Don't encourage him Nigel....the old programmes are in the loft gag!!

Bonsoir Antony...correct.

I don't suppose tents have lofts

Christoph started spannering for Wolfgang von Muralt just before I left . He was learning as much as poss before he started his own GP career . 'Smart idea' I thought at the time. Thoroughly nice chap.
I seem to think he bought the ex Jon Ekerold championship winning 350 bimota:love: off Wolfgang end of 82 .
Wonder where it is now?

Dunno any (too early for me) but #102 must be about 9 feet tall, judging by his legs....

Which means it could be John LONG Bob

Can´t comment on that Philippe. All I know is that Pat was a jolly decent sort who was magic in the saddle. Even if he did take the ride for nothing, wasn´t he backing his talent, something modern Americans could learn from?
I believe Ben Spies wanted 2.5 million to sign with Suzuki. What a cheek. He should prove his worth first on the world stage before making outragous demands IMO.

It’s 1977, which would make it the one that Parrish always tells the story about, but only in brief. What happened exactly? Sheene was out, and presumably Parrish was still leading Hennen when he crashed. Was it a Suzuki dominated race, did Sheene get to the front, should Parrish have won? How good was Steve Parrish? Thanks.

How I agree with you ,I wonder how many hard up privateers - and I have known a few -WOULDN'T have taken the ride for little or nothing and put their face in the window .After all no wear and tear on their own machines .
I wonder if Mr Sheene jnr would have taken it if the boot was on the other foot ?? Yes I think so as well !!

Fair point well made.
Why didn't I think of that?
Remember him from the TrTrophy 1981, seem to remember him on a TZ750 (mainly white, red stripe?), but "trundling" around at the back. I'm sure he was a more illustrious racer than that.
I shall consult my programme....

Sadly, I never saw Pat Hennen race, I only started in 1980, really wished I had. Sounds like he was pretty handy.

PS Love the Schirtfinkle 3 stroke piccy and quote. V funny.

Very damn good in my opinion. Probably his biggest failing though was that he found the trimmings of the sport more important than the racing itself. He wanted to be seen as a jack the lad rather than a great bike racer, which he undoubtedly was. Trouble is, it got in the way of the last 10%, and that was the bit that separated the champions from the rest.
I hope that isn´t too harsh, but I believe it to be true.

I was and still am a big fan of Pat Hennen, a couple of years a go Pats younger brother David, contacted me wanting photos of Pat so he could put together a portfolio to submit to the AMA Hall of Fame in USA, so as to try to get Pat inducted into it.
You would think being the first 500cc GP winner from the USA that he would get in no problem?.... but it took a couple of years till he was finally inducted at the end of last year. :\
I got a smashing personal letter from Pat thanking me for the small part I played in it, and also from David Hennen a complete copy of what he sent in to the AMA H of F, including some copies of personal photos as well.
I also read only a couple of days a go an old article on the Sheene/Hennen thing that Pat Hennen did not ride for nothing and he was approached by Suzuki to ride the 500 bikes, Nixon was still recovering from near fatal injuries in testing the 500-4 in Japan. Barry was used to having his own way with his previous team mates and better machines, but not this time with Hennen.
I also loved Barry as my avitar shows, but he was not always what he appeared to be and was able to "play the game" but most people in the same position would do the same thing :\
Any how my portfolio of Pat Hennen pics.

1976

1976

1977

1977

1977

1977

1978
All Photos Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

WWW?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Exactly. Barry had to look after #1, and that´s what made him special. Never letting anyone else get in front. Unfortunately, that principle had to be applied off track sometimes as well as on. I´ve never "blamed" Barry for the way he thought, simply commented on it. Without that enormous will to win at all levels, Barrry wouldn´t have been Barry. He wasn´t a 2 times world champ because he gave in without a fight.

Evening Rhodie, I think it was you who knew this rider? I found another photo of him on a 250 in 1978

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Is that Croz at the back on the TZ750 ? And didn't John Long ride #76 ?

Hi Fu, Yes that´s an unusual pic for sure. Bam was very much a 125 man, even though he was a bit too big for the small class. Said he felt more comfortable on the 125. He was a great guy. I wonder what he´s up to these days. Maybe Leif can fill us in?

I don't think its John Long, but Croz is a good shout, Phil posted one of him on the other thread, so hopefully he can look for it in his photobucket/imageshack do da thingy!!
John Long always had a plain red helmet when I saw him? Interesting who's bike he is on is this shot from 1979.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

WWW? I had to post this one now, and the answer will make it clear why!!?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

PS don't forget the other WWW?

