Thanks.

If I'm passing by the Cop Shop , I'll pop in & see if he still works around here.

Chris

I was asking Mick Woollett about this, he said took the photos of George's wedding and at the time he lived in Potten End.
He confirmed the part about being very affected by many things including Mike Hailwood's tragic death.

Woodsy, d'you reckon you could ask the widely-revered Mr Woollett to cast a gaze over the forum ? There's lots to tickle his fancy from that era, and we'd sure love to get his perspective on a number of issues.

I play football for Potten End and have done for 13 years - do you know where in Potten End he was? It's a tiny little village, two pubs, one shop and I'd be surprised if more than 120 houses.

I’ve put together what info I can find on the British Championship, up to and including the year of George O’Dell’s death. Let me know if you want any more details.

Sidecar Champions:
Pip Harris 1958, 1959
Bill Boddice 1960, 1962
Chris Vincent 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971
Owen Greenwood 1966, 1967
Peter Brown 1968
Norman Hanks 1972
Gerry Boret 1973
Mac Hobson 1974, 1975
Dick Greasley/Cliff Holland 1976 (and also won 1976 Motor Cycle International series)
Bill Hodgkins/John Parkins 1977
Derek Jones/Brian Ayres 1978
Dick Greasley/John Parkins 1979
Jock Taylor/Benga Johansson 1980, 1981

George O’Dell
12th in 1976 with Alan Gosling (Yamaha); 2nd in MCI series with Gosling and Kenny Arthur (Yamaha)
4th in 1977 with Cliff Holland (Yamaha)
7th in 1978 with Cliff Holland (Yamaha)
13th= in 1979 with Cliff Holland (Yamaha)
7th in 1980 with Bill Boldison and Kenny Williams (Yamaha)

@subh: Great !!!

In the dutch article of "HEMEYLA", they say that O´Dell wants to drive in an Celebrity-Kart Race in Zürich (28 december 1977) against Rolf Biland, Barry Sheene and Giacomo Agostini. Did he start ???

Gregor

I was never able to locate George O'Dell's funeral details even contacting the local newspaper. When you visit his grave at Woodwells Cemetery, please take a photograph, and I will write a bio for the FindaGrave site, thanks.

From 'Hemel Hempstead Today' -

1981 25 years ago

FAMILY and hundreds of mourners turned up to see former world racing champion George O’Dell laid to rest this week at Woodwells Cemetery .
His mother Kathleen, wife Joyce and faithful Alsatian Barron all attended the funeral where George O’Dell’s coffin was draped in a chequered flag.
Mr O’Dell, the first British side car world champion for more than 20 years, had died in dramatic circumstances in a house fire after he had shot his way into his estranged wife’s home.
Rev Roy Kingston, Rector of Hemel Hempstead, told mourners Mr O’Dell had died in tragic circumstances.
He said: “It is not for you or me to point our finger in judgement at anyone. Only the person themselves know the full circumstances or the situation of their own lives.”

I did mention the Forum to him because I knew he has spoken to me about O'Dell and other riders before. Mick attends the same football matches as I do. I'll write the link down for him the next match we're both at.

Gregor - I didn't get a precise address - again I might ask more next time.

That'd be great ! Not only can he furnish further details of the sidecar and, indeed, grand Prix roadrace scene from the 50s, 60s and 70s, but I'm sure he could identify riders from pics of yesteryear that gumbies like me are unable to place : like the mysterious #9 from the pic of Hailwood at Sachsenring in 1963 that appeared on the pre-69 thread last week.

Yes, If Mick were to drop in occasionally - Wunderba. Did we not ID number 9?...... got to be Findlay on the McIntyre Matchless ?

Mea culpa, Russell, I meant the #6 Norton on the back row. Agree with Findlay on #9. But ssshhh, we're OT... Would be a coup to be able to tap a few yarns out of Mick W though, here's hoping.

In Memoriam, George O'Dell, (*) 13-11-1945 - (+) 23-03-1981.

George O'Dell, not forgotten.

Does anyone have some Informations about the Police-Siege of the 23rd March 1981 ???

