15100 replies to this topic

[philippe7]

Having achieved close to 3000 posts since we started ( which was only two years ago ! ) is certainly impressive, and above all it has been a real pleasure to spend all this time in such excellent company

I've routinely saved to my PC each and every single page of this thread since the beginning, in order not to lose any of the pictures.....methinks I'm soon gonna have to buy a hard drive extension .

[antony duprat]

i know where and when, but i don't know who is it...

[picblanc]

Originally posted by antony duprat
i know where and when, but i don't know who is it...

I think I do, its Phil Haslam.

[bigrog]

Originally posted by antony duprat
i know where and when, but i don't know who is it...

Antony, this is a very rare find. I don't know where or when but I am sure that this is the man we were talking about a few weeks ago, South African Mike Fogg.

R

[picblanc]

Originally posted by bigrog


Antony, this is a very rare find. I don't know where or when but I am sure that this is the man we were talking about a few weeks ago, South African Mike Fogg.

R

Its Austria 1973 Roger,

[knickerbrook]

Re. the 350 event at the 1977 Race of the Year - I just looked up my race accounts and saw that it rained at the start of my heat and I had a slick on the rear . There were a lot of fallers and after nearly joining them I pulled in out of self-preservation! No pictures but I do have the programme. It dried for the final apparently.

Do keep the seventies going (if only for me and Dennis!) - it's my period and I'm pretty much crap at anything later .

[bigrog]

Originally posted by picblanc


Its Austria 1973 Roger,

I'm impressed that you know that Graham and those straw bales look like Salzburg to me so I'll go with that. I still stick with Fogg as I recognise the TD2B he's riding still with Castrol sponsorship that he had when winning the 250 and 350 South African Championships in 1972.

R

[picblanc]

Originally posted by bigrog


I'm impressed that you know that Graham and those straw bales look like Salzburg to me so I'll go with that. I still stick with Fogg as I recognise the TD2B he's riding still with Castrol sponsorship that he had when winning the 250 and 350 South African Championships in 1972.

R

Ermm.... dont be to impressed Roger I have a book with that picture in its attributed to Phil Haslam now Philip did have a checker pattern helmet in his early days, though if you are sure its Mike Fogg, do you know him well enough to ask him and email the pic for conformation?
Is he still involved at Kyalami?.. and dont be to impressed I may know that!! I Googled him ;)
and I wont get to sleep wondering about it now!

[picblanc]

Originally posted by knickerbrook
Re. the 350 event at the 1977 Race of the Year - I just looked up my race accounts and saw that it rained at the start of my heat and I had a slick on the rear . There were a lot of fallers and after nearly joining them I pulled in out of self-preservation! No pictures but I do have the programme. It dried for the final apparently.

Do keep the seventies going (if only for me and Dennis!) - it's my period and I'm pretty much crap at anything later .

Here is one for you then Barry and Dennis, quite a few Shell stars there, but can you remember him?

picture copyright Graham Etheridge,racebikepics.

[knickerbrook]

Fred Hugget?

[picblanc]

Originally posted by knickerbrook
Fred Hugget?

Yes indeedy!! Fred Huggett on his CB500 Honda, very quick on it he was to!
I think he raced a 500 sparton later?

[picblanc]

Who is this rider still involved in the world of Motorcycle racing.

picture copyright Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

[antony duprat]

Originally posted by picblanc


Ermm.... dont be to impressed Roger I have a book with that picture in its attributed to Phil Haslam now Philip did have a checker pattern helmet in his early days, though if you are sure its Mike Fogg, do you know him well enough to ask him and email the pic for conformation?
Is he still involved at Kyalami?.. and dont be to impressed I may know that!! I Googled him ;)
and I wont get to sleep wondering about it now!

I think have the same book. It's a pocket Marlboro guide, but it is in Dutch and it is stained by the moisture and the time. I can't ride the name of him, but it is this race; I search the entry list..

