Hi all. This thread was originally a purely selfish idea but maybe it could be interesting for others.

Back in 1981 I was lucky enough to win the Bemsee 350 championship. The trophy was a magnificent shield with all the past winners names on. These were some great names including IIRC, Read, Hailwood, Minter? My dad took a snap at the time to record these great names together with my own but the photo has done what most of these things tend to, ie disappear.

Perhaps it could be fun to fill in the blanks. Here is what I am sure of (not a lot I know but it leaves lots of space for the rest of you )

BMCRC 350 Champions

1980 Keith Huewen
1981 Mike Capon

Hi Mike, just to add with what I can be sure of;

1983 Len Lambourne (350), Martin Rice (250), Steve Patrickson (125), and I think Mike Pfaff (spelling not sure of?) (500)

Was Kenny Pinks champ in the late 70's?


David

Ahh...Keith Huewen. my racing hero.

A real racer, a hard case without doubt and a potential winner who never really had the machinery he deserved in the British Suzuki team, overshadowed by Barry in '83 and hamstrung in his best potential years '84/85 by a shit private RS500 which almost did him in financially IIRC due to gearbox and brake failures.

...and part of that great double act WSB commentary duo with Julian Ryder.

Yes, there were some really top notch Bemsee trophies available in the 70's, both championship and special award for fastest laps/race speeds etc. and to see one's own name listed alongside Mike Hailwood was really something special; although to be honest I felt at the time (in my own case) a bit ridiculous.

I have pictures of some of them, although not 350 Championship, taken by my father and I will dig them out. Not sure whether the names will be visible though.

Best wishes, Peter Weale.

Yes Peter, they could get a little 'frantic' at times, but a great team nevertheless.

Mike, don't have access to the Bemsee 350 Championship Shield but maybe the 250 is similar.




Also included are the J.S.Moore Trophy originally awarded for "the most outstanding performance by a BMCRC member in the IOM TT races". Engraved names include: Mike Hailwood, Derek Minter, Colin Seeley, Joe Dunphy, John Hartle and Ray Pickrell.




Also the Torquemeter Trophy originally awarded for "best annual performance in World Championship races".
Names include: John Surtees and SMB Mike.







Peter Weale

Peter Weale in 1977.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
One I think I showed you before Peter? from early? 1976 that you signed for me in 1976/77?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Did you get to keep any of the trophy's?

[One I think I showed you before Peter? from early? 1976 that you signed for me in 1976/77?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Did you get to keep any of the trophy's?
[/quote]


Yet more excellent pics, thanks Graham.

The above pic, as you say is from '76 and shows my own 250 which received some financial help from Warnell Motors (now trading as Neil Harris Motorcycles) based in Chingford Mount Road, just along from the famous Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium.

Those trophies were of course valuble and highly regarded and it was a great privilage to be their custodian for one year.

They were all returned to Bill Rose and Barbara Bailey (who ran Bemsee at the time), but championship winners were presented with "a memento for retention" which was a smaller version of the shield complete with hand painted BMCRC Brooklands Gold Star and engraving.

Many thanks, Peter.

Mike, I did exactly the same thing with my 500 shield , but the photo has also long since disappeared as well Only someone as organised as Mr Weale would still have them after all these years

Some more bemsee champion ship winners I can remember below, Lots of gaps though and I'm sure some will be wrong, age dulls the memory and mine was never very good anyway, so I wait to be corrected.

1977 250 Kevin Wrettom
1977 500 kevin Wrettom
1978 250 Don wears
1978 350 Kevin Richards / Ron Storey???
1978 500 Chris woodcock
1978 1000 Barry Waters (maybe 79)
1979 250 Paul Harris
1979 350 Kenny Pinks
1979 500 Eddie O'brien
1980 350 Nigel Corby
1980 500 Eddie O'brien
1982 250 Martin Rice
1982 500 Modesty prevents me
1982 1000 Roger Marchant

All the best, Martin

Great names & memories there Martin, I had an email from Don Wears last year.
Here he is on the Neil Chilton Yamaha same as Peter Weale had?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge. racebikepics.
& in 1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Chris Woodcock 1979

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

#95 Eddie O'Brien 1976 @ Snetterton.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

I won Bemsee 350cc championship in 1977 and finished 2nd to Kevin Wrettom in 250cc same year! ( Mick Robinson www.msrphotographic.co.uk )

Aha, thought I got Kenny Pinks right I followed him on the little KH400 at Wellesbourne in my first race and he went through the cones into the field closely followed by me. He rode for Harvey Owen. I believe he met with a tragic accident shortly after the Bemsee win at his work as a mechanic when a car fell on him. He was pretty quick along with George Siergijiw. Wellsebourne had Phil Hetherington off on the straight it was so bumpy. Potholes actually!
Kenny would have gone on to better things I think.

