the evolution of the RD, from '74 aircooled 250 to V-Twin TZR.  Doug Perkins was hiding in the bar every time I went to the VJMC stand (probably worried I'd ask him to start my bike again !) and there were no KR's on display and nothing interesting in the autojumble.  It was good to meet Nigel Kimber (NK Racing) who's agreed to kickstart my KR special project though, and once again Phil from Z-Power was given a shopping list of parts to check out for me.  I didn't take many photos - this H1R on the Kawasaki Triples Club is the best I can do :-
Nice restored H1R race bike on the Kawasaki Triples Club stand
February 2006 I hadn't been to the Donington Park Classic Japanese Bike Show for a couple of years but I'd arranged to meet a few people there this time.  I had a chat with Doug and left him a new set of KR indicators to hand over to Andy Bolas.  I met Darin and his mate Paul and we wandered round the autojumble together - there was a nice standard AR125 for sale but it was red/black so I managed to restrain myself.  I also met Mark who'd bought Darin's 'jigsaw' and gave him my spare (I hope !) air-filter cage.  He'd managed to peel off some of the stickers from his bike and we left them with Sunrise Graphics so they could make up some replica decal kits.  We all had a chat with Phil from Z-Power and I managed to get a photo with 4 KR owners in it - no bikes though (none of us could get them started - ha ha !).  From l-r : Doug, Darin, Mark and me :
KR owners at the 2006 Donington Show
July 2006 Erm, not really anything to do with KR's this, but I managed to coax my TZR250SP 100 miles (and back !) to the fantastic Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne.  Dozens of lovely RD's, LC's, Powervalves, 500's, TDR's and TZR's, and the odd NSR and RGV too so I'm sure the KR would have been welcome.
2006 Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne 2006 Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne 2006 Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne 2006 Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne
July 2006 An even better attendance this year for the VJMC Lotherton Hall Show.  I met Corky and admired his stunning KR-1S.  There was another one for sale in the autojumble and then two black/green ones turned up too - that must be some sort of record ?!  As usual, there were plenty of nice Triples to see plus the usual sprinkling of RD's, LC's, RG's and NS's.  No tandem-twin this year I'm afraid, I took my TZR250SP instead.  Sorry !
Corky's KR-1S at the 2006 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show KR-1S for sale in the 2006 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show autojumble 2 KR-1S's at the 2006 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show Nicely done monoshocked KH250 at the 2006 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show H1R at the 2006 VJMC Lotherton Hall Show
October 2006 I promised you there'd be a KR at this year's  Classic Mechanics Show  at Stafford.  And there were two !  Andy Bolas had his nice red/white one on the VJMC stand and Darin Frow showed his original green/white one.  It was on a stand called  Diff'rent Strokers  which was actually an experimental joint venture between Darin and myself - we wanted to show off some of our oddball two-strokes to a wider audience.  The response was very positive and the KR was awarded a Highly Commended rosette by the judging panel too.  I thought these things were supposed to be rare by the way - there were only the two KR's at the show, but over the whole weekend I met half the people on the Owners page !  Thanks to Doug, Gary, Mick, Mark, Harry and John for popping by to say hello.  Include Darin, Andy and myself and that's 12 bikes we've got between us - maybe we should have our own KR250.ORG stand next year ?  Incidentally that last photo is of a lovely Decorite Harris race bike powered by a Rotax tandem-twin motor.
Darin's KR at Stafford 2006 Darin's KR at Stafford 2006 Diff'rent Strokers at Stafford 2006 Chell on Darin's KR at Stafford 2006 Darin's award-winning KR at Stafford 2006 Andy's KR at Stafford 2006 Andy's KR at Stafford 2006 Rotax Tandem Twin racer at Stafford 2006
November 2006 Hmm.  Wrong end of the country for me this, but I wish I'd gone to  Two-Stroke Blue Haze Day  at the Ace Cafe now.  Look at the picture : RD's, LC's, YPVS's, TZR's, TDR's, R1-Z's, YSR's - that's just the Yamaha's !  Next time I think there should be a bit more lime-green in the car park...
2006 Blue Haze 2-stroke Day at the Ace Cafe
February 2007 We'd talked about having a stand at the Donington Park Classic Japanese Bike Show but in the end I could only manage the Saturday afternoon anyway.  I met Darin, Doug, Mark and Andy plus a couple of others from the other forums.  I didn't spend any money - this nice KR1 was for sale but the seller was asking far too much money :
KR for sale at the 2007 Donington Show
March 2007 "KR Owner Of The Year" award goes to Gary Pullinger for taking his bike to  Kawasaki Day  at the Ace Cafe.  The Kawasaki UK staff asked him to park it on their official stand where it - quite rightly - got loads of attention all day, even surrounded by immaculate Triples, Z1's and even this year's MotoGP bike.  As far as I know, Gary's mint KR was the only watercooled stroker there.  And it even got a mention - and pictures - in the subsequent issue of Classic Mechanics magazine !
2007 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe 2007 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe 2007 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe
June 2007 No, I didn't go to the Isle of Man, even though it was the  100th Anniversary TT.  But my mate Karl did, and kindly took these fantastic pictures of the Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the Grandstand for me.  KR250, KR500, H1R and H2R - kinda wish I'd gone to see them for myself now...
Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT
Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT Kawasaki Racing Legends display at the 2007 TT