I have no doubt Pat would have been..his methodical calculated approach to racing was light years ahead of others. With Mike Sinclair and team he had like minded "staff". He was recently inducted into the AMA hall of fame and at first refused point blank to go to the ceremony as he was to humble. When he was introduced and his exploits explained he recieved a standing ovation.
IIRC 1978 was the year of Bazza's famous " if you pay peanuts you get monkeys" statement as regarding Pat. That tells you Barry was beat!!! I think there was a good article in Classic Racing about Pat. Anyway he was a mentor for me but I could never have been half as good as him...

Well there you have it!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by philippe7


Barry had an old personal resentment towards Pat , which dated from before Pat joined the Suzuki GB team - and that did nothing to improve their personal relationship - specially when Pat started to be as quick as Barry ....

Oh, you want to know the story ? Barry told it bluntly in an interview I read in Moto Journal ages ago ...something like " I never hid it from anybody that I could not stand Pat Hennen, because he stole Gary Nixon's place in the Suzuki US team in 1975 by accepting to ride for them for no money. Gary is my friend , and anybody who shoots him in the back is shooting me in the back " ....when you know the level of mutual respect and friendship between Sheene and Nixon, sounds plausible....or maybe a bad excuse made up in retrospect ? We'll never know..... [/QUOTEhi

As much as I loved Barry , Pat had him rumbled and the story about Gary was BS..after all how could you blame Pat as he had no money but heaps of ambition. Was fit, drug free and full of beans. He did sign for Suzuki in 1978 for zero wages as what really mattered to Pat was winning, not his ego. Pat could really get under your skin with his intensity and he was the exact opposite to Barry in personality. But that was what set him apart, every waking moment was working out how to go faster, not drive nice cars. At Wanganui in about 75/76 he came up to me and said " Stu Ive been watching you clowning about on that mini bike and as a mate I need to tell you that mini bikes are for riding over to your opposition to see what you can learn and riding the track to see how you can go faster, not showing off".....Id been told.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by picblanc
[B]I don't think its John Long, but Croz is a good shout, Phil posted one of him on the other thread, so hopefully he can look for it in his photobucket/imageshack do da thingy!!
John Long always had a plain red helmet when I saw him? Interesting who's bike he is on is this shot from 1979.
Yes Mr Fu this is on Alex Hammonds / Oxford Fairings bike i'll look for the other piccy ASAP

Is that number 50 rider an early shot of Steve Kibble by any chance?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by fil2.8
[QUOTE]Originally posted by picblanc
[B]I don't think its John Long, but Croz is a good shout, Phil posted one of him on the other thread, so hopefully he can look for it in his photobucket/imageshack do da thingy!!
John Long always had a plain red helmet when I saw him? Interesting who's bike he is on is this shot from 1979.
Yes Mr Fu this is on Alex Hammonds / Oxford Fairings bike i'll look for the other piccy ASAP [/QUOTE]

Correct, but it also has Les Burgan on the faring!

Good guess but no...if you look close... well you don't have to look to close even!! all will be revealed...I didn't notice myself till I had posted it!! night night.

Alex Hammond was the boss at Oxford Fairings dumbo

Aah! Steve Goodrum . I thought that was one of your red herrings!!
I'm out of the country for a week so I'll miss the fun. See ya .

Cheers Barry have a good time -----we might be on a different thread when you return :yawn:

Hi Gents,

I missed all the fun, or so I heard. I still havent read all of Nostal 1.
Been up to all sorts of things but will try to keep up with the posts..........
The internet connection at work is steam driven! Slower than a BSA Beagle.........
Home its OK

Back on track.........
Pat Hennen was the DB's, I saw him racing at Cadwell was it 75? Must drag out the program &
Autograph! I was just a pup at the time ;)
He certainly showed Bazza the way round & Im top fan of BS of course.

See Below some of MFD's handywork (Did Lewis Hamilton steal the design?).
Brands preview ?

I have just read some of the old "Heated" posts off Nosta 1, must say that every one kept cool, .
Very Diplomatic.

Those gents were well balanced though..............

With a chip on each shoulder

Certainly Pat Hennen was a victim of wrong time, wrong place. IIRC he really went for it on the island & I'm sure this was something Heron Suzuki must have welcomed, but it is the sort of place where bizarre things can happen ( remember Gene Mac )

To mirror the above comment but without wishing to be controversial, Barry was right time, right place in the mid 70's. He was also a figure who became more than just a top rider, he loved publicity & used his media savvy to the utmost. All the trappings that appealed to him were similarly what pushed Steve Parrish's buttons too. However you wouldn't consider Steve a slouch, if you remember towards the end of his Bike career he won on that FZR750, but then he'd be the first to admit that he just didn't like the thought of hurting himself.

