Welcome to TNF, Donny - here are a couple of my pics of you, the first at Cadwell's Hall Bends in '85 and the second at Bottom Bend at Brands in '87.





Look forward to hearing some more about those great days.

Paul M

Smashing pic of Donnie on the EMC Paul.

WWW?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Where are you all? :\ last one for the Donnie McLeod appreciation society...Silverstone 1984.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Graham, there was a Don Macleod that raced Formula Ford back in the day, different guy?

Hi Mike

Good to see and hear you are still doing helmets. Don't know if everyone knows that you did the great design for the colours on the Silverstone Armstrong Team??

I don't look very happy in the pic!! Probably wondering if the 16" front would tuck in again! Fell of about 15 times in 1985 with 16" front. Changed to 17 and stopped falling!

Does anyone know who No 63 behind me is?

Donnie quick question, i see the pic above says you on an EMC, how did it compare to the Armstrong??
Was the carbon fibre framed Armstrong a good bike???

From another thread re 'lost talents', I felt that I had to put this on here...

I would nominate the late Norman Brown.

As a bike racer, he won, at his first visit:

The Manx Grand Prix '81

The North West 200 '82

The IOM Senior TT '82

he would have also won the '82 Ulster Grand Prix but for a clash with Ron Haslam at Wheelers Corner whilst in the lead on the last lap.

Norman lost his life at the British Motor Cycle Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 31st '83, many of his contemporaries said that he would have been even greater than Yer Maun, this I can believe but who knows, what a cruel sport...

Rob

You are right - we must be about same age (i.e. OLD!). I have not been on a race bike since 1988 (and don't intend to be!). Did supermoto for a few years (hence the name supercomp - I had a KTM supercomp 625!). Had a fairly big off (with no injury) at Bishopscourt tail end of 2005, and decided that, like you, I did not bounce as well as I used to. Now doing enduros.

Always wanted a TZ750, so I am very jealous of you!

Donnie

I would be very grateful if you could send me a copy if available Graham, I will reimburse you of course.

Please pm when convenient.

Many Thanks.

Mick.

Foggy ??

Jeff

EMC - Great engine - poor chassis - eccentric team owner (the Doc)
Armstrong - Great chassis - poor engine

As you will know from your time on Armstrongs, Mike Eatough was a forward thinking chassis designer, but no one at Armstrong really knew much about engines (after Barry Hart). As an aside, does anyone know what Mike is up to these days? He emigrated to USA to work for Harley around 1988.

The pic is of a 1987 EMC that was basically built as an IOM TT bike. The 1988 EMC was much better, with a new chassis built by Harris.

I wish this forum was going 3 years ago! I was in Australia for 2 months, but did not have any way of contacting any of the racing fraternity.

Cheers

Donnie

Hi Donnie, a quick question for you, before you revealed your true identity you said that you raced 500's, I always remembered you as a 250/350 rider, never remembered you on a 500. Could you please elaborate?

ATB.

Mick.

Thanks for that, the DOC eccentric, that is an understatement.
Yes the problem at Armstrong was always the engine, Mike a great frame man, Barry Hart didn't know a lot about getting more horsepower out of the Rotax either. The europeans who had rotax engines at that time where always quicker, but the Armstrong did handle well.
Talking of TZ 750, i had a few, i think the best and most exciting bike i ever rode, and bloody quick.
What were you up to in Australia???
Weather not so good today, only going to be 36 degrees.....celsius(97F)

LamboNZ

Sorry for the late night surge. But I only look at the forum late evening, or I would never get any work done!

No 91 is Roddy Taylor (on one of my old bikes). His brother Dougie was really fast but was killed in a freak accident at Knockhill. Roddy's son Mackenzie Taylor is pretty hot in karting now.

Donnie

Steve

You do know how to embarass!! Just watched those videos!

Enjoyed racing against you all those years ago. You were one of the guys I always knew would be near the front. I think back then racers had respect for each other. When I see some of the passing moves (i.e. T-Bones) in BSB, it makes me wonder. Any one else got an opinion on current 'etiquette' in BSB? Or is this off topic?

PS Is your Dad still on the go?

Donnie

Strange Donnie, I recognised your voice on the interview without looking at the screen...guess we only look different today Strewth Tinks got a blinding start in that race, shame old Muddly Talker had him on a Yamaha ;) and I never knew Niall was from Bolton...

On your other comment about riding standards, I don't know about today, but I seem to remember the usual thing back then was that most of the guys knew who was trouble & if there was an incident it was because someone made a mistake rather than something deliberate. Perhaps today's riders feel more invincible with armoured leathers etc?

Oh & yes Dr Joe wasn't eccentric he was a nutcase...he used to come out with some "choice" proclamations :\

Hi Graham Brian Reid, Brands, 1985

I did not know that either, but a few pics from Manfred on here of Donnie on the RG500 etc.
http://www.highsider.com/textlager/uk_textlager/McLeod.htm

No worries Mick, will get back to you when done

No not Brian Reid. Brands but 1984.

Morning Sterling, no different guy, our Donnie on here is Donnie McLeod. Ex British 250 Champ and Grand Prix rider.

Yep Mick a real talent, particularly on the roads, very sad loss, and stupid way to go as well, you all probably know that he was touring after some kind of problem just after Stowe many riders saw him and went round him but a train of riders 3or4 near the tail of the field caught him half way down the straight to Club corner, all missed him except Peter Huber who was tucked in slipstreaming and ran straight in the back of him....Norman was thrown to the side of the track and Peter Huber on to the track losing his helmet in the accident. Opinion now is that if the medical workers had a defibrillator, Norman may of been saved? if anything was gained by the loss of riders like Norman & Peter, it is that medical facility's have greatly improved since then.

To the memory of Peter Huber, here on the Saturday Silverstone 1983.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Just realised, Gene McDonnell.

Wasnt Kim...it was Mark Barker

No, but same Nationality.

I had forgotten about this!! yes Donnie #91 is Roddy Taylor

#69 Kim Barker
#149 Kees Doorakkers
#146 Gerard Van De Wal
#85 Tom Knight, with Gene McDonnell behind him on the EMC.

Now its bothering me, wracking my little brain! The only Irish rider I can think of that had red top half to his leathers like that was Alan Irwin, but he had a yellow helmet, so I don't think its him...I give up

Who's the rider on the other RG?

It looks like Alan Irwin.

Andy

It's Alan Irwin, Michael

I am pretty sure the Irish rider in the brands pic is Brian Ried...

Mo

Me too, looks like his name on the fairing.

No guys its not Brian Reid, but he is from the Emerald Isle.

Donnie

Great videos though & such a shame you slipped off in the race with Nial.
I was just waiting for the cut back in behind & fast exit. You Made up for it in at Oulton.

I agree that most had respect & wouldn't do anything unsportsman like. There were
riders such as yourself who I would happily follow very close, Mark Philips is another for
example. (Worries me more now, when you say you fell 15 times )
I've only ever knocked one person off accidentally & that was Kieth Heuwen at Mallory Hairpin.
He wasn't very pleased but were still friends I think My fault entirely (blamed on the tar overbanding!!! It was wet)

One of the recent pics shows Gerard Van der Val, a very nice chap by the way. However our first
encounter was a very physical challenge for the lead of the 250 GP at Imatra (Euro Champs). He
came across the front of me just prior to the braking point at the end of the back straight, knees elbows
etc.... I was just a little upset But returned the move pretty soon afterwards & I think he got the message
After the race he did actually appologise, & since have always got on well, both on & off the track.
We've all been there I suppose, But I'd like to think that I would always leave enough room for other
guys & never cut up or ride off the track.
Carl, did me once at Mallory coming into the hairpin. I had to stab the brake to avoid taking him out (should have done in hindsight )
that stalled the engine & I just fell into the wall while trying to bump it of at 0mph .
Hard riding you could call it, but no real need if you have the talent which Carl certainly had.
Dont get me wrong here, no sour grapes, just telling it as it was. Excuses really

I remember Peter Hubbard & Kenny Irons coming round clearways on the last lap 350 race.
Kenny on the inside, "Knocked Petes hand off the throttle", & went accross the line in front to win!!
I've never seen Pete so angry... He put in a protest, but it was dismissed
This wasnt a collission by the way, it was "Hand to Ball" as the say in football

The old pro/am was a little different & just a bit slower ( a lot was done for show!) especially Ray,
Kenny, Nial & Graham always rubbing elbows for the TV cameras.
Ray crashed at the chicane in one race & deliberately laid there faking injury for the TV Again just like football....

Hey really have waffleitus tonight.....

My Dad is still going strong by the way & will be chuffed that you asked
He is struggling a little though, to be fair, but will enjoy reading comments on the forum.

Just a comment on the EMC & Rotax engine bikes, having never ridden one (ref Jeffs question to Donnie)
Generally I always found that they were faster & certainly had low down Grunt.
I was always surprised at AC's decision to go with Mitsui Yamaha in '83.
A move that affected my carreer..but thats another story.
Waffle over lol

Posted this image before, but it is a little amusing looking at Keith
still holding the handlebars, on his imaginary bike

Completely off topic but 58 million hits cant be wrong !!!!!!!!!!!
Charlie bit me again.............
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Well it is Brian's bike. I am out on a limb here but could it be Dennis Todd?

Mo

A clue, MF

I agree 100% Graham, as we discussed in the old thread, I was in the Stowe corner grandstand with my ex and saw it all, horrible. She fainted at the sound of the impact.

IIRC Norman had said before the race that he would pull out of the race if the weather turned nasty as he had the Ulster Grand Prix on the following Saturday and that he did not want to put himself or his bike at risk, especially as he had crashed heavily at the Belgian GP 2 weeks previously and damaged his bike. I wonder if this is why he was carrying the same colours at Silverstone as Johnnie Rea's Hector Neill bike, as opposed to his usual distinctive livery?

I think that maybe Phil (fil2.8) may have some insight into this, I believe that he knew Norman quite well.

Anyway a tragic accident claiming 2 lives which should not have happened.

A cruel sport indeed, sometimes.

Now that you say that, the helmet makes sense. Mark Farmer.

Not that I was either very good or in the job very long but are Supercomp and I the only GP level rider/mechanic combo on here?

I never found you bad tempered Donnie...but my reference point was big Jim who could make satan seem pleasant

Mo

Correct Mo, its Mark Farmer on an EMC.

Was he team mates with Gene McDonnell that day? as it looks the same bike/rider colours as your earlier pic with Kim Barker

I don't think they were in the same team Nigel, Mark Farmer was on a Joe Henderson EMC, and Gene McDonnell was on a Joseph A Millar EMC, just to confirm that Gene is on the blue bike behind Tom Knight, which would be in 6th place in the picture, but it does look like Mark Farmer behind him?
Race result was
1st Kim Barker
2nd Mark Farmer
3rd Kees Doorakkers
4th Gene McDonnell
5th Raymond Beers
6th Tom Knight
7th Roddy Taylor

Another one from PBI 1984

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

#102 Kevin Clarke
#173 Ian Newton
#121 Pete Hubbard
#83 Our Donnie!
#107 Tim Couzens?

Doh ! Looking at the wrong bike , can see Gene's helmet colours now, which was a white Bell helmet with a green stripe down it, and I think the following year was changed to a black stripe.

All good except #107, who is Dave Thurlow.

I think this has been on before, but not for a while?
Gene McDonnell & Alan Irwin same day as the other pics but on the TZ350's.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Early in the BP/Bill Ivy 250 Race Heat 2

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Oh yes...



I've got a few more recent ones somewhere. I think I was last there in 2006 in the Auto 66 classic twisty sprints on my Bonnie.

#154 Neil Robinson
#68 Mez
#87 Paul Tinker
#9 Niall MacKenzie
#73 Geoff Fowler
#64 Ray Swann?
#124 Andy Hawkins?
#80 Rob Orme
Is it Donnie at the back of this pack, and Roy Kennedy in front of him?