By The Ulster Transport Museum, thanks to help off the Department for Communities, National Heritage Memorial Fund providing combined funding topping £160,000 pounds, has enhanced its ‘Driven Gallery’ exhibition.
Seven Irish road racing machines previously owned by renowned two-wheel racing supporter Ivor Skelton, are now on display.
The priceless steeds featured cover a host of roads scene legends, icons, which read as follows:
TT wins record holder Joey Dunlop (TZ 250E Yamaha), 15 times North West 200 winner Robert Dunlop (RS125RW Honda), 11 times TT winner Phillip McCallen (F1R1 Yamaha), twice Senior TT victor Tom Herron (Spondon Yamaha).
Owen McNally (36-year-old RS 125 Honda), Frank Kennedy (TZ 350 Maxton Yamaha) and seven times Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Ryan Farquhar (McAdoo Racing Suzuki).
Commenting recently about the ‘Driven Gallery’ expansion, Chief Executive of National Museums NI (Northern Ireland) Kathryn Thomson, stated:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Skelton family, the Department for Communities and the National Heritage Memorial Fund for supporting us in bringing these iconic motorbikes into our transport collection.
Road racing is a significant sport in Northern Ireland, we’re one of the few countries in the world that holds races on public roads, yet we did not have any examples of racing motorcycles in our collection. Until now.”
She went onto add:
“Having these bikes in the Ulster Transport Museum not only allows us to share the achievements of our road racing greats with our visitors and the road racing fraternity near and far but also to connect audiences with our heritage, as the museum is a place to inspire the designers, engineers and adventurers of the future, so they too can leave a positive impact on Northern Ireland.”
Quotes courtesy of Nikki McKeown
Photo courtesy of Nikki McKeown
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
