12 replies to this topic

[sterling49]

I am currently reading "No Time To Lose", the story of Maidstone born Bill Ivy, by Alan Peck, and mentioned in the book is one Paddy Driver, who was Bill's team mate at one time. I did not know that he was also a bike racer, I only knew about his exploits in ZA in the Springbok series and other South African car races that I read about in Motoring News.

Can anybody tell me more about Paddy? He sounds quite a character .

[ex Rhodie racer 2]

I am currently reading "No Time To Lose", the story of Maidstone born Bill Ivy, by Alan Peck, and mentioned in the book is one Paddy Driver, who was Bill's team mate at one time. I did not know that he was also a bike racer, I only knew about his exploits in ZA in the Springbok series and other South African car races that I read about in Motoring News.

Can anybody tell me more about Paddy? He sounds quite a character .

Paddy was one of my boyhood hero´s. He was definitely the most successful South African rider in Grand prix racing during the 60´s , and really deserved a works ride in my opinion.
Oddly, I can´t recall seeing him ride before he left for Europe, but I did see him on a Honda in a production bike race at Kyalami shortly before his switch to 4 wheels. I was greatly impressed. Fast, smooth and in a different class to the opposition he faced that day.
He was, like his friend Mike Hailwood, primarily a bike racer, who switched to cars after he retired from competing on 2 wheels.
The highlight of his 2 wheel career was his 3rd place finish on a G 50 Matchless in the 500 world championship in 1965 behind the works four cylinder machines of Agostini and Hailwood. A superb achievement.
Paddy Driver was a class act.

Edited by ex Rhodie racer 2, 07 September 2009 - 17:25.

[Russell Burrows]

Paddy was one of my boyhood hero´s. He was definitely the most successful South African rider in Grand prix racing during the 60´s , and really deserved a works ride in my opinion.
Oddly, I can´t recall seeing him ride before he left for Europe, but I did see him on a Honda in a production bike race at Kyalami shortly before his switch to 4 wheels. I was greatly impressed. Fast, smooth and in a different class to the opposition he faced that day.
He was, like his friend Mike Hailwood, primarily a bike racer, who switched to cars after he retired from competing on 2 wheels.
The highlight of his 2 wheel career was his 3rd place finish on a G 50 Matchless in the 500 world championship in 1965 behind the works four cylinder machines of Agostini and Hailwood. A superb achievement.
Paddy Driver was a class act.

Yes Rhodie 2, you're right, he deserved a good factory ride. He did though have a trot on the Suzukis around 60/61. I think he decided they weren't quick enough, which they weren't, then...... perhaps not his best decision though.

Edited by Russell Burrows, 07 September 2009 - 18:54.

[sterling49]

How come you are new again Rhodie??


New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: September 09


Apparently Bill and Paddy got on really well and had some great pranks in the paddock, also great mates with Mike the Bike "Ace". I have to say, I am really enjoying the book, this is only the 2nd "biker" book that I have read, the other one being the Barry Sheene story, I suppose it fits that I am only really interested in the guys that rode in "my era". Thanks for the information guys. I think I'll loook out for a book on Mike next, any tips?

[fil2.8]

Paddy Driver , a great rider of the era IMHO , with a typical Contintal Circus existance and a 'bit of a lad ' to boot .
Stirling , the Mike Hailwood book I have is the 1968 issue by Mike and his journo friend Ted Macauley , simply called ---- you guessed it 'Hailwood ' . A good read up until that time , telling things as they were .

[ex Rhodie racer 2]

How come you are new again Rhodie??


New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: September 09


Apparently Bill and Paddy got on really well and had some great pranks in the paddock, also great mates with Mike the Bike "Ace". I have to say, I am really enjoying the book, this is only the 2nd "biker" book that I have read, the other one being the Barry Sheene story, I suppose it fits that I am only really interested in the guys that rode in "my era". Thanks for the information guys. I think I'll loook out for a book on Mike next, any tips?

Hi Sterling. Well, I forgot my password and no longer have the email address in my profile, so I just reregistered and added a 2 to the end. It´s a bit annoying, but what else can I do?
On the subject of autobiographies, I believe Paddy is writing his story which will soon be published. I can´t wait to read it. He was a bit of a lad by all accounts, so it should be good.

[Greystone]

I am really enjoying the book, this is only the 2nd "biker" book that I have read, the other one being the Barry Sheene story, I suppose it fits that I am only really interested in the guys that rode in "my era". Thanks for the information guys. I think I'll loook out for a book on Mike next, any tips?

Sterling,

Not a book on Mike but I would recommend "The Privateer" by Jon Ekerold, the 350cc world champion in 1981 on a private entry beating all of the works bike.

Jon wrote it himself and, in my view it is the best book that I have read on motor cycle racing, particularly from someone who was at the coalface so to speak.

I got mine from http://www.biker-gif...k_privateer.htm.

To quote the website: "Jon Ekerold, from South Africa, won the 350cc Grand Prix World championship as a privateer in 1981 when he beat Toni Mang. He has written and published his own autobiography called "The Privateer". Only 4,000 copies of the book have been printed. With 36 pages of colour and black and white photos, the 190 page hard-back book is a great insight into those great days of GP racing.

The book will be dispatched directly from Jon Ekerold in Germany. If you wany a personal dedication, then just let us know?"

Cost me £16.50 with postage. In my view worth every penny.


Andrew

[subh]

‘Driver flirted briefly with car racing in 1963 with a Lotus 20 Formula Junior car, but at that time he was still a top-notch motor cycle rider, having made his name on Nortons, and then AJS/Matchless, on which he finished third in the 1965 500 cc championship.’ - The Grand Prix Who’s Who, Steve Small

‘South African-born, Paddy came over with Jim Redman in 1958. Made a name on Nortons and had a brief spell with Suzuki before their machines were competitive. Switched to AJS/Matchless and finished third in the 500 cc championship in 1965. Retired to his Johannesburg home but continued to race on four wheels well into his 50s.’ - The Grand Prix Riders, Mick Woollett & Peter Clifford

The record books show that he was a regular in the top ten of the motorcycle Grand Prix world championships:

500cc
1960 - seventh with Norton (best result 4th x3)
1961 - tenth with Norton (best result 3rd)
1962 - seventh equal with Norton (best result 4th)
1964 - fifth with Matchless (best result 3rd x3)
1965 - third with Matchless (best result 2nd x2)

350cc
1960 - seventh equal with Norton (best result 5th x2)
1964 - seventh with AJS (best result 4th)

125cc
1962 - ninth equal with EMC (best result 3rd)

and also:

500cc
1959 - best result 6th x3

350cc
1959 - best result 5th x2
1965 - best result 6th

the Mike Hailwood book I have is the 1968 issue by Mike and his journo friend Ted Macauley , simply called ---- you guessed it 'Hailwood ' . A good read up until that time , telling things as they were .

I have a couple of Hailwood books by Ted Macauley:
Mike: The life and times of Mