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| Kim Newcombe and his Konig Grand Prix bike Image Source |
Once in a generation there emerges a racing
prodigy who defies belief and achieves success far beyond the odds. These men and women display innate and remarkable
talent that is often so extraordinary that they become legends in their own
time. They are the mythical “naturals”, those who perform complex tasks
extraordinarily well despite their lack of experience. New Zealand motorcycle racer Kim Newcombe
was one such prodigy, and one of the most tantalizing “what ifs” of motorcycle
racing. He entered competition as a novice and immediately began to beat
seasoned veterans. Not only that, but he single-handedly crafted
and maintained his own machine – which he then campaigned successfully at the
top level of the sport against the greatest riders of the 1970s. The tale of
Kim and his Konig 500 GP motorbike is a true motorsports Cinderella story, and one
of the most fascinating and tragic tales from the golden era of motorcycle
road racing.
