Hi Mike,

I found the Stars at Darley programs from 1978 & 1980 but not 1979!

Steve was no.7 in 1980 so the picture must be 1979. so it would of been one of his first rides on that bike.

By the way Kevin Stowe won the Stars at Darley in 1978 winning both races, probably on that bike & Steve H finished 6th & 5th as first reserve on his own 350 (did you know him then?).

(my mum filled in results in every program I have found!)

David

Damn good question Paul , i'm surprised Mr Fu hasn't answered that

And Mike , I suggest a good surgeon

and some screws Phil

And an electric drill Julian

+ maybe a mig welder

Hey Julian

Your name came up when I was looking through from some old programs. What do you remember from the Post TT International Motor Cycle Races Sunday June 19th 1977, MCN/Brut 33 Superbike Race?


David

~Dont know David???? hadnt started racing then?

could have done with a tig welder perhaps and also a few nuts and bolts!

And they called him a man of steel in this case how right

.


Sorry, now I feel like an idiot. Thought you were Julian Soper.

David

So does he sometimes

Phil I generall only go out with intelligent girls, but then there are always the exception( ie feeling an idiot) PMSL as for Julian Soper. what did he get up to at that meeting then? also better Julian Soper than Tony Soper

So I can assume you are definately not Julian Soper.

He's def not Julian Soper David.

Tony Soper? Animal Magic?

You could get arrested for that

I think 1979 was the first year Steve rode Harold's bikes, but the bulk of the season was on 250 & 350 Yams. I'm pretty certain the RG500 & TZ750 were unused for much of the year, Kevin having been injured. As the Stars at Darley was always at the end of the season, sometimes shrouded in fog I think the 750 was run again as a good opportunity to try it & also to support the Darley club where he first started racing. That bike got totally rebuilt over the winter & I know he was pretty chuffed to get his hands on it!

The first season was probably 1976 with a Yamaha TR2b, an aircooled 350. Most of the races were Cadwell or Darley, then at the end of the year he got a new TZ from Bill Smith Motors (they were 1500 quid in those days) & it was wheeled out for the Croft Boxing Day races. They delayed practice as there was ice on the track!

The bikes were always painted black red & gold with the stripes in the standard Yamaha positions, & that part carried over to the helmet. The first year it was Escort van & trailer, then a Sherpa ! He only bought the bigger sh Merc van to show your Grandad he was serious about going racing!

Mr Fu wakey wakey give us a piccy please

He rode the TZ750 at the PBI meeting in 1979.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mfd
[B]



The first season was probably 1976 with a Yamaha TR2b, an aircooled 350. Most of the races were Cadwell or Darley, then at the end of the year he got a new TZ from Bill Smith Motors (they were 1500 quid in those days)
With full spares kit Mike

WWW? difficult!?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Hi Mike

I think Tony Rutter rode the RG, but I have no idea about the 750.


David

There was something different about buying one from Bill Smith, he would sell you a bike without the kit, which made it cheaper than one from Mitsui where the kit was in with the price.

Errrrrrr yes '75 ish Brands ?? looks about your size :yawn:

Yes he did I have a picture of him on it in 1979, not great as I think fencing and posts get in the way, but I will try and find it later.

Sounds about right Mike which is why people went 'elsewhere'

I had forgotten this guy rode a 350 after he left MV & the private RG500 team?( Fiat/Nava?) who else can you remember took a step backwards in class?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Yes Mr Fu Franco Bonera ?? much underated what do you think?? is that the spelling ?

I wondered if it was Steve Wright on the RG, David?

I think the 750 was "tired" and needed an engine rebuild, which might explain if it didn't run much in 79. Steve was pretty picky about just getting on a used bike too - I think he'd call it self preservation, 'cos they so easily could go OIIKKK & seize. So if you looked at earlier in the season as an "apprenticeship" & where he was comfortable with the performance of a 250/350, riding the "big smoker" demanded respect. There were a lot of folk having big accidents on them.

It was quite sometime before he really crashed the 750 & apart from other things it sort of broke the spell.
Does anyone remember the colour photo of him trying to stop it crashing into one of the American team at Clearways...it was in Motor Cycle racing....Graham...??? Anyone got a copy.

Jeff Sayle, well a step down in capacity anyway not class.

Steve in 1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

he also rode this one in the same year, the TR750 that Mick lost his life on.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

I recall seeing a pic of Dave Potter ramming into Gene Romero at Druids in the Trans in 1976, cant remember Steve doing the same sort of thing though?

Yes I Do.




David

No! underrated has got two R's

Oh that one...!!

Think it was to late to be Steve Wright.

Thats right, first time I saw him was on the Rottweiler 750, but later better known on the 250/350 Armstrongs.

The other one that ate the pies!

great one of Steve doing a 'stoppy'

Where is it at Brands though? - I was certain it was Clearways

Hmm yes Mike I see what you mean, at first I was sure it was there ie rejoining the short cicuit from the long circuit and you sure would be braking hard as you come in real fast under the bridge on that straight from Sterlings I think its called. tarmac config looks wrong for druids then thought it could be cascades at Oulton but looking at it again i still think your right.. I'm rambling , its past 6pm must be time for a drink! ( and you must be burning the midnight oil again Mike!

Looks like Ada Marsh to me who now has a fairly big role (or roll ) in Rob Macs team !

Glad your here Andy!! Adrian Marsh is correct.

Looks like Clearways to me too!? no speccy access to that section now though.

Glad I'm not dreaming, the spectators must be (inside) where the short goes onto the long circuit. It was certainly a fast unload coming down off the GP circuit. Chivington had crashed when he touched the back wheel of Roger Marshall. Steve pushed the bike to the start finish line to score points.

Thank you!! trying to think who the other rider was a long push that, its quiet a bit up hill from bottom of Clearways!!

''
When mike Sinclair and me were 20 ish and in Italy for my deal with Diemme we were invited to go with the team to a race meeting ( my RG was still in transit) at Modena...the circuit was in the city at the local minor airport. Wonder if u guys have any details about this circuit. The MV mechanics started the bikes up one at a time and as the MVs fired into life the crowd stood and yelled like we were at a bull fight..Ago was the king then Bonera came out and he was "Rocky"....built like a brickshithouse but cool looking..at that time we never anaylised the opposition.....he just looked tough

I think Modena is Ferrari's private test track now Stu?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Think you're conFUsing Modena with Maranello & the Fiorano test track, Graham
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=44+32+05.78+N,+10+51+29.20+E