R.I.P. George O´Dell.

I’ve just found this picture from Oliver’s Mount:

Going for it, as usual. Pic on the book cover looks like La Source at Spa, inside Dick Greasley...

Well I don't know if this helps but I often used to see him at a house in Warners end but cant remember if that was where he was with his wife or when they split.
on a differrent tack are you talking of Mick Woollet of MCW ? IIRC I met him a couple of times and he had a house somewhere the other side of Bovingdon. hth

"Does anyone have some Informations about the Police-Siege of the 23rd March 1981 ???"

Didn't post 6 give you enough information? There's nothing more anybody needs to know IMO.

There was some good information. I mean some specific questions:

1. Did his 2nd Wife and here father survive ??? (I think they does).

2. Did O´Dell really know that Mike Hailwood died in an Accident. Was this really a reason for him to made this ???

3. Where starts this drama ???

I found this site by complete accident, didn't realise so many people are interested in my uncle's history. He did however not have a nephew called Michael. His only nephew is my brother , Richard.

Yes I got a mail from Alan your Dad, the other day.
The original email has long gone when my old PC fried, so I cant read exactly what it said and who from, but I do have it down as Michael, I am sure he said he was a Police officer? strange thing to do though, I would like to know who it was? :\

Great to hear from you pw - are you in the Hemel area? I've not got off my bum to go to Woodwells yet, was planning to go next week after work when the clocks change as it'll still be light but maybe you could point me in the right direction and I can go on Sunday after watching the GP? (I'm a car fan really but can't wait for Moto GP to start too!!).

I visited George O'Dell's grave yesterday and will post an image as soon as I can.

i met george a few times in the late 60's early 70's,i had a friend who raced sidecars then called arthur teasedale(anyone remember him?)he took my wedding pics for me in 1971!.
also the boret brothers used to come round to see arthur,they were great rivals but good mates.
sad they are all gone now except arthur i hope) i remember george was *rough diamond* who ALLWAYS had dirt under his nails through working on his machines.
another of the group was a bloke called vic? who raced an hillman imp out fit called*impetus*
if anyone knows of the whereabouts of arthur i would love to get in touch.havent seen him for nearly 40 years!!

Vic Phillips http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/ro...hillips_03.html

thats him!,thanks geof.
also interesting to see a pic of john clift as i worked with him at arthur wheelers in 65ish?,he was the storeman and raced a greeves silverstone as i did at the time.
he was a nice lad,sprayed my greeves red for me

so many memories,but i guess thats all we got now.

This Nostalgia forum never ceases to amaze me Dennis, you/we mention a long forgotten name & a few minutes later the info comes up!! well done guys, long may it continue!!

too true mate,i also feel i have some *mates* i can talk to when i feel a bit down due to my ill health.
racing bikes was the only thing i was good at and i miss it badly.



pooor old buggger

Yes getting Mick Woollett to contribute would be terrific...reminiscences about his time with Edgar Strub ?

When I attended a football match last week (Mick sits behind me) Mr Woollett confessed to me that he is not on the internet or in possession of a computer....sorry chaps.

The photograph on the front of the book also features Dick Greasley and Mick Skeels on outfit number 9 behind George. I will check with Mick where this was taken ...

Welcome to the forum DS06 , hope you enjoy

Looks like La Source at Spa Belgium?
Welcome

Is there an echo in here ?

I remember George being a very proud Englishman ( not British ) wearing the cross of St. George on the back of his leathers. He was a diesel fitter by trade and became the mentor of the up and coming (fast) Jock Taylor both in G.P. and the T.T. . When George became World Champion, He took Harry Carpenter as passenger round a track for a B.B.C. film. The sound track above the noise of the outfit seemed to consist of Carpenter continually shouting 'Oh my God!'. I've never seen this since but maybe Harry himself(care of the B.B.C.) would be happy to furnish more information. Good Luck

Hi Sculptor what a good story , welcome to the Forum , hope you view all the threads .

