#42 Paddy Driver?

Peter Williams and I think Ian Ratcliff?
Graham.

five out of seven,i think the members thought that the mint had forced him off but in my opinion it was just a tragic accident,and yes my involvment was in the 70's mgp1970/77.

Absolutely, not unlike being aboard one of those things that don' t have valves and stuff! Actually his TR2 locked up right at the point where you stick your head up for Paddock - 1969.

Peter Williams looks to be riding a 250 DMW Hornet?

I fear I may have reached beyond myself. I have known the first picture for years and have always 'asssumed' (oh dear) that it is Peter Williams and Peter Inchley. If, as seems possible from the plausible comments of you clever lot, it is not, then I can only apologise for posting something I should have known more about. What I do know is that the first bike is a TDIC engine in a 'special' frame. I'll have to ask me Dad if PW ever rode one of his bikes.

I have absolute confidence in the second, however. It is a Mike Taylor on a similar machine. The back of the Photo confirms '2nd, Brands, Oct '68 - and I remember meeting Mike as a lad and remember his Southern African accent.

Again - sorry. I'll aim to be more certian of my facts before I trouble such a knowledgable bunch!! (even if facts they turn out to be!!!)

This one is really a new one on me. Who is the rider, what is the bike, and what event was he competing in?

Interesting, but hopefully not as this is the 1949-1968 thread,

Err, nope not HvH.

Well, it´s been awhile, and the old memory´s not what it was, but I´ll have a shot anyhow.
Top pic, I suppose the lead rider is Peter Williams as I´m not sure I´ve seen anyone else with that helmet design. Following him is a bit more tricky. I´m going to plump for Ian Burne, although I can´t recall him ever wearing a helmet with a big I on the front. The Hemet does look familiar though, and it could have belonged to Alan Peck.
As for the bottom pic, well now. I don´t think it´s Gordon K, as I can´t recall him wearing a beard and he campaigned a Greeves Silverstone in the 250 class if I remember correctly. Definitely not Paddy D, IMO. So who is it. Well, if I´m the only one who might know, he must be Rhodesian. Rohdesian with a bokbard, mmmmm. I don´t know why, but the name Rob Pantah springs to mind although Rob rode a Ducati I think.
Oh hell, I give up. Who is it?

More pre-historic technology but still a great shot. Any offers, who where, when?

Looks like it might be Newbury's Tom Phillips?

See what you mean, but no it's not him. Clues: Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, and yes it was a racing accident.

Ok - Bob Mac then? (Though I have my doubts - not his riding style, but the helmet?).

Hey Chris - when are you going to reveal the number 42 rider?

No, not him either. This is not easy, are you good at cryptic clues?

He said above 42 was Mike Taylor, a SA/ Rhodie.

Gotta go to work now - .

My last offerings - Alistair King or Ian Burne !

Ah yes, missed that. Sorry guys.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Russell Burrows
[B]


C'mon, have ago, you know you want to !

I'm tempted to try John Hartle for no 63 Russell but the riding style isn't quite right .Helmet design almost right

Alright then I'll have a go, great angle of lean and very old fashioned riding style, how about Bob Brown.
cheers
Peter

Bob Brown's not a bad answer as the guy in question is an Aussie and they do look a bit alike. However, it's Ron Toombs, multiple Australian champion from the sixties and seventies. He is riding the famous Henderson Matchless, probably at Oran Park, Sydney. Toombsy was a bit special, easily in the league of Carruthers, and if he had come to Europe would almost certainly have done great things. I can recall him lapping Oran Park on the 'Matchless' - in reality a weird and wonderful G50/Gold Star 4 valve hybrid- in company with a whole host a TZ's and getting right amongst them. He later rode for Kawasaki in OZ and although well into his forties was still winning when up against the likes of Hansford and Willling. He was killed at Bathurst in, I think , 79 after making a comeback from a three or four year retirement due to injury.

Great effort, ex-Rhodie. As Russell said - Michael Taylor, finishing 2nd at Brands in Oct '68. I don't know what happend to him but recall what a nice chap he was. I think Rhodesian rather than SA, possibly. Sorry top be so obscure!

Chris

Is it something I said? Post 669? I guess none of you were around then but I was 3yrs old. It is Raffaele Alberti on a 1949 Guzzi, obviously some sport of record attempt but I know nothing more. Nor has Google been much help. Who was Alberti and what an unusual bike?

Raffaele Alberti was the 1948 Italian 125cc Champion when he rode for Moto Morini. The image shows him and Amilcare Rossetti on 175cc Benellis. On 6 May 1951 at the Italian street circuit at Ferrara, there was a multiple pile up and both he and team mate Guido Leoni both on 125cc Mondiales crashed into wreckage and were killed. (There was clearly more in Google than I thought).

Thanks for alot of good infos and pictures. I will however not hesitate to put up , that I am really looking for MC transports in these years !?

it'll be the weekend before I can try and fine out more, Russell. Perhaps another shot might hold some more clues:



While I'm at it, anyone know who this is - its a bit earlier.