[antony duprat]

Harald Eckl (Ex Kawasaki 2006)
http://www.highsider.../Eckl_84_02.htm

[bigrog]

Originally posted by picblanc


Ermm.... dont be to impressed Roger I have a book with that picture in its attributed to Phil Haslam now Philip did have a checker pattern helmet in his early days, though if you are sure its Mike Fogg, do you know him well enough to ask him and email the pic for conformation?
Is he still involved at Kyalami?.. and dont be to impressed I may know that!! I Googled him ;)
and I wont get to sleep wondering about it now!

Graham, your info could be right, I don't know and this is just my opinion but I post a picture of Mike Fogg from 1972 on what I believe is the same bike. Admittedly, slightly different colour scheme on bike and helmet but Ceriani forks and not Yamaha and he did ride in the Austrian GP in 1973. I will try to get hold of him but I don't have his e-mail address so I'll have to depend on my brother David (henry snee)who still lives in SA to see if he can make contact. No, the Kyalami/Roy Hesketh thing with Jim Redman and Mike Fogg didn't last long I'm afraid.

This is from a story on Kork Ballington and Mike Fogg winning the South African "Rider to Europe" award of which my father, Doug Aldridge was heavily involved. Difficult to believe that's Kork hustling his trusty Kawasaki H1 production bike which he has now bought back and restored by the way.

Roger

[Hieronymus]

bigrog

What can you tell me about Johan Boshoff...since it seems you are quite an expert on the South African motorcycle scene? Do you think he was world champion material and just missed the boat???

[SJMPhoto]

Hi folks

This is a long shot, but does anyone know where I could obtain pictures of Tom Herron at the 1979 Venezuelan GP

:

Cheers
Stephen

[Macca]

Wasn't Fred Hugget's nickname 'Smurf', or am I thinking of someone else? He was team-mates with Ray Knight on a pair of Dresda-Hondas in 1978.

Ah, the Unorfodox! I've got a paddock shot of it............but it's all packed away now ready for a house move.




Paul M

[bigrog]

Originally posted by Hieronymus
bigrog

What can you tell me about Johan Boshoff...since it seems you are quite an expert on the South African motorcycle scene? Do you think he was world champion material and just missed the boat???

Definitely no expert but in my humble opinion, one of the greats in SA terms. Probably the greatest SA rider not to go overseas with the possible exception of Rodney Gray.Definitely capable of being world champion. Everybody remembers him from the seventies on TD/TR/TZ Yamahas or on a CB 750 production bike with that spectacular knee out style but I remember him most when he was just starting out and riding a 7R AJS in the mi sixties. I can remember standing in the prohibited area on the inside of BP bend at Hesketh with Rod Gray and my brother Peter watching him in practice and it just took our breath away. Fast, spectacular and truly awe inspiring. Yes, he was a great loss. (Sorry to bring four wheels into it but Brausch Niemann also did the same for us with that crossed hand style of his). Ah, great, great days.

Roger

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Paul Rochdale
I'd like to post a picture if I knew how. As with most things in life these days, it seems too complicated. The mention of Pat Mahoney brought back memories. I went to every bike meeting during the first three years Lydden was open and Pat was one of the leading lights there, and probably won the 'Lord of Lydden' title. Pat was involved in an almighty crash at Paddock Bend at Brands when a lot of riders went down on the first lap. He sustained serious head injuries and never fully recovered. I recall a while later he did a parade lap at Lydden in the back of a pick-up but had to be held up. He clearly didn't look right. There was a TV documentary about him later when he tried riding a motorbike across a field but fell off. I understand he lived with his parents and unfortunately took his life earlier this year.

My own interest in motorcycle racing started as a boy when my father took me each year to the local Ramsgate Sprint organised by the Sunbeam MCCC along the Western Undercliff. As a teenager I was taken to the very first motorcycle race at Brands Hatch on the newly opened Grand Prix circuit. Hailwood, Ivy, Read were there but so was my hero Derek Minter back on his Norton again after breaking his back in a fatal crash with Dave Downer six weeks earlier.

For years I went to bike and car races at both Lydden and Brands but I seemed to have lost touch with racing about ten years ago. This bulletin board often brings back happy memories and I'm stunned at the knowledge of the car blokes.