Yes I remember that well as I was doing a bit of Chairing ( along with others) for George at the time ( Cliff Holland IIRc fell off at the start of a race at brands ~ hit by a few chairs and was on sick leave ) Georeg would go round the short cicuit getting the chair wheel in the air at least a foot with us on but with HC he kept it firmly on the ground, still made mer Carpenter squeal though !

Photo: Paul Narramore

thanks to you both for the poignant photo of his grave,as i said having met him a long time ago i can still remember his everpresent grin.

Yes PAul thank you for posting this RIP George

Hi,

I googled George O'Dell to see if there was anything about him on the net and found this thread, it was a pleasant surprise to find an active discussion about him after all these years.

My dad was one of George's mechanics during his racing years and the photo originally posted by HEMEYLA shows him in red overalls and hat.


I went to many of George's races but as I was very young, (8 when he won World Championship), my memories are very vague. Unfortunately my dad died a couple of years ago, so unable to pick his brain at all

He lived in a terraced house in Malvern Way, Hemel Hempstead in the Highfield area of the town, which was a couple of streets away from where I grew up. After the 77 TT (not sure of dates) he moved to a larger place in Potten End, near Hemel, which was much more suitable for him as it had a large garage and various outbuildings and a workshop.

As I said, my memories of him are vague, but I do remember how passionate he was about his sport.
He could come across as moody but I also remember the times he did relax, during the evenings at the race meetings, boisterous stuff which generally involved things like piggyback fights whilst me and my brother hung on to our dads back for dear life

I remember when we went to the TT races in 1977, my dad was driving a van loaded with all his tools and parts of George's bike etc. When we got to Liverpool, the grown ups decided to smuggle us kids onto the ferry as it was too expensive apparently! The other mechanics name was Bill Waller, who had five kids, so with me and my brother, the seven of us were duly packed into the back of this van and had sheets etc draped over us. As we approached the ferry, I could hear someone asking my dad what was in the back of the van and can remember how scared I was when he was asked to open the back up. My dad said there was so much stuff piled up in the back that he dare not open it as it would all go spilling out over the road. That done the trick but I was terrified! What followed was a great two week holiday in the Isle of man but unfortunately my only TT memories apart from George winning was my dad being taken to hospital with exhaustion. To be honest I hardly saw my dad during that 2 weeks because of all the hours they put into getting the bike right.

When we returned to Hemel, friends and neighbours of George had draped his house in banners etc congratulating him on his success, which George wasn't happy about, saying typically he "Didn't want any fuss"





I remember when this happened too, but only because it was on the news that night and I hadn't seen George on the tv before.



As for the circumstances surrounding his death, no-one knows what was going through his mind that night and it would be wrong to speculate on it. What I do know is that his wife Joyce is a very lovely lady who went through an unimaginable ordeal that night and the subject should be left alone in my opinion.

Hope some of this information is of use to the original poster as it was enjoyable for me writing down my memories from race meetings of many years ago.

Thanks for that Johnysmall , very interesting and a first hand account of those days , good reading

Oh and a warm welcome to the forum

Smashing post, thank you & welcome to the forum.

Johnysmall,

Can only agree with Fil2.8 and picblanc, thanks very much for your interesting post!
Would like to read more, so please keep posting.
Perhaps you have any pictures of the period that your dad spannered for George?

Regards
John from Holland

I have been following this thread with very special interest for a while now, very good to read and to learn more about George.

Why the special interest you will ask of course...

Because I have the old BSA A65 kneeler of the man sitting in my shed!

I believe that with this oufit he really 'became known' in the national UK sidecarracing scene of the early seventies, am I right?

Can't seem to get a picture with this post I'm afraid, will have to read the 'help' pages for that I think...to be continued...

Regards
John from Holland

I have a vision of a red machine with Bill Boldison in the chair? but could be wrong?

Hi again, been searching through all my photos and can only find one so far.

The photo has what looks like June '75 written on the back which would make me (in the lovely red jumper) 6 years old. No mention of where it was taken though.

What a great photo Johnny, yes def 1975, here is a couple of mine from the May 1975 King of Brands meeting. George is in the red jacket, you will have to take my word for that, but tiz true!

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Yes, correct the red outfit with Bill Boldison in the chair.