July 2007 VJMC  25th Anniversary Show.  A new show this one.  I took the KR along for the Diff'rent Strokers stand, where it was joined by Andy Birtles' mint KR-1S.  Also there was Andy Bolas' red/white KR.
My KR at Uttoxeter 2007 Andy's KR at Uttoxeter 2007 Andy's KR-1S at Uttoxeter 2007 Uttoxeter 2007 Uttoxeter 2007
July 2007 For various complicated and pathetic reasons, I didn't make it to either the Aircooled RD Rally at Ashbourne or the VJMC Lotherton Hall Show this year.  Both events went ahead without me (!) and by all accounts were a huge success as usual.
July 2007 Here's Andy Bolas on his mint red/white KR at the Festival Of 1000 Bikes  at Mallory Park.  Great photo, courtesy of the VJMC.
Andy Bolas, Mallory Park Festival of 1000 Bikes
September 2007 2-Stroke Sunday at The Shoulder Of Mutton.  Paul, the landlord of this pub in Warwickshire, is a 2-stroke nut and publicised this meet via the various forums as an experiment.  It was a great success, with dozens of different bikes turning up and everyone shooting the breeze in the sun.  He's hoping to make it a semi-regular thing too.
Paul's 1st 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 1st 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 1st 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 1st 2-Stroke Sunday
September 2007 Stinkwheels Dyno Day.  Normally an LC Frenzy, this regular event was thrown open to all two-strokes this time and again a great mix of bikes appeared.  Including a KR250 you'll note !  Once again, our South East Representative Gary helped fly the tandem-twin flag, and bravely put his bike on the dyno along with everyone else.  I don't think a genuine 37.9bhp is too bad at all - manufacturers claims are always very optimistic, and he beat two YPVS350's on the day.
Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day Stinkwheels Dyno Day
September 2007 No KR's at the Classic Bike Burn Up  at Cadwell Park.  I fancied taking mine but when I got there (in the car, ahem...) and saw how cold and wet it was, plus how serious everyone was taking it (tyrewarmers !) I was kinda glad I hadn't.  There were lots of cool bikes there though, and I met up with 'The Flute' who seemed to be enjoying himself on his KR1/RGV hybrid.  Maybe next year...
Classic Bike Burn Up, Cadwell Park Classic Bike Burn Up, Cadwell Park Phil 'The Flute', Classic Bike Burn Up, Cadwell Park Phil 'The Flute', Classic Bike Burn Up, Cadwell Park Classic Bike Burn Up, Cadwell Park
October 2007 No KR250.ORG stand at the  Stafford Classic Japanese Show  this year I'm afraid, in fact no KR's there at all.  Plenty of other cool stuff to look at though, I was there manning the  Diff'rent Strokers stand.
November 2007 Another cracking turn-out for  Two-Stroke Blue Haze Day  at the Ace Cafe.  And a KR there this time, thanks (again) to Gary !
2007 Blue Haze 2-stroke Day at the Ace Cafe 2007 Blue Haze 2-stroke Day at the Ace Cafe
February 2008 As usual, no KR250's at the  Donington Classic Japanese Show  although there were a pair of nice lime-green parallel-twins.  I didn't get any pics though, thanks to the rather gloomy venue.
February 2008 Darin's KR made an appearance among the old Brit iron at the  Bristol Classic Bike Show  thanks to  Diff'rent Strokers
Darin's KR at Bristol 2008 Darin's KR at Bristol 2008
April 2008 Continuing his excellent work as Official Southern Representative, Gary took his KR along to  Kawasaki Day  at the Ace Cafe again.  Not only did he drag some parallel-twins along with him this time, but Kawasaki UK had borrowed Chris Wilson's KR500 too and were happy to let Gary grab a top photo opportunity.
2008 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe 2008 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe 2008 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe 2008 Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe
April 2008 A week later I went to the  Stafford Classic Show.  It's not normally my sort of thing, being strongly biased towards old British bikes, but Kork Ballington was the special guest of honour and I'd arranged to meet him there.  Chris' KR500 was there again but was sadly just a static backdrop for Kork's book signings.  Actually, there was plenty of other stuff at the show worth seeing, and I bumped into fellow KR owners Doug, Andy and Harry there too.
2008 Stafford Classic Show 2008 Stafford Classic Show 2008 Stafford Classic Show 2008 Stafford Classic Show
July 2008 The big VJMC  show.  No KR's there this year, though I was doing my bit with Diff'rent Strokers again.
July 2008 Spa Bikers Classic Weekend.  I'd have loved to have been there but it clashed with the show above and I was already commited to that.  Kork was raving about the reception he got and the chance to thrash his old KR500 though.
Kork at the Bikers Classic at Spa 2008 Kork at the Bikers Classic at Spa 2008 Kork at the Bikers Classic at Spa 2008 Kork at the Bikers Classic at Spa 2008
July 2008 I missed the VJMC Lotherton Hall Show last year, but I was there this time baking in the sun.  This year I went on my GSX-R750RK.
July 2008 2-Stroke Sunday at The Shoulder Of Mutton.  Paul Wilshaw is continuing to arrange 2-stroke meetings at his pub throughout the summer.  I've not made it to one yet but there's always a KR there - his own...
Paul's 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 2-Stroke Sunday Paul's 2-Stroke Sunday
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Forthcoming Events

I'll try and keep this list as up-to-date and correct as I can, but please double-check the details elsewhere before you set off !  And please let me know if I've got anything wrong or missed any shows out.  More to come soon...

18th-19th Oct 2008 Stafford Classic Japanese Show.  Come and say hello at the  Diff'rent Strokers  stand, I can't promise there'll be a KR there though...

I've been talking to a couple of people about a  2008 KR250 Day.  Think we should be able to put something together.  Not sure what or when yet, but KR owners get your bikes fettled and polished and we'll sort something out.  Contact me if you've got ideas or questions.