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Clubmans TT


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#1 ancient

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 15:24

How many appreciate how important the clubmans was for giving a reasonably cheap way to race on the TT course. So many TT and manx grand prix stars and winners, started in the series,Yes i rode in it but wasnt a star,here are some Mcintyre.Duke.Lomas.Sandford.King.Chadwick,Alan and Terry Shepherd.Sherry.Tanner.Codd.Perris.Minihan and many more.,it was possible to buy a road bike at a reasonable price when a racing bike would have cost twice as much if you could have got one,Gerry turner and i in 1954 took our bikes up by train to lime st and pushed them to the pier.probably the last time this was done?.there is a brilliant book the history of the clubmans TT by fred pidcock and bill snelling with many riders of the period writing of their experiences,from the horses mouth,ok i am in it but its the ones who just went for a ride and ended up doing well that make it such a good read, :

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#2 Russell Burrows

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 17:34

How many appreciate how important the clubmans was for giving a reasonably cheap way to race on the TT course. So many TT and manx grand prix stars and winners, started in the series,Yes i rode in it but wasnt a star,here are some Mcintyre.Duke.Lomas.Sandford.King.Chadwick,Alan and Terry Shepherd.Sherry.Tanner.Codd.Perris.Minihan and many more.,it was possible to buy a road bike at a reasonable price when a racing bike would have cost twice as much if you could have got one,Gerry turner and i in 1954 took our bikes up by train to lime st and pushed them to the pier.probably the last time this was done?.there is a brilliant book the history of the clubmans TT by fred pidcock and bill snelling with many riders of the period writing of their experiences,from the horses mouth,ok i am in it but its the ones who just went for a ride and ended up doing well that make it such a good read, :

John, yes an entree to the Island for so many. Can you recall your feelings as you set out on your first ever lap of the Island? Wasn't it the domination of the race by Gold Stars that finally did for it?


#3 ancient

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 18:43

John, yes an entree to the Island for so many. Can you recall your feelings as you set out on your first ever lap of the Island? Wasn't it the domination of the race by Gold Stars that finally did for it?

Well i had read everything that had been published about the TT course with no chance of going. 20 yrs old by the time i had done national service,then save to get a bike.had a new T100 in 54 for clubmans £232., factory built about 11 bikes for it open pipes twin carbs close gears racing cams and 120 on sulby .i hadnt a clue where some of the corners went except the well known ones.and the TT special paper said i went through bradden in real international style and alastair king was equally good.!!!.just couldnt afford another bike to learn the circuit,but it was amazing ,We all complained to frank biker that the bikes werent going so well later in the week,wise frank said what revs are u getting on sulby? 7.200 there you are then u have got used to the speed,B.S.A.s did 118.but handled .56 we had to have dynamos lights batterys etc and the handling was frightening .I lapped 2 mins faster on my 350 norton in sept with only 112 mph.In the thruxton 500 mile race i rode a gold star with tickle and it handled like a norton fantastic,should have had one but we or I were looked after more than well by frank.many reasons for the demise all in that book.shame it certainly helped get a lot on the ladder who would never have done otherwise, if only triumphs had built a decent frame,we went slower than the sprung hubs years before.

Edited by ancient, 22 October 2012 - 18:44.


#4 Paul Collins

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Posted 22 October 2012 - 21:22

Here you go John, I was in touch with Bill Snelling earlier tonight (He lives a few miles up the road from me in Laxey) he is registered on this site but doesnt get much time to post, however he sent me these two photo's from his archives, he is custodian of the official TT photo collection.

He also sent me one from Terry's last TT which I will post on the Terry Shep thread

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#5 ancient

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Posted 23 October 2012 - 08:29

Here you go John, I was in touch with Bill Snelling earlier tonight (He lives a few miles up the road from me in Laxey) he is registered on this site but doesnt get much time to post, however he sent me these two photo's from his archives, he is custodian of the official TT photo collection.

He also sent me one from Terry's last TT which I will post on the Terry Shep thread

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yes first one 1954 speedway leathers?all i could afford s/hand,the other on bray 1956 taken by salmond he was a nice man with his leica would get bikes perfectly in the middle of the frame even mac on the gilera amazing,i made handlebars up to b in the same position as clip ons and borrowed minihans manx seat thats why u see i am well down to it.

#6 Russell Burrows

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Posted 23 October 2012 - 08:42

Cracking shots, John. I've seen the Bray Hill shot before but didn't connect it with yourself - book cover quality, this one. I like the speedway leathers.

#7 ancient

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Posted 23 October 2012 - 11:35

Cracking shots, John. I've seen the Bray Hill shot before but didn't connect it with yourself - book cover quality, this one. I like the speedway leathers.

speedway leathers.i didnt,! ashamed to wear them ,note 56 tailor made no packing protection whatsoever,