Larry, how did we go with this one?

Sorry for the delay, Russ - forgot about it!!

I thought it was Alano Montanari, but could be wrong. Obviously it's an International race in Italy, but it's not Monza, if only because Bob Matthews (No 14) never rode there.

He was a sadly unsung competitor in the Continental Circus from about 1950 to 1958, on 350 Velo/500 Norton and later two Nortons. He was probably the last man to be internationally competitive on a KTT, finishing 4th in the 350 French GP at Rheims in 1954 - it was a bloody quick KTT!

He had a bike shop just 400 yards from where I now live, in Bangor, N Ireland. I can remember, when starting motorcycling about 1959, going into his shop and gazing at a big glass-fronted cabinet full of trophies from all over Europe.

He emigrated to Canada mid 60s, and is I believe still there.

Keith Bryen told me the story of his first visit to the AVUS in about 1954 or 55, when he tried to ride the steep banking and overbalanced! "Bob Matthews then showed me how to ride it"

I have a photo somewhere, courtesy of Keith, of that mob on the road somewhere on mainland Europe - I'll hunt it out and post it.

Good Evening All Its that time of year again WWW

Jimmy Guthrie Jnr winning the Manx Grand Prix?

Quarter Bridge in the wet.

1967 Senior??

Hello larry you are correct.Well done But it's the 1965 senior MGP riding to fourth place on the Beart Norton

.

Here's another

Now that might be Geordie Buchan, but that's as far as I'm prepared to go!

Sorry Larry not George Buchan. Go on have another go.You know you want to!!

Steve Spencer?

Thats right Russell well done 1965 Manx again

Hi,

The photo is taken at the '57 Imola "Gold Cup" race. 3 is Campbell not Bryen. Bryen was still on his Norton and was bought down when he hit Duke's Gilera after Duke crashed.

Thanks for that Graham...and 41?

You have been discussioning this guy recently.
Thats a fantastic shot by Keith Bryen of the Shell Cup start at Imola. This was always the shake-down meeting for the up coming season.
Roy

Hi Russell,

41 is Alano Montanari, by then 49 years old. He died in a road accident in '58 and is buried in Cesena (not too far from where we live in Italy). I saw a photo of his grave once and on the side wall is a 5 feet high concrete cast of 3 riders on a dustbin faired Guzzis.

Thanks Graham - I believe that it's the 500 grid, with Dickie Dale on the V8 on the left behind Keith Campbell.

Dickie won that one!

Courtesy of both Keith Bryen and Larry : WWW?

What a great shot that is Really brings the ' Continental Circus ' to life . And great detail also

Hi Roy, still have no idea who rides that Bultaco, any help ?

Is it Johnny Grace on the Bully ? Dan Shorey was the only Bultaco rider to score points in the 1962 250 title, and it's not him.

According to the always-woeful TT database, John Grace rode in 12 TTs. So he'd be my first guess.

Hi Russ, Keith Campbell in the background ??

There you go Renn, GD66 has given you the answer. 'John Grace' on his 125 Butaco in 1962 at the Gooseneck, He was DNF.
Little did we know all them years ago this stuff was history in the making, fantastic times not to be seen again.
Message for Larry, did you get my e-mail?
Thats another wonderful colour photo of the Continental Circus.
Roy

Heres an easy one of one of the best.
Roy

..and one of the most devoted. A real tragedy that the was probably defeated by his own construction and/or welding in the end....

What a lad he was ! The Beemer no doubt about to break into lurid wheelspin....is it Harry Winter in the chair ?

Hi Roy - no, no Email received.

lgdevlin@aol.com

The Circus picture I picked out primarily for the van belonging to Bob Matthews (my fellow townsman about whom I posted a few days ago) and it was only after that I realised how much it tells us about paddock life at that time.

So - who and where?

Caltex flags should be a clue

ps - Flo's passenger is Horst Burkhardt

Sorted Larry, Trouble at Mill on e-mail front, should be with you now.
Roy

Brands 1965

Impressive record ........ Click.

Race of the Year 1965

Is it Dan Shorey 196cc Bultaco 1963 lightweight TT

Florain Camathias / A Herzig 500 Gilera followed by Dereck Yorke / G Mason 499 Norton 1964 Sidecar TT

I am getting a bit mixed up here Arthur, the last on was the mystery man, 'John Grace' in 1962 125 TT.
I have another one which I will sort out for you which I know you will remember.
Roy

Just for you Arthur

How about that.
Roy

Sorry Roy Me getting muddled Had'nt scrolled down enough to have read the correct answer

Sorry again Roy Can't open the picture

Its the age thing, it gets us all in the end Arthur.
How do you like this one Larry?
Roy

Mallory, 1965, I think.

Where was the other picture of Tommy Rob taken, Mallory Esses?

I would have thought that was Pip Harris/Ray Campbell chasing Flo into Druids.

You're right GD. This is Florian Camathias' last race. Race of the South meeting October 1965. I put this in with reference to Rennmax's comments on the welding.
As you know the forks broke.

Re the big pic of Tommy Robb and AN other.
Pity the pic is so big. The other rider in the photo is non other than that great SA campaigner, Martin Watson, who made a big impact in England on the Aldridge bikes.
Just as a matter of interest, I bought that exact set of leathers from Martin. The patch on the shoulder gave the game away.
BTW, I´m ex Rhodie racer, only I couldn´t log in for some reason or other, so I re-registered as ex Rhodie racer 2. Maybe the mods can tell me what I did wrong. Thanks.

Hi RRT2, your pic shows Camathias on his Gilera, so it was taken in '64, not '65

The shot of Tommy Robb on his Bultaco was Mallory in 1961 or 62, probaly 1961 as he was with Honda the following year.
I have nothing on the back to ID it but is probably at the exit from the Esses.
Roy

Hello and welcome back thought you were on hols . Well , I keep getting logged out by mysterious forces --- not by me -- and it's a devil of a job to log back in , so frustrating , when you have'nt done anything wrong .

Good Morning Rennmax.

Florian Camathias built a Kneeler outfit for the Gilera engine which he used in 1964. In 1965 he fitted a BMW to the same machine ( I assume he gave the Gilera motor back).
That is why it has the red and white fairing. It is the same bike in the other picture from Mallory park.

Blimey, so it is, you can see the Beemer pots and the Dellorto bellmouths. Quick and the dead round here ! Really enjoying all the great new (old) pics from new members, Russell will be chuffed that his favourite '68 thread is on fire ! Keep 'em coming, lads.

Hi Renn - yes, Keith Campbell indeed.

Can you go any further?

Camathias did give the engines back to Gilera. I say in the plural, as he is reputed to have gone through approx 6 Gilera engines. Gilera wouldn't let him have any for 65.

Hi Russ,

The photo is from Assen. 3 clues - Caltex were the sponsors, the wooden structure at the back is the rear of one of the lap scoring boards that were very characteristic of Assen at the time and 3rdly the paddock is dead flat so definitely Holland! Probably 1955.

I wonder why the Gilera outfit wasn't such a success as expected with an engine producing a couple more hps than a BMW, the layout of the URS wasn't sooo much different IMHO ??

Close, Graham - it was Assen 1953.

And the other rider?