Leslie Harris, a New Zealand man, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest competitive motorcycle racer at the age of 98. Harris achieved this remarkable feat by participating in the Pukekohe 43rd Classic Motorcycle Festival in Auckland.
In a heartwarming twist, Harris was not alone in this endeavor. He was joined in the race by his son Rod, who is 64 years old, and his granddaughter Olivia, who is 21. Together, they participated in the Regularity race, where competitors aim for the most consistent lap times.
This is not the first time Leslie Harris has claimed the top spot in this race. He previously achieved this feat in 2019 at the age of 93. However, due to injuries and race cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to wait until this year to compete again.
In the end, Leslie Harris finished fourth in this year’s race, an incredible achievement for someone just shy of their 98th birthday. His son Rod secured eighth place, and granddaughter Olivia finished 21st.
Leslie Harris has expressed his intention to compete in more events this year and has set his sights on returning for next year’s Pukekohe Classic Motorcycle Festival. His inspirational story serves as a reminder that age is no barrier to pursuing one’s passions and achieving remarkable milestones.