Motorcycle racing: 1949-1968 nostalgia

Originally posted by Maridadi


Which Honda?

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


I like this shot. Anyone know who he is?

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


The Palace was famous for its close racing.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


The Palace was famous for its close racing.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows
Hi Phil, I pinched it from an old 1970 programme which says its A. Wright. Great pic though, pity it doesn't reproduce too well here. I was wondering if the Vincent outfit was Gerry Boret's? Too late for a Vini perhaps? The Palace programmes usually included a fair number of photographs from the previous meeting, and as you know the citcuit was run under the aegis of the old GLC, so these have now found their way into the London Metropolitann Archive. My better half told me about these some time ago when they had some sort of display on the Palace. Must get along to have a look one of these days.

Dennis: how many Manx GP's did you do! I remember you explaining that you went to the Palace once - which year? Perhaps you have a pic in the archive?

Originally posted by Russell Burrows
Correct there Graham. Not this this shot though.....was it? Good rider this guy - at various times he raced Nortons, a Bulseizo and a CR 93 Honda. Wonder what happened to him?

Originally posted by renzo


i did seven russ,1970 to 77.missed 76
yup i only went to the palace once,and that was on crutches! in 69,i have a couple of pics from that day allready posted on the other thread.
if you cant find em i will re-post.
den.
ok,only one then.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


Wonderfully atmospheric shot Dennis - makes me feel more than a bit melancholic. I went there first age six with my Dad. Did we decide that is John Ringwood out front on the MZ?

Originally posted by picblanc


I am getting this strange feeling feeling of De'ja vu!!!

Originally posted by Maridadi




I know where the second one was taken but will leave it open for you guys to comment. Rhodie and a couple of others will, I'm sure, recognise other riders in the photo.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows
Redman on the Honda is the best I can do. There is a picture elsewhere on this thread ( at least I think there is) of Gary on that 7R. Was it later raced by Bruce Beale? Interesting pictures, please keep 'em coming.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


More Palace! Who are these dudes?

Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer

Obviously Jim on the Honda and Gary on his famous white 7R. The guy on the 7R behind Jim is, I think, Guinness "Smiler" Smythe. I was going to say Dennis West (they looked a lot alike) but he rode Nortons. The when, 1960 I would say, and the where is Kumalo in Bulawayo I think, although it could also be Killarney (Cape Town) or Westmede, as the pits all tooked about the same around those times. Jeez, it´s all a little hazy after nearly 48 years. The other two guys could be Neville Riddel and Rob Panter, but those are just wild guesses I must admit.
I´m dreading the answers because it will say a lot about how bad my memory has become. But I´m sure I will be forgiven, as I was only 15 at the time.

Originally posted by pmbboy

Redman on the Honda Gary on the 7R there is a picture of him on the 7R taken at Hesketh which I posted, the rider behind Gary is Andreas Geogeades G50 and the rider standing up is Tommy Robinson not sure on the rider next to Jim.
Peter

Originally posted by Maridadi


You're doing OK Rhodie. It is 1960 and the rider behind Jim is Guiness Smythe. The location though is the SA GP which was held in East London that year. Len tells me that behind the front row are Tommy Robinson (with helmet) and Errol Cowan (no helmet).

Len confirms that it is the same 7R that Bruce Beale finshed up owning.

Originally posted by Maridadi
On a sad note, another couple of memorabilia about Gary from Len's collection.



Maridadi

Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer


Thanks Maridadi, you´ve restored my sanity somewhat. . I knew Errol quite well but wouldn´t have recognised him from that pic. I must be honest when I say I wasn´t aware they held bike races at the F1 SA GP at the time, although, of course, bikes and cars shared the programme at national events. I only remember East London (superb circuit) with walled pits, whereas Kumalo (an old airfield circuit) was open as per the pic. Thus my confusion. Although, I must add, the first time I visited East London was in 1963 and I think they had probably put up the pit wall by then.
I recalled a story on here a while back about Guiness, or Smiler as he was better known, when he crashed exiting Beacon Hill (Roy Hesketh circuit in Pietermaritzburg) on his 196 Bultaco and the strap of his artificial leg broke, causing it to fly off, while at the same time his machine burst into flames. For anyone who wasn´t aware that he only had one leg, it must have been a shocking scene. He won the 350 championship in about 1965, and when he retired from the sport he took up saloon car racing, at which he excelled. He was a native of East London oddly enough, and ironically, he lost his life in a horrific racing accident on his home track.
Thanks for rekindling the memories with those great pics.

Originally posted by Maridadi


Hi Rhodie,

I have no knowledge of this but Len called to tell me that Guiness was actually killed in either '81 or '82 in a crash on his new Honda CB900 while out on a Sunday morning motorcycle breakfast run.

Maridadi

Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer

Obviously Jim on the Honda and Gary on his famous white 7R. The guy on the 7R behind Jim is, I think, Guinness "Smiler" Smythe. I was going to say Dennis West (they looked a lot alike) but he rode Nortons. The when, 1960 I would say, and the where is Kumalo in Bulawayo I think, although it could also be Killarney (Cape Town) or Westmede, as the pits all tooked about the same around those times. Jeez, it´s all a little hazy after nearly 48 years. The other two guys could be Neville Riddel and Rob Panter, but those are just wild guesses I must admit.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


More Palace! Who are these dudes?

Originally posted by picblanc


Answer to this please!! :

Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer

Was Peter not right?

Originally posted by Russell Burrows
I need to own up here Peter: I'm only about 95% certain of one and about 75 of the other. But not Ron or Billie, although I can see the resemblence in riding style.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows


More Palace! Who are these dudes?

Originally posted by ex Rhodie racer


Quite possibly Maridadi. I heard about his accident second hand, so I can´t vouch for it´s accuracy. He was racing a Ford Escort at the time of his passing, I do know that.

OK, another brilliant shot of Gary. Almost impossible to say where it was taken, but I´ll go out on a limb and say Montjuic park, Barcalona, Spain.
Probably an Italian international though, something like Rimini.
Looks like a 250 twin, so it would be 1961 I would say at a guess. Am I close?

Originally posted by renzo
ok,this is the oldest one i have,it's brands hatch around 1967?.
i can spot phil read,bill ivy,griff jenkins,derek minter,john blanchard etc.

Originally posted by renzo
found a couple more for you that you've not seen before,same day but ive not a clue who they are.

Originally posted by Russell Burrows
You know me GD, I'm only here to help. Yes, Dave's Aermacchi could be carrying number 12, particularly since its wearing one of those fairings designed for use with a perspex nose cone, and this may be pre ban days. Were the ACU right to ban them all those yeas ago after all !