Les Harris Racing

‘I think I’ll have one of those fish burgers today. It’s my birthday after all. How else
Do we celebrate 101 years? ‘

Legend.

I’m Coming up 101 in a few weeks, but having a bit of a rest for now. Will catch up with everybody in a few weeks at Hampton Downs all going well. Cheers, Les.

Woohoo!

Les update
Folks often ask how Les is getting on, and I or we the support crew just answer a simple ‘yes’.
Yes means he is getting on with it.
It’s been a difficult year for our racing inspiration and leader but crikey you cannot hold this man down.
Les is still living very independently in West Auckland in his house or as it is in our minds the shrine and museum.
The broken ribs and the resulting shingles that the legend developed in a stressful recovery have not really dissipated for nearly 18 months.
I guess toppling over the green bantam just short of his pits last February probably didn’t help either…
So pain has been a constant in Les’s daily life which has despite all rumours actually slowed him down a fair bit.
However, keeping in line with his just ‘Keep doing’ mentality, he has rebuilt all the garden edges around his house with sleepers and tin flashings, painted them and the various garden ornaments he has collected, dug in a new vege garden, continued working on his camper van and has most recently been improving the gearing on the green bantam. We also managed to remove the rolling 1935 BSA empire star from storage at the back of the shed. ‘I can’t wait to get on that again’ he states. It fits him well, so I guess we have a 2026 project. Watch this space….
And this is him, not us. Although we were allowed to assist Les at one stage to clean out a carport full of vintage car parts and we have distributed those across a few enthusiasts and other insane folks within the same sickness of; ‘to good to throw out’ thinking.

Les has not been as social this year. Opting to stay in mostly and just tinker away at his never shrinking list of projects, sifting through years of photos and sharing the odd memory and story when he is relaxed and happy to have a chat.

He won’t make the classic festival this year, despite really wanting to be involved. The trip from Auckland to Manfeild is a bit too long for him. So he at least hopes to get to Hampton Downs at the end of February and if nothing else have a walk around and see the NZCMRR club members and their lovely machines.
In the mean time he is eager to see and hear updates of Olivia and her Les Harris Racing Benelli, and Lindsay on his Pre95 Honda. Tim is out at the moment with a new knee preventing him from riding for a while.
So although not present, and not able to Mount the legendary Harris Bantam just yet, it is still Not off the table that this centenarian will don the leathers at least once more before he completely retires. None of us are going to tell him he can’t, anyway.
Les sends his best wishes to all his supporters, wishes you all a safe and prosperous year, and encourages you to ‘just keep doing’.
Les had a great time with extended family on Boxing Day at an annual event and he was in great spirits. He still gets around at speed and has that smile on his face when with family. The grandkids love him, just as much as we know his new great grandchildren will too. There is an expanding gene pool of ‘doers’ that are not slowing down production yet!
Oh and as usual there is a new injury from someone who likes to keep busy.
Les dropped a BSA head cylinder on his foot in the garage last week. He thinks he may have broken a bone or two, and took a slab of skin off his foot. But it’s okay because he simply soaked it in household disinfectant, wrapped it tightly with a clean sock and moved on.
‘I’m not going to hospital where they simply give you an infection and wait for you to die’ he says grumpily.
We are not arguing Dad…..
Take care and keep the wheels below the helmets, he suggests.

Here are a couple of garden updates and Les saddling up the 1935 BSA 350, Empire star. A slightly older pic of ‘back in the day’ and ‘No I never smoked’ contradicting evidence!

Well, the prodigy is racing the weekend anyway 🤙

Well my beloved BSA Motorcycles New Zealand thought to share my story. Thank you to the team and support!

Leslie Harris proves that age is just a number. After celebrating his 100th birthday in early 2025, Les continues to defy age by racing his cherished BSA Bantam motorcycle.

This legendary New Zealander holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest competitive racer. With undying passion and family support, Les remains an inspiration to us all.

Discover his incredible journey and the story of his Bantam here: https://www.bsacompany.co.uk/100-years-young-les-harris-keeps-the-bsa-spirit-alive/

With Manfeild – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 3 months in a row. 🎉- Well, why wouldn’t I be!