Karl collects and races classic motorcycles. He is the son of the late Murray Rolfe, who was well known in the speedway and motorcycle scene, in vintage aircraft restoration circles and he was also the head engineer for the Lancaster restoration at Motat. Karl has been racing the Satellite for a number of years at historic race meets, including the Chelsea Hill Climb and the Roycroft Trophy.

Karl Rolfe - 1958 Satellite

Karl collects and races classic motorcycles. He is the son of the late Murray Rolfe, who was well known in the speedway and motorcycle scene, in vintage aircraft restoration circles and he was also the head engineer for the Lancaster restoration at Motat. Karl has been racing the Satellite for a number of years at historic race meets, including the Chelsea Hill Climb and the Roycroft Trophy.

1958 Satellite:

The 1958 Satellite Special was built in New Zealand and was powered by an Ariel Square Four engine. The car was raced through the 1960s in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay and won a number of hill climbs. In the early 1970s it was swapped for a colour TV and left in a junk yard until Norm Holloway found it in the early 1980s. The late Murray Rolfe acquired from him and restored and repowered it with a 650 Triumph Thunderbird engine. In 2014 Murray’s son Karl found the car for sale and restored it back to racing condition.