I sometimes thought BS did sometimes play questionable politics, however he was always one to help, as Suzuka can confirm with good advice & intentions. Despite this, his own personal convictions could also be capable of revving up a situation that later came back to bite the recipient.

I have to add this didn't apply to myself, whenever I had any involvement it was nothing less than top stuff.

He was certainly a very complex chap undrneath I'm also very proud to have known him

I agree Mike, sometimes Barrys charisma made you forget what a good bike rider he was. He was smart as well,should have been a politician! He was the master of manipulation and hardly ever lost. I was talking about him with Garry Taylor once, not long after he retired. Garry said and I agree that when Barry walked into a room he "lit it up". Can't say that about to many others. Steve was in Barrys shadow IMO. But without doubt he was one of the best motorcycle racers to come out of the UK in that period. And hes a good bloke!!

Thank you all gentlemen, when I mentioned the story about Pat "stealing" Gary's place at Suzuki US etc etc .... I did suggest it was maybe a bad excuse . I also was a great fan of Barry, but however very aware of this (minor) dark side of his personality that sometimes led him to be a little stubborn, and refuse to see change ahead, or simply accept evidence .

I'll take the risk to tell another second hand story - but that one comes from Jacques Bussillet, the french journo who was a close friend of Barry's . Back in '73 or '74 , he was taking pictures at the Nouveau Monde Hairpin at Rouen , on the first lap Barry came leading the pack on his 750 Suzuki , and neatly fell off . When Bussillet went to see him in the paddock Barry was still upset , claiming "some idiot rammed my back wheel " . Back home, Bussillet developped his photos , and realised he had a whole set of pics (taken with his motor-driven camera ) showing Barry neatly falling off all by himself, without anybody close enough to him to have been a factor in the incident . So at the next race , he promptly went to see Barry, set of pics in hand , and started gently teasing him about what had really happened...and to his amazement, Barry didn't find it funny at all, but went into a rage , threw the pics on the ground and told him something like "I told you someone rammed my back wheel, why can't you believe me ? " Bussillet wrote that he felt he had come close to losing Barry's friendship that time .....

You should of read the ones that the moderater removed Steve!!

I know why because we've already had this pic a while ago Graham

I had a feeling that might be the case :\ OK this one is again Christoph Burki but a year later and now on a 125?

Not wishing to knock Barry anymore, but that story reminds me of the infamous 1981 British GP at Silverstone, when on the 2nd lap at Stowe, Croz goes down Barry grabs a big handful of front brake and goes down and Luchinelli goes off to, but Crosbys name was mud at the time with a fare old slanging match going on, how Croz took Barry off etc etc, but the film/TV does show that Barry made a mistake on this occasion too. :\ IMO of course.

An easy WWW? but whats he riding, I had forgotten he rode one of these!?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Michel Rougerie on a Bimota 350, it would appear. He sure used to tuck into it, that boy. Spent as much time with his head down as Bill Horsman....

Morning/afternoon GD, Yes its Michel on a 350 Bimota.

Good pic once again Gra, is that another of your Silverstone rippers ? Did you ever used to sneak off to the continent back in the day and shoot the odd GP mate ?

Sadly, the machine he lost his life on I seem to recall.

One of my only regrets is I never got to a European GP, Assen or Spa!

A few of Barry, at what he did best, the look on the lads face for instance!!... 99% of the race going public loved the man.











All Photos Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Michel's style was certainly a very spectacular one . And very aesthetic too, IMO....

Courtesy of Manfred
http://www.highsider.com/textlager/france_...gerie_78_01.htm
http://www.highsider.com/textlager/france_...gerie_79_04.htm

Courtesy of François Beau
http://www.bike70.com/rougerie/Rougerie.jpg

Courtesy of Pierre Gabriele
http://www.bike70.com/Pilotes/Rougerieattak.jpg


Rhodie, I think Michel was riding a Chevallier-framed Yamaha when he lost his life actually

You could well be right.
Michel was a fairly small fellow, but for some reason he was always a better big bike rider IMO. He had some storming rides on his 750, and quite a few memorable ones on 500 Suzukis. I´m not saying he wasn´t excellent on the 250/350´s, because he was, only he seemed to be more at home on the big bikes. His style certainly was all action and very exciting to watch.

Yeah I read them too and all I saw were another couple of blokes who aren't fans of Avant. Avant is a sychophant and always has been aren't you Stu.

Is that you Vaughan, Leon maybe?