AFTER a 30-year ‘sabbatical’, Terry Thuillier will be competing in next weekend’s Shell Oils 2008 Speed Festival on three classic motorcycles.

The three-day festival, organised by the Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club, kicks off
with a quarter-mile sprint from La Pulente followed by two days of hill-climbing at Grève de Lecq.

Terry, a 63-year-old retired States engineer, will be riding a trio of Italian classics – two Ducatis and a MV Augusta. For the sprint next Friday he will be astride a 1979 Ducati 900 Super Sport, a 90 deg V-twin 864 cc bike with 69 bhp and a top speed of 130 mph.

The legendary Mike Hailwood rode a similar, specially prepared machine for his sensational comeback win in the 1978 Isle of Man senior TT.

Terry’s ambition is to get under 13 seconds and to break the 100 mph barrier from a standing start.
‘It’s my favourite machine. I think it’s one of the most visually stunning motorcycles ever built,’ said Terry. ‘It is long and sleek with perfect form and style that the Italians are so good at.

‘Designed by the gifted engineer Fabio Taglioni, the engine is superbly balanced – it looks as though it is doing 100 mph even on its stand. And when fired up, the sound from the twin Conti mufflers is quite something.’
Terry began riding motorbikes in his youth but he stopped after an accident in the late 60s.

‘But it was an unfinished love affair and I rekindled my passion for bikes about seven years ago, when some of my neighbours got into them. I am now social secretary of the Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club and am helping to organise the festival.’

A week tomorrow at Grève de Lecq Terry plans to ride his 350 cc Ducati Desmo. This single cylinder machine was the first production motorcycle to have desmodromic-operated valve gears and is something of a rarity. It produces around 30 bhp with a top speed of 100 mph.

‘It is a light and nippy little machine with attitude in a distinctive canary yellow. It’s great fun to ride,’ he said.
For the Sunday Terry has entered his recently acquired 1973 MV Agusta 350 Sport. This is a twin-cylinder machine with a similar brake horsepower and speed to the Ducati.

‘In theory it should be a bit quicker, but the Ducati is lighter, so it will be interesting to see how the two compare,’ he said.

MV Agusta had an unsurpassed racing record in the 1960s and early 70s with their special three- and four-cylinder factory racers, principally with the great Giacomo Agostini on board. However, these high-performance motorcycles were not available to the public – the nearest came with the four-cylinder 750 Sport and these are now highly prized and very expensive collectors’ items, usually fetching up to £35,000.
MV Agusta stopped making motorcycles in 1978 to concentrate on helicopters. However, the marque was resurrected with much acclaim in 1998 with the stunning F4.

Terry is keenly aware that his efforts on his 350 machine may not enhance MV’s great racing reputation, but he is looking forward to showing off the work of this famous manufacturer at the festival.

‘The Speed Festival is not just about achieving the fastest times,’ said Terry. ‘The idea is to bring together a variety of classic cars and bikes and to put them through their paces. It’s all about the sights and sounds, as well as taking part.

‘Grève de Lecq is a beautiful setting and there is always a good atmosphere in the pits among the competitors and the public. There are also good vantage points for spectators along the course. This is the nearest thing we have to the Goodwood Festival.’

As well as the Italian bikes, there will be many classic British and Japanese machines from the 1960s and 70s taking part.

• Picture: Terry Thuillier with the three Italian bikes that will roar into action next weekend. Picture by Tony Pike (00581485)