I had a bit of luck and found I had the programme for this meeting Graham, and sure he enough he is down as # 7. I think also that the ones of him I took at Mallory in the Transatlantic event (I think 1979 going by the Suzuki Barry Sheene is on) riding the same bike he is #22.

Here is a pic from the 1979 FIA Championship meeting at Brands where he is a group at the hairpin. (No 49 is Chris Guy).



Going off topic slightly I have a number of shots of Randy Mamola around 1978/9 riding the blue & white Zago bikes.

I think 35 is Trevor Wise, could 22 be Tony Mellish or you could be right with Rob Vine Nigel!

Mick it is the late Rob Vine..for sure !!...Got to now him quite well...A talented rider sadly taken from us

Morning chaps! Johnny Cecotto there#4, Boet Van Dulman#8? Patrick Pons#5? Keef Huewen & Michel Frutchi hidden.

49 Chris Guy !!

Cheers Mick, I knew it wasn't Tony Mellish, he had a white with red stripes back then, later he had the blue speed blocks the same my dads when they were both sponsored by GP motorcycle accessories.

Thanks for the confirmation on Rob Vine Bryan, thought I could see Ely on the side.



Nigel

This is the first of my 'unknowns' and one which has baffled me a bit..

Its a JPS Norton at Donington, I thought it was Korki Ballington. The helmet, the boots and even the glasses under the visor. When he was at the Stafford show a year or so ago I asked him what he was doing on it and he said it was not him at all, which surprised me a little.

So, any idea's who it is?

I thought Kork too! Chas Mortimer maybe?

Quick one while the wifes out Charlie Williams ...

Nigel Rob sponsor was Ely's of Dover

Raymond Roche behind Cecotto

That 1979 Brand's Hatch leg is notorious for us froggies since this is , IIRC, when Christian Sarron, who so far had been in a brilliant form in the early season 750 races, had a bad fall and hit his head fairly hard - which effectively ruined his first season on a factory 500 Yamaha, alongside Roberts and Cecotto, since he never recovered from his concussion and struggled all year long . The following year on a customer TZ 500 was even worse, plagued by more injuries and his team-mate and close friend Patrick Pons's death, thankfully Jean-Claude Olivier, Sonauto's boss, didn't let him down and helped him to start all over again from scratch on an over-the-counter 250 TZ , which led Christian to a 250 World Championship and a distinguished career on factory 500 Yamaha's from 1985 onwards .

That would have been 1979 Jim - Randy started the season as a factory rider for Bimota but sure enough he had temperamental problems with his Italian bosses and was fired mid season - but immediately was hired by Zago on a 250 TZ , and - at the same time or a bit later ? - took the place of Baldwin on the bigger bikes when Mike was injured at Loudon . He did well, and that surely helped his promotion to the factory Heron Suzuki squad for 1980 and after.

Eric Saul picked up the Bimota's that Randy didn't want and did well - leading the 350 French GP by miles before slipping off when the rain set in . This also helped to boost Eric's career, which had stalled a little by then.

Thanks for the info Philippe. My memory plays lots of tricks on me these days.

I have chosen this one of Mamola on the Zago bike as he just in front of one of your compatriots at Donington. Of whom, I also have a sequence of shots of him having a big crash at Brands in the FIA750 meeting at Brands on the KR750 Kawasaki (I think maybe 1978?) . He was okay though just shaken up a little.

Bernard Fau behind Randy Mamola !!!...I was at this event...at starkey's bridge...Got my camera out...oh fut...No bloody film

Probably Martin Sharpe, just compare

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?show...76&st=11489

As Jim said in his post, Specsavers aredoing some good deals at the mo Bryan!

Thank's Graham

You are quite right b17, my mistake! Myself and Tony(golly)Harris took Robs FZ 750 to the TT that fatefull year and prepared it for him, I think he finished around 8th on it. It was a very sad drive home.

To be honest Mick i was never a fan of the TT...And after that it did nothing to change my mind

It's a fantastic place to race when all is going well but a dreadfull place when things go wrong, thats why I packed up after 22 years over there as I felt I was tempting fate!!

I never been to the TT...The thought of racing on the road's frighten's me .Never even wanted to go and spectate either ...Although it would be good for Photography

I've raced at most of the British short circuits, some of the Irish roads and both road circuits and purpose built on the continent but the feeling you get when you do that near perfect lap of the Mountain circuit is hard to explain, there's just no feeling like it anywhere else! but I can totally understand people not wanting to race there, it's so unforgiving and I feel very lucky to have survived my many years over there.

Yes Mick i have seen you at Snetterton many a time....Have you hung up your leather's for good now ?

Yes b17, packed up 2003 after 30years due to back operation, took a year out and found I didn't miss it as much as expected so thought it was a good time to call it a day, still may do the odd parade though!

Will you be at Snetterton for the classic meeting this year...30 years since the first one....(Classic meeting that is)

I sure will, I'll be with Exactweld or round circuit taking photos so come and find me b17!

I will be there on sunday only...Russell is my spot...Just ask Graham...He's seen lots of my photo's...Hoping to meet Graham and Phil too..and anybody else that come's along...

You sure you want to meet road racings answer to Waldorf & Statler? !!!

Phil & Graham

Nigel!!!!!

Just youngsters

How did you guess ??

( Be careful , been looking at your FB profile )

Not the same without the balcony, though, is it ? Interested in your viewpoints on the TT course though, lads, I know Dave Hughes through a race buddy who went over on the quiet a couple of years ago to see him go round on Tony Dunnell's Nortons : uncharacteristically, Hughesy crashed at Union Mills in a big way on a practice out lap and got pasted in a big way. Now, he's not a lair and has years and tears of IoM experience but still got nailed, and hasn't been back since. My mate finally caught up with him in Noble's Hospital !
In chatting to Guy Martin last November when he was out here for the Kings of Wanneroo meeting, he openly admitted that after banging round the Island at full whack, he finds it difficult to generate the same degree of commitment on shorter, "car-park"-style circuits, as does Ryan Farquhar. Then, when people like John Goodall and people of such long and rich experience crash and die to everyone's horror, it really does bring into perspective that as good as you are, experienced as you may be, one false move on the Island and you're in Big Trouble ! For all its' terrors and consequences, for me when I see the footage each year, I still get gooseflesh, my jaw still gapes, and I'm in awe...

Dont think they will let this one go nige

Your a brave man

Nigel arrives home after a hard day at work

I heard a whisper that thats a very good likeness too

Love the CHOPPER Nige

Is it a 3 speed with whitewalls?

I go away for a day and the mud slinging starts


have to laugh though


David

Hahaha suppose my mum gave you the pic?

Thats what the wife says

Exactly, and your wife told me about your chopper

Hello, thanks for the Mike Baldwin info, once again, another great rider who I'd forgotten about. Here's my next one, looking like another American judging by the Bel-Ray sponsor.

Wes Cooley

Yes , Wes at the 1980 Transatlantic , here with Kenny Roberts

Yep I will go with Wes.

A Trick One - All is not what it seems here.

Jody Scheckter !!!

Spot on.. Thought it might be a bit harder than that...

This lot are pretty good Jim Specially that Snet bloke




David

You're a bit unlucky , Jim , I put up a pic of Jody from MCW , in the ' Drivers who've ridden race bikes ' thread a couple of weeks ago