I was saddened to hear the passing of Pat Mahoney, he used to run a Contractors Plant Hire company with his father and often used to hire equipment from the firm I worked for. One day after his accident, his father brought him with, to collect some tools and see some of our guys who were racers also. It was so sad, at that time, you could see that it took great determination to walk again, let alone ride a bike. I never saw him race, but I know from my workmates that he was pretty good.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by bigrog


Definitely no expert but in my humble opinion, one of the greats in SA terms. Probably the greatest SA rider not to go overseas with the possible exception of Rodney Gray.Definitely capable of being world champion. Everybody remembers him from the seventies on TD/TR/TZ Yamahas or on a CB 750 production bike with that spectacular knee out style but I remember him most when he was just starting out and riding a 7R AJS in the mi sixties. I can remember standing in the prohibited area on the inside of BP bend at Hesketh with Rod Gray and my brother Peter watching him in practice and it just took our breath away. Fast, spectacular and truly awe inspiring. Yes, he was a great loss. (Sorry to bring four wheels into it but Brausch Niemann also did the same for us with that crossed hand style of his). Ah, great, great days.

Roger

Thank you for your comment. Yes, I think Bossie was a true BIG BALLS racer. As brave as you'll ever get. Alas for an aborted attempt to compete at the Isle of Man TT there was no international fame for him. I am pretty sure that he would have made it big on the international scene. A chap with a big heart and ever so modest...

[Hieronymus]

bigrog

One more question. Did you witness Bossie racing his Yamaha early in 1977. I think it was a 750cc and they claimed that this was the world's fastest motorcycle at the time. They claimed a top speed of well over 300km/h, but the Kyalami straight was a bit too short to reach this max speed.

Do you think their claims were justified in this regard?

[picblanc]

Originally posted by antony duprat
Harald Eckl (Ex Kawasaki 2006)
http://www.highsider.../Eckl_84_02.htm

Correct again Antony.
My book is Motorcycle racing guide 1974 as it is the results from 1972 and 1973 packed with great photos almost all never seen in print anywhere else! mine is English printed in Switzerland I bought it new, and has Jarno Saarinen on the 500 Yamaha on the front cover.
I have seen only one for sale on ebay before, if you guys see it, get one you will not be disappointed!!

[bigrog]

Originally posted by Hieronymus
bigrog

One more question. Did you witness Bossie racing his Yamaha early in 1977. I think it was a 750cc and they claimed that this was the world's fastest motorcycle at the time. They claimed a top speed of well over 300km/h, but the Kyalami straight was a bit too short to reach this max speed.

Do you think their claims were justified in this regard?

Hieronymous

This was the legendary TZ750 Yamaha and 300 km/h probably wasn't far wrong. It was the subject of earlier posts when fellow TNF'r, Yendor described what it was like to race one in anger, (Yendor is Rod Scivyer, one of the best Brit riders through the sixties and seventies). It was an evil beast with effectively two TZ350 engines side by side with levels of power way beyond the abilities of the chassis, suspension and tyres of the time. Unfortunately, I never saw Bossie ride one but that must have been truly frightening. He was, as you've said, a truly BIG BALLS rider. To be fair, he crashed rarely in his later years and was never out of control, just truly aggressive. But he was a typical Afrikaner (sorry for the stereotype, my Boere mates), a giant of a man in many ways but nothing bigger than his heart. Kind and generous to a fault.

Could you spread any light on a story I once heard about Bossie's death where it was said he pulled his drip out intentionally when he came round in hospital and he died as a result of this. If I've got this wrong in any way, I hope I haven't upset or offended anyone.

Roger

[picblanc]

Originally posted by bigrog


Graham, your info could be right, I don't know and this is just my opinion but I post a picture of Mike Fogg from 1972 on what I believe is the same bike. Admittedly, slightly different colour scheme on bike and helmet but Ceriani forks and not Yamaha and he did ride in the Austrian GP in 1973. I will try to get hold of him but I don't have his e-mail address so I'll have to depend on my brother David (henry snee)who still lives in SA to see if he can make contact. No, the Kyalami/Roy Hesketh thing with Jim Redman and Mike Fogg didn't last long I'm afraid.

