Nice colour scheme on the KR1S Mark

Yes, I had a few in that colour, an EXUP, a TZR125 ministocker, and single using an RM250. I wish I still fitted into those leathers tho



Big Yam...

Little Yam...

Whole lotta pink going on there Mark!, were you am member of the pink army?

I blame it on the poor fashions of the early 90s. Even the superstars must be embarassed now when they look back at what they wore back then.

Foggy had his 'Acid Worm' Fieldsheers, Whitham had the pink and Blue GSXR and I'm sure someone will have a photo of Jim Moodie's Pink Supersport bikes?

Mo

Might be the only combo that still speak to each other!!

Jim now does computers and looks after my companies and a few of my clients.

D

Sorry if I'm labouring a point, but it was the sound of this happening that will stay with me, the above reminded me. Just an emormous impact noise, I could only describe it like a bomb going off.
We were on the exit of the corner, and I remember seeing Brown with his hand up, then looking up track at the leaders and hearing the noise.

Such a tragic accident. I seem to remember it took them a couple of laps to stop the race?

One thing you can say these days, despite the lack of proximity to the riders, it's generally a safer sport to be involved in as a rider (runoff, medical facilities etc) but the above accident could happen again tomorrow. Not circuit related. Much like Robert Dunlop's at the NW this year.


On a happier note, was there any particular reason why the PBI got such enormous entries in the 250/350 classes, and such a continental influx? End of season? Decent money? I never went but the programmes I have show complete pages of riders for the smaller bike races, with 2 or 3 heats on the saturday to get to a grid that would be considered huge now. I bet the first Paddock Hill Bend was a sight to see in those races.

Sorry to be a bit thick here, but as far as I know, Norman was riding Hectors RG that weekend. I know for sure Hector was with him, as I saw him returning from the scene of the accident ashen faced. He didn´t say anthing when he saw me and I enquired after Norman. Just shook his head to indicate the worst.
Sad sad day.

I recall Normans colours that day was all light blue, very similar to Franco Uncini 1982 World Championship winning colours

I must add here that I did not witness the accident as some of you did, I saw the TV footage, and a short while later there was a BBC documentary on racing that showed a head on camera angle of it from Club, the incident was shown just not quiet to the impact point thankfully.
Yes Rhodie the riders circulated for a couple of laps not knowing what to do, not really at racing speeds till a few came into pit lane off there own accord, I seem to recall it was a lot of midfield to rear of the field guys that made the decision before Roberts Spencer Mamola actually did? :\

Hi Rhodie

Definitely Hector's bike I agree. The bike had a different paint scheme to his usual livery though, almost all blue which was reminiscent of Franco Uncini's championship winning bike from '82 as opposed to the usual Hector Neill paint job. My thought was that as Norman had crashed in practice for the previous GP in Belgium, perhaps it had a different set of bodywork?

There's a picture of the bike taken in practice on Muzza's memorium site.

ATB.

Mick.

Grand Prix season had finished and top riders were paid to come over, there were at least 70 entrants for the 250 races done in three heats before the final on the Sunday. The PBI was also televised on the Saturday by ITV World of Sport programme, every year from 1973-1984?
I recall in 1982 on the Saturday morning standing at druids for some pictures, Franco Uncini coming round in the cold and mist, He was a late entrant so I and most others did not expect to see him, blimey!! he had just won the World 500cc Championship only two weeks before!! I miss those days!!

Almost Nigel, #64Steve Wright #124 Chris Simpson, not Roy Kennedy, not in this race, I think it is Kevin Clarke again.

WWW? Have we had this one? (dont all shout at once!! )

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Hi Mick. Could you give us a link to that site. Thanks

I can
http://www.ozebook.com/gpwin/documents/24.html

Thanks Mr Fu

My old mate Asa Moyce.....

correct Asa Moyce 1975 it is, you got a few weeks off now?

Hi George, congrats on your season, good luck for next year

I heard that Asa now lives in Ireland, met him once donkeys years ago, nice fella.

