On September 13, 2023, the Guinness Book of World Records announced that Leslie Harris had become the new record holder for the world’s oldest motorcycle racer. In February 2023, Harris participated in the Pukekohe 43rd Classic Motorcycle Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, riding his BSA Bantam.

At the time, Harris was 97 years old, just a few weeks shy of his 98th birthday. His participation in the event was already remarkable due to several factors. Firstly, Harris had the opportunity to race alongside two other generations of his family. His eldest son, Rod, who was 64 at the time, and his granddaughter, Olivia, aged 21, also took part in the festival. Additionally, this was the final edition of the event at that particular circuit, making it a bittersweet experience for all three generations.

All three members of the Harris family participated in the Regularity race, which focuses on consistency rather than speed. The racer with the most consistent lap times emerges as the winner. In 2019, at the age of 93, Les had already won this event. However, due to various circumstances, he was unable to compete between 2019 and 2023. Les had undergone hip surgery after the 2019 event, requiring a significant recovery period. In 2020, he planned to compete but suffered an injury during qualifying, breaking six ribs. This setback required additional time for recovery and unfortunately prevented him from participating in any races.

The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted racing events, leading to a hiatus lasting a couple of years. However, the year 2023 finally brought an end to the racing drought, allowing all three members of the Harris family to participate in the festival. Les finished in fourth place, while Rod secured the eighth position, and Olivia, participating for the first time, took the 21st spot.

Racing often runs in families, and it is heartwarming to witness this shared passion among the Harris family. With Les having a racing career spanning 70 years since 1953, the younger generations undoubtedly cherish the memories of their time at the track with him.

Now that Les holds the Guinness World Record, what’s next for him? If everything goes according to plan, he will be racing again in February 2024 at the 44th Classic Motorcycle Festival, where he aims to break his previous record at the age of 98.