15,000 UK classic bike enthusiasts flocked to Mallory Park in Leicestershire to attend the Vintage Motor Cycle Club's ' Festival of 1000 Bikes' and to see the UK debut of Laverda Corse and the V6 Endurance racer. The UK motorcycling press had been filled with advance reports of the much anticipated appearance by the Laverda team. The V6 was the top attraction in a superb programme packed with exotic motorcycles and famous riders (like Roberto Gallina, Malcom Wheeler and Roger Winterburn) and the extensive Laverda feature, which included exclusive track sessions for Laverda bikes, was a joint effort between the VMCC and ILOC.
The ILOC had decided to combine the teams appearance with the Club's annual International Rally and the Festival quickly became the focus for the biggest event in the club's history. Over 350 Laverda enthusiasts turned up for the event and it was a truly International event, with visitors arriving from all over Europe, one enthusiast had travelled from Australia!
Mallory Park is known as 'The Friendly Circuit' and even though England was experiencing some of the highest rainfall ever recorded in July, this didn`t dampen the spirits of the crowd who warmly welcomed the team's appearance. The crowd were rewarded by seeing [and hearing!] Piero and the V6 perform two solo laps before being joined by the rest of Laverda Corse for some spirited laps of this historic circuit.
Special guest riders,Malcolm Wheeler and Roberto Gallina ignored the slippery track conditions and provided an impressive display of their wet weather riding skills. The team then pulled into the pits briefly whilst 20 assorted Montjuics and Formula 500s noisily took to the track followed out once again by Laverda Corse for a final lap of honour.
On the Saturday evening of the event over 250 Laverda enthusiasts had packed themselves into the Hailwood Suite which overlooks Mallory's start and finish straight. They were treated to a detailed presentation of the history and development of the V6 Endurance racer. The presentation , which had been sold-out months previously, was hosted by David Minton, road tester and journalist. David had been a road tester for some of the most respected international motorcycling magazines during his long career and his enthusiasm for the Laverda marque is still as fresh as it was 35 years ago.
After the presentation the team were given a standing ovation by the appreciative crowd. Since the event the ILOC has been inundated with letters of thanks from club members thanking the team for being a very special part of such a spectacular event show.

Bob Dixon - ILOC