This is from a story on Kork Ballington and Mike Fogg winning the South African "Rider to Europe" award of which my father, Doug Aldridge was heavily involved. Difficult to believe that's Kork hustling his trusty Kawasaki H1 production bike which he has now bought back and restored by the way.

Roger

I have just put the picture in my book under a magnifying glass and I now think your right Roger as just under the screen you can make out .........GG and it says Castrol on the side and with the other technical info, I would say the book is wrong, also thinking again about Phil Haslam he never wore a full face helmet although it is the same design pattern. So step forward Mr Aldridge well done!

[picblanc]

Originally posted by sterling49


I was saddened to hear the passing of Pat Mahoney, he used to run a Contractors Plant Hire company with his father and often used to hire equipment from the firm I worked for. One day after his accident, his father brought him with, to collect some tools and see some of our guys who were racers also. It was so sad, at that time, you could see that it took great determination to walk again, let alone ride a bike. I never saw him race, but I know from my workmates that he was pretty good.

Pat Mahoney TZ700 Yamaha 1974, sponsored by himself!! another of my favorite pictures/bikes!!

Picture copyright Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

[Hieronymus]

Originally posted by bigrog


Hieronymous

This was the legendary TZ750 Yamaha and 300 km/h probably wasn't far wrong. It was the subject of earlier posts when fellow TNF'r, Yendor described what it was like to race one in anger, (Yendor is Rod Scivyer, one of the best Brit riders through the sixties and seventies). It was an evil beast with effectively two TZ350 engines side by side with levels of power way beyond the abilities of the chassis, suspension and tyres of the time. Unfortunately, I never saw Bossie ride one but that must have been truly frightening. He was, as you've said, a truly BIG BALLS rider. To be fair, he crashed rarely in his later years and was never out of control, just truly aggressive. But he was a typical Afrikaner (sorry for the stereotype, my Boere mates), a giant of a man in many ways but nothing bigger than his heart. Kind and generous to a fault.

Could you spread any light on a story I once heard about Bossie's death where it was said he pulled his drip out intentionally when he came round in hospital and he died as a result of this. If I've got this wrong in any way, I hope I haven't upset or offended anyone.

Roger

Nice comments, Roger.

I have not heard this story before. All I know is that Bossie was taken to hospital with a broken leg after crashing during practice at Jukskei corner. His condition was not regarded as serious. He died some days later due to an embolism. Very much the same fate that Ronnie Peterson suffered.

If he was on some “anti-clotting” drip and he did pull it from his arm, it could very much have been the reason for the embolism. Pure speculation, though.

When I was a youngster, Bossie was definitely the flavor of the month. You were either a Boshoff fan or a Roger de Coster fan, depending on what kind of bike you had or favored, i.e. road or off-road. Following Bossie’s death we all become fans of a certain Mr. Ballington.

I pulled out an old copy of Classic CAR Africa from my drawers this morning. The First Quarter 2002 had a nice article on Johan Boshoff that was written by Ken Macleod. Have you perhaps read this?

[topschrott]

MfG topschrott

[picblanc]

Originally posted by topschrott





MfG topschrott

Ahhh!! those were the days, Ago's Daytona winning TZ with unlaquered fuel tank.
And what is Mr Hartog doing?

[andyb1963]

Originally posted by topschrott





MfG topschrott

Great pics , have you got a quiz to liven the day up a bit ?

[picblanc]

Originally posted by andyb1963

Great pics , have you got a quiz to liven the day up a bit ?

One from me again!! who do you see in this bunch?

Picture copyright Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Sorry its grainey it was a scan I did a couple of years ago on wrong settings

[andyb1963]

#19 'Noddy' Newbold
#92 Steve Tonkin
#45 Chas Mortimer ? (dont recall the BP sponsorship )
#24 Tepi Lansovouri
Red helmet looks like Phil Henderson ?
#97 Patrick Pons ?
No peeks at other websites to make it easier this time so I'm sure they're not all right

[picblanc]

Originally posted by andyb1963
#19 'Noddy' Newbold
#92 Steve Tonkin
#45 Chas Mortimer ? (dont recall the BP sponsorship )
#24 Tepi Lansovouri
Red helmet looks like Phil Henderson ?
#97 Patrick Pons ?
No peeks at other websites to make it easier this time so I'm sure they're not all right

Hooray!! this might last a while John Newbold is correct.

