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John (JG) Williams


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#1 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 21:54

New thread so I can post this picture of John @ Brands Hatch 'King of Brands' meeting 1976, 4th place in the Shellsport 500cc race.
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Edited by picblanc, 23 March 2012 - 21:54.


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#2 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 21:58

John @ Mallory Park Race of the year meeting 1975.
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

#3 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 22:03

John @ Brands Powerbike International 1975, on a guest ride for Texaco Heron Suzuki, he was the winner of PBI race which got him the factory Suzuki ride for 1976. Though he did not get full factory bike, only BS had one of those!.
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

#4 Paul Collins

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 22:15

This thread prompted me to do a quick bit of research as I couldnt remember the exact year in which he died, I was shocked after a quick finger count to find that it will be 34 years this August, where did those years go??!!

#5 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 22:31

Indeed Paul indeed! :well:

#6 philippe7

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 23:02

The first Grand Prix I ever attended was Sweden '75 and John made an impressive showing in the 500cc class, finishing on the podium behind Sheene and Read aboard a "380" Yamaha twin which, I think , was not a "fablon special" but a real enlarged special TZ. I think you have posted a picture of that machine already Graham, a re-post here would be nice :wave:

Edited by philippe7, 23 March 2012 - 23:02.


#7 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 23:12

The first Grand Prix I ever attended was Sweden '75 and John made an impressive showing in the 500cc class, finishing on the podium behind Sheene and Read aboard a "380" Yamaha twin which, I think , was not a "fablon special" but a real enlarged special TZ. I think you have posted a picture of that machine already Graham, a re-post here would be nice :wave:


John on his 380 @ Brands PBI meeting 1975. (low res, will re do @ later date!)
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

#8 Sakkie

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 14:40

John on his 380 @ Brands PBI meeting 1975. (low res, will re do @ later date!)
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

Always been a favourite of mine. Classy rider, and from all acounts, a classy guy.
That´s a Maxton if I´m not mistaken? Definitely not a standard TZ swing arm

#9 tdijam

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 16:27

Always been a favourite of mine. Classy rider, and from all acounts, a classy guy.
That´s a Maxton if I´m not mistaken? Definitely not a standard TZ swing arm


It looks more like a Spondon style of swinging arm with eccentric chain tensioner , could be wrong?

John

#10 greg1953

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 16:45

It looks more like a Spondon style of swinging arm with eccentric chain tensioner , could be wrong?

John

No, you're right, thats a Spondon arm, I had one the same.
Greg

#11 knickerbrook

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 18:23

He did wonders on that little TZ in 1975, coming 5th in the 500cc world championship and winning the Classic TT - on what was a three year old bike if I recall!
Nuff said :up: !

(I knew the bloke who bought it off Gerald Brown when it was reverted back to a 350).

#12 Paul Collins

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 19:31

Yes thats a Spondon arm in what looks like a standard frame, I think the twin shock Spondon arm was slightly longer than the standard Yamaha arm which helped the handling of the A/B.

#13 picblanc

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 21:15

John @ Silverstone FIM750 meeting 1975.
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#14 picblanc

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 21:16

John Williams @ Brands Hatch 1977 Trans Trophy.
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#15 picblanc

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 19:48

John Williams Silverstone FIM750 meeting 1976.
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.

#16 TZ350H

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Posted 28 March 2012 - 22:29

John Williams @ Brands Hatch 1977 Trans Trophy.
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Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge.


Really loved this appleby glade colour scheme. Brings back fantastic memories of John starring at the NW200 and UGP. In my opinion John's fatal crash at Wheelers corner in the 1978 UGP closely followed by Tom Herron's death at the 1979 NW200 caused Irish road racing to loss a sparkle which it never managed to recover.

#17 Robin127

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 01:52

Really loved this appleby glade colour scheme. Brings back fantastic memories of John starring at the NW200 and UGP. In my opinion John's fatal crash at Wheelers corner in the 1978 UGP closely followed by Tom Herron's death at the 1979 NW200 caused Irish road racing to loss a sparkle which it never managed to recover.


I was always under the impression that his crash wasn't fatal but that he died from an undiagnosed heart problem in the hospital when it appeared that he was OK.


#18 larryd

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 09:15

I was always under the impression that his crash wasn't fatal but that he died from an undiagnosed heart problem in the hospital when it appeared that he was OK.


Correct, Robin.

As the Zone Marshal at Wheeler's Corner on the day in question, I can confirm that John did not have a "major" crash - indeed, I believe that he was sitting up talking in the Royal Victoria Hospital that evening.


#19 picblanc

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 09:28

Thats what I understood guys, John was 'walking' after the crash, & sadly died due to an unrelated heart problem later in hospital. :(

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#20 fastfitter

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 14:28

I was in the crowd at a meeting shortly afterwards (Brands? Cadwell?) and Wil Hartog was being interviewed after a win - he donated the prize money to JW's family

#21 fazz

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 21:17

Hi Guys
John and Charlie Williams was great friends and John was Charlies best man. They looked after each other with there endurance racing etc. I can still remember hearing about Johns death as it came as a shock. A great rider who would have gone on to greater things.

Mark