IHRO returned to it’s spiritual home at Schleiz for the annual German Historic Grand Prix at the wonderful Schleizer Dreieck circuit in Germany on the weekend of 22nd to 24th June.

Set in the rolling Thuringen countryside, this is probably the finest pure road circuit in the world but with sufficient run-off and safety features to satisfy all but the most ardent anti-road racing proponent.

Friday untimed practice was held in dry conditions and it was the usual suspects who set the early pace. Timed qualifying on Saturday was a mixed affair due the to weather but Duncan Fitchett on Vagn Jensen’s Manx grabbed pole position from Luke Notton on Brian Camp’s Manx with Lea Gourlay bringing a miss firing Paton into third, such was the level of competition that only 5 seconds separated the first 10 riders, promising a good race for the huge Sunday crowd. The 350 class was lead by Notton on his own Seeley 7R ahead of Gourlay and Fitchett.

On Saturday evening there was the traditional IHRO social event, but this time there was a new twist to it as all the riders boarded a vintage bus to take part in the opening parade to celebrate the 775th anniversary of the town of Schleiz, this was at a somewhat slower speed than the racing bikes allowing all the riders to wave to the crowds on their way to the Hotel Luginsland which provided traditional beer and bratwurst for the event. Osmo Partti from Finland was awarded the IHRO trophy for his sportsmanship during 2006 at this event.

Race day dawned clear and both races were held in perfect conditions, the 350 class was first to go and from the drop of the flag, Luke Notton powered his bike into a lead which he never relinquished, from Gourlay and Fitchett. Bob Rowe’s race ended on the line when his bike fired up then instantly died. The best scrap of the race was between Bill Wark on Brian Richard’s Norton and James Walker on Denis Gaskin’s Aermacchi with Wark getting the result at the end of the 11 laps.

The 500 race lived up to it’s promise, Tony Smith on his own Seeley G50 made his usual flying start and was the first away, but it was not long before Notton, Gourlay and Ives Glauser passed him to start a race long battle with the lead swapping many times before Notton claimed the double, Gourlay pipped Glauser on the line for 2nd spot while veterans Smith and Dave Hughes on Tony Dunnell’s Manx had a wonderful race for 7th with Smith getting the result at the end of the 13 laps.

The date for next year’s event is already fixed as 20th - 22nd June, put it your diary NOW.