[fazz]

92 IS ANDY SMITH (HE LIVES NEAR ME)
45 ROGER NICHOLLS
KEVIN STOWE RED AND WHITE HELMET
24 CLIVE OFFER
CLIVE PADGETT WHITE NAVA HELMET
This may help the others guess

[fazz]

Is 97 piers soulas or something like it

[fazz]

is 47 TONY HEAD

[picblanc]

Originally posted by picblanc


Hooray!! this might last a while John Newbold is correct.

Famous last words!!

92 IS ANDY SMITH (HE LIVES NEAR ME)
45 ROGER NICHOLLS
KEVIN STOWE RED AND WHITE HELMET
24 CLIVE OFFER
CLIVE PADGETT WHITE NAVA HELMET
This may help the others guess

Well done Fazz,
Tony Head correct also.

All but Soulas are correct, just no 97 left then, a regular visitor to English International meetings.

[antony duprat]

#97 Bernard Fau ?

[picblanc]

Originally posted by antony duprat
#97 Bernard Fau ?

No not Bernard!

[philippe7]

Zis eees Jean-Claude Meilland

[picblanc]

Originally posted by philippe7
Zis eees Jean-Claude Meilland

Bonjour Philippe, tres bon!! Monsieur JC Meilland it is.

[picblanc]

Me again!! some well known riders here can you get them all?

Picture Copyright Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

[bigrog]

Originally posted by picblanc
Me again!! some well known riders here can you get them all?

The obvious ones:
31. Alex George
2.De Witte Reus
7. Bazza
3. Dave Potter
1?. Roger Marshall
26. Patrick Pons

behind him Tony Rutter. I'll let everybody else get the hard ones.


Roger

[antony duprat]

26 PONS
1 MARSHALL
3 POTTER
7 SHEENE
2 HARTOG
For this moment..I don't remember the green/white Nolan

[andyb1963]

Here goes ! Far left John Newbold , #26 Patrick Pons , Stan Woods behind , Tony Rutter behind , #171 ?#1 Roger Marshall , #18 ? #3 Dave Potter #7 Bazza , #2 Wil Hartog , #31 Alex George , # 36 Cal Raybourn ? Graham wood behind ? Only guessing tho

[antony duprat]

Ask " Gauloises" to stopped smoke !!!

[andyb1963]

Woo Hoo ! Got the computer all to myself Coz I've just given my other half 'privateer ' to read

[mfd]

#36 Cal Raybourn !!!? Me thinks he was dead by the time of this pic.

Please if you can just remind me guys
as I have lost this from my memory completely Dave Potter was killed in 1981. I remember doing the helmets but nothing else.

[picblanc]

Originally posted by andyb1963
Her goes ! Far left John Newbold , #26 Patrick Pons , Stan Woods behind , Tony Rutter behind , #171 ?#1 Roger Marshall , #18 ? #3 Dave Potter #7 Bazza , #2 Wil Hartog , #31 Alex George , # 36 Cal Raybourn ? Graham wood behind ? Only guessing tho

Well done all, all correct except #36 so still to get,

#171 (difficult)
#18 Forum star a while ago Roger!!
#23 behind Sheene, from Harlow!!
#22 a Frenchie!!
#36 well known and mentioned lots on forum, today in fact!!
#34 Multi British Champion.

[picblanc]

Originally posted by mfd
#36 Cal Raybourn !!!? Me thinks he was dead by the time of this pic.

Please if you can just remind me guys
as I have lost this from my memory completely Dave Potter was killed in 1981. I remember doing the helmets but nothing else.

Hi Mike, yes Cal Rayborn was killed in New Zealand early 1974 I belive on a TR500 Suzuki.

Dave Potter died about a week after crashing at Oulton Park (Cascades I think) during an MCN Superbike race, in 1981 August?