Most certainly Peter Williams. Great stylish rider!

As usual, great pic. Also very rare. I have never seen a pic of Peter on a stroker. Can you remember what it was?

Its Dr Joe's EMC; early on he also rode a Greeves Silverstone.

2 in one evening - the earlier Peter pic was on a Yamaha TDIC. 1968 I think

John Ringwood behind Williams in the first pic. I remember he also had an MZ, which to me, at the tender age of 8 or so at Crustal Palace, was just about the most exotic thing in the world.

The second pic is of Sean Wood. About whom I know little, other than that he used to do racer tests for MCN. This pic is from one such test at Snett in '66. I have the original cutting and words somehere.

Ah Sean Wood yes he was a ' :yawn: staffer' for MCN who used to get us into Brands FOC He at one stage I think, tried to earn a living from racing

.....Roger Oliver (Eric's son) will know about the first kneeler.....I'm sure he told me his dad developed it.....
roger.oliver3@ntlworld.com

.... and last but not least his winning ride in the 1971 350cc Ulster Grand Prix on the ex-Günther Bartusch factory MZ !

Yeah, exotic indeed - I wonder where they got in from? Do you happen know if was the MZ owned by a guy called Tony Blain?

Thanks for the info. I'm sure that I've seen as picture of him standing beside a kneeler of early fifties type vintage.

Not a clue i'm afraid. I used to seize a lot. Suprise, suprise!

Didnt they all! I think the MZ was owned or part owned by Tony Blain. Does anyone remember him? I think he had fairly deep pockets, was connected with Cyril Jones and raced a beautiful Drixton framed Aermacchi himself. It would be great to see a picture of this bike - you'll note I'm attempting yet again to introduce things Aermacchi into the discourse- or indeed to know what happened to it. Around the same period, another Drixton was raced by Tony Foale, who, as most will know, went on to build frames, as used by Steve Parrish, Les Kenny etc ( he is now in Spain by the way and is now re-established in motorcyle design consultancy work) His bike was brought here from Australia after Phil O 'Brien came back to OZ with it at the end of 1969. Annyway, I'm burbling on horribly, essentially what I'm asking is does anyone have a period picture of a Drixton framed Aermacchi?

Another MZ, Alan Shepherd, Mallory Park.

And another, Derek Woodman 1965 IoM.




http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Ra...spx?mach_id=220

Alan Shepherd, who sadly died a couple of months ago.

Yes, I think it took a brave man to ride some of those early 60´s 2 strokes. I know it´s what put me off them, until the first TD´s came out. They were pretty seize proof, if given the right tolerances.

On the subject of Alan Shepherd, I think he was highly underrated. In Mike Hailwood´s book, The art of motorcycle racing, he speaks very highly of Alan, citing, in particular, Alan´s epic ride in the 1960 350 Ulster GP, where he very nearly upset world champion John Surtees on the MV 4, aboard his 7R AJS. That must have been some ride. Mike also referes to him as the supreme stylist. High praise indeed.

I have always been intrigued by a relatively unknown chap who bought a pair of bikes fromTom Kirby's stable - a 7R and G50 (pre-metisse models) around about 1969 time. He was an Austrian by the name of Christian Godetz, a garage owner I believe, who was living in Pontypridd (South Wales) at the time. He rode them once himself at a club meeting at Llandow, then disappeared from the radar. The same year (1969?) Phil Read borrowed the G50 from him to compete in a "clash of the titans" type single-cylinder race at Oulton Park against Mike Hailwood and John Cooper, who I think were both Seeley mounted. Out of interest I have Googled his name, but drew a blank. I wonder to this day, what became of those illustrious machines?

Readie´s probably still got the G50.
Only kidding.

A long shot, but does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might go for help in trying to figure out the history of a late (1960/61) 350 Manx with matching numbers? I tried the CRMC forums with no luck, surprisingly. It's a twin spark - which I'm told is less common on the 350 compared to the 500.

thanks

Chris

George Beale may be of some help. Some years ago I contacted him about tracing a 7R and while he said there were no factory records for 7R/G50 's - although he has his own records- I'm reasonably certain that he said Norton's kept a record of buyers for new bikes. Doubtful if he has such a thing but it would be worth trying just in case he knows who has, or to get confirmation that such a thing still exits.

Knickerbrook

Did you see this?

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/announcem...0&ob=newest&dr=

I don't know about that ultra short-stroke Russell, but if it was common knowledge, and that successful, surely it would have been copied by others?

I just had a look at that link Paul - how spooky - It's probably the same bloke. Now where are those bikes?!!

It was definately common knowledge that he said he had developed it; not sure he would have been to forthcoming about precisely what had been done though. His 7R was certainly fast, didnt Alan Barnett win the British Championship on it in '68 - against 'quicker' Aermacchis and supposedly overbored Yams?

Apologies if I've mentioned this before but this ageing autograph collector is looking for contact addresses for Chris Conn, Rod Gould or Chris Vincent. Any ideas? I did discover Dan Shorey's address this morning though.