Very sad

David

A few of Kevin Wrettom
Snetterton 1976 with I think Tim Jackson? (it is, pushing his 500 Seeley)

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
1976

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Ron Storey 1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
1979

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
1979

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Paul Harris on the ex Kenny Roberts 250 1979.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham, Etheridge, racebikepics.

Barry Waters 1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Nigel Corby 1982

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Kevin Richards 1976

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
1977



Both Photos Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics,
1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

1975, Mick Tony Edwards, & Tony Chipman.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
Ron Rowlands, Mick & Ronaldo Weale.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.
Mick Robinson & Ron Mellor 1977

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.


Astute observers on this forum will note the speed and grace of the 22 bike as it powers majestically around the outside to record a dramatic last corner victory.

Oh well, perhaps not.

Thanks guys, There's some good stuff there and a lot of names to help fill in the blanks.

Peter, That's the kind of shield the 350 one was with loads of great names on it. Where are those shields now? It would be good to have the full lists.

Here's what we've got so far

125
1983 Steve Patrickson

250
1977 Kevin Wrettom
1978 Don Wears
1979 Paul Harris
1980
1981
1982 Martin Rice
1983 Martin Rice

350
1977 Mick Robinson
1978 Kevin Richards/Ron Storey?
1979 Kenny Pinks
1980 Keith Huewen/Nigel Corby?
1981 Mike Capon
1982
1983 Len Lambourne

500
1977 Kevin Wrettom
1978 Chris Woodcock
1979 Eddie O'Brien
1980 Eddie O'Brien
1981
1982 Martin (suzrg500.... Dellow?)
1983 Mike Pfaff

1000
1978 Barry Waters
1979
1980
1981
1982 Roger Marchant

Can anyone add any more? Or resolve the ??s

Keef, wiv loads a Shellsport winners stars 1978.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Another one of Peter, I love this one, 1975.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Yet another Great Graham Pic from an evocative period; sharp with just the right amount of movement.

You mentioned the Neil Chilton bikes a little while ago, well Neil was a very talented and practical engineer with considerable vision who not only fabricated all sorts of goodies such as bike stands (front and rear), clutch removing tool (copied from the one we had seen being used on the Kenny Roberts bikes), various extractors etc. but also accomplished engine builder, welder and chassis analyst at a time when no one really bothered about suspension setups.

Neil, Don Wears, Jim Wells and myself were all apprentices at British Oxygen's Edmonton (North London) plant, starting in Sept 1968.

Hi,
I'm new on this forum but I've done a bit of research re. Bemsee Championships so I can fill in a few gaps.

BMCRC Champions 1973

125cc: Michael Dix
250cc :Steve Parrish
350cc :Leon Lerago
500cc: Dave Street
1000cc :Lance Capon
Sidecar: John Oakley/Graham Falcke
Production: Wayne Dinham

BMCRC Champions 1977

500cc:Dennis Casement

Hi Dixie, great stuff thank you, and welcome.

Yeah welcome Dixie, or are you AKA Michael?

Dennis Casement in 1977 on his TZ35?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Looks a bit big to be only a 35 cc Buster

Indeed I am.

Just remembered another one: 1974 BMCRC 125 Champion : Trevor Heasman

Trevor a couple of years later. Welcome Michael.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Note the angle of the bars , copied from someone rather special.................

Saarinen, perhaps?

Yes , does'nt quite look right with our friend Mr Heasman , don't you agree

Saarinen was the first rider I can remember who used steeply angled bars, reputedly from his Finnish ice-racing days, was there anyone who used them previously?

Hi,
Been scrathcing my head and come up with another two Bemsee Champions.

1977 500cc BMCRC Champion; Richard Cutts
1977Production 500cc Champion: Tom Pemberton

Tom in 1976.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Barooombah!! Barooombah!! Barooombah!!
Richard 1976? 500 Seeley.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

I'm sure you're not.

Did Tom win the Avon Proddie 750 class on a H2 one year? I think Steve Trasler won on a Triumph against the GS Suzukis later so it would have been 76 or 77?


David

I’ve read that Steve Mercer won the Bemsee Open 1300 title in 2006.

Hi Mike, how are you?.

I was looking through the forum for anybody that may have results from Bemsee club meetings from 1980 to 81.
I think most of mine were in my dads camper van when we sent it to the scrap yard!!.

Going back to your question about Bemsee champions I thought 79 was Kenny Pinks, and 80 was Nigel Corby.

Best regards
Paul

Indeed and Today I heard that he walked on water and has won the Lord of Lydden Trophy

Does anyone have contact details for Peter Weale who posted earlier in this thread? I have tried to PM him, but no luck.

Thanks

Stephen

Hope this is right bike Stephen, 1975 @ Brands Hatch?


Photos Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.