ATB.

Mick.

Time off? What's that? Got a test in Australia coming up......

Anybody about missed out on the latest wwws but great to see Donnie joining us We shared a few beers in the Kentagon and Redgate Lodge 1980ish Were you there the night Niall McKenzie emptied a whole soda syphon over me at brands ?

Hi Andy, no doubt you serserved it ! only kidding, sadly I never got into the Kentagon that much (& redgate lodge even less:rolleyes: ) , but when I did I normally caused some sort of ruccous!
BTW Donnie and Fu, you l;ucky sods.... pork scrathings, all we get out here is 'porky puffs' or should that read 'porky poofs' ~ really soft and no crunch!

Julian you just had me in stitches when you mentioned your "porky poofs" Eric Cartman popped into my head and now whenever you post I wiil be stuck with that mental image
Oh and yes I did deserve it , I was a right cheeky young git I seem to remember the night in question, a few beers later, me and a fellow NT helper who will remain nameless tried a few "Bazza" style one-liners with the girls and failed so miserably that we turned it into a "who will get slapped the hardest" competition
Those were the days

Hi chaps my word you all have been busy since I have been away . Got back from Portugal late last night and it's taken me an hour to catch up !!!!

Right , Dr Joe , what can I say that hasn't been said ? Not a lot Let me say the Waddon team was a clash of very strong ( and in some cases odd ) personalities ( understatement ) --cannot for the life of me remember the # 1 at Waddon .
Norman Brown --got to know Norman through Tony (Head ) what a great guy Norman was .The memory of that tragic day will live with me for ever and I wrote about it on the old forum .
A belated welcome to Donnie and any other new members to the forum --remember you don't have to be old to be on the forum ---but it sure helps !!! phil

Easy WWW? But how do you rate/remember this guy?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Thats what I thought George!!! Has the MotoGP team still got Rizla backing? as the Suzuki BSB team have lost it.

If only there was a meeting today at Brands Graham, it's a gorgeous autumnal day, sun shining, dry, fairly mild, great for taking photos! You can bet if there was a meet today, and I attended, it would be dull, grey, cold, wet.......don't you love it!

A date with Brazil a bit later.........

Afternoon Mr Fu Wil Hartog --not the most stylish --probably because of his height --but blindingly fast and had the beatings of Mr Sheene and the rest of the worlds best on more than one occassion .A good rider who fell out of favour with his co-riders over the Kenny Roberts inspired 'World Series' A+

The law of sod Sterling!! I love the autumnal light myself, F1 I hate it!! but cant help but watch it on most occasions, I do have a bad feeling about this one though, having said that I do like Mr Massa, seems a nice guy? though if he wins in my mind a hollow championship, re the Spa debacle!!!
Bit off topic but do I care?

Ahhh right is that what happened, did not remember that! :\

oh & yes its the White giant in 1975.

Don't know.... I just check MCN like everybody else. However, rumours are that a major supermarket chain are interested. Buy one team, get one free..... Same budget, do it cheaper and pocket the difference

And make you all assistant managers

Georgeoffski,
has the rest of your squad re-signed for 09? I see H has gone sweet + sour.

Business as usual at the moment as far as I've been told.

H has given his all for 19 years, bless his little cotton and polyester socks. Go east and prosper my old china

It´s always good to have a few conflicting opinions , but I knew Wil quite well, and he was probably the most misunderstood guy in the paddock. I rated him as the fastest rider of the late 70´s early 80´s, particularly on road circuits. Obviously, he never had the sort of factory backing Bazza and Roberts enjoyed, but on the few occasions he was given a full factory machine he cleared off into the distance. With regards the world series thing, he was told by his sponsor that unless he turned his back on the world series, he would be out of a ride. What would you have done in his position?
Barry, who had a personal problem with Wil, said a few very unkind things in this regard, but I won´t go into that as there is no point after all these years. He was, and still is, a gentleman of the highest order. And while style is a personal thing, I must say he was, for me at any rate, one of the most stylish riders I´ve ever seen. Just my opinion mind.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer
[B]

Barry, who had a personal problem with Wil, said a few very unkind things in this regard, but I won´t go into that as there is no point after all these years. He was, and still is, a gentleman of the highest order.

Isn't it strange , out of all world class riders our Barry seemed to have a 'personal problem' with most --apart from one -- who shall remain nameless but not hard to work out who of his ' team mates '

can anyone tell me what year this video is from please

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLovgYl0Tec

I thought 1977 since I am sure Steve Baker is shown but a little confused because I wouldn't have thought Randy Mamola would have been there then. Any other info greatly appreciated.

I posted the same question in the main part of the forum by mistake, hope I don't incur the wrath of Admin for double posting.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by fil2.8
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer
[B]

Barry, who had a personal problem with Wil, said a few very unkind things in this regard, but I won´t go into that as there is no point after all these years. He was, and still is, a gentleman of the highest order.

Isn't it strange , out of all world class riders our Barry seemed to have a 'personal problem' with most --apart from one -- who shall remain nameless but not hard to work out who of his ' team mates ' [/QUOTE]
That was just his very competitive side coming through. Barry was a great guy, but he did tend to, how can I say, play a few mind games, if he thought someone was a danger. I don´t have a problem with that though, because it´s all part of the plot. However, I felt it was a bit unnecessary for certain members of the press to make Wil out as the villan just because Barry painted him as such. They should have known better.
I would hate this to be construed as anti Sheenie, because nothing could be further from the truth. He was a lovely guy who was just looking after #1, just like everyone else.

Hi Malcolm,

It is from 1979, although footage from several races on that day appear in this clip, and not just the actual match races (Graham Wood appears on both his 500 and his 750). The "start of the race" is also quite clearly the start of the warm-up lap. That said, it is a great piece of rare footage. I didn't see Steve Baker in the clip though. Could it have been Dale Singleton?

Andy

[QUOTE]Originally posted by fil2.8
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer
[B]

Barry, who had a personal problem with Wil, said a few very unkind things in this regard, but I won´t go into that as there is no point after all these years. He was, and still is, a gentleman of the highest order.

Isn't it strange , out of all world class riders our Barry seemed to have a 'personal problem' with most --apart from one -- who shall remain nameless but not hard to work out who of his ' team mates ' [/QUOTE]

Wil's 1977 Dutch TT-Assen victory, at the 1998 Centenial Classic TT they did it again, no chance to do it once more.

..... and those are the two guys that "didn't get on with each other" , eh ? What would it have been like if they had been friends !

Yep 1979, and as Andy says it was Dale Singleton in the clip with Randy, both on Red & Black bikes, similar to Steve Bakers 1976 colours.

Lovely pics of Barry and Wil. I´m not sure anyone has said they didn´t get on, only that there was a bit of unpleasantness at the time of the attempted world series. It´s not a secret that Barry blamed Wil for the failure of the project, but they obviously patched up their differences in later years. Nice to see.

As the thread is rapidly dropping down the page, thought I'd rescue it with a pic I've just found of my encampment in 1980.
Not very good quality, scanned from a polaroid, but it makes an interesting contrast to the motorhome age.

Must of felt like you were standing still when you got off the Rottweiler onto the MT125? Nice pic Rod, racing & camping!!, is that the M20 banking in the background? making it Brands?

the person I thought was Steve Baker was hammering the expansion chamber near the red/black 750 Yamaha, probably just a mechanic then.

Surprisingly because it was such a totally different size, shape etc it wasn't a big problem. The big difference was that when you got on the MT it felt as though there was no way it would hurt you so you could ride it like a loony
Oh and yes it is indeed Brands.

Who can you (just about!!) see, the first five I know, & two others just going into the bend, so have a go?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

So that was the secret to two? Honda MT125 Championship wins...ride like a loony!!

Love your Shell Oils colour scheme on the Yam.

Well that's what it felt like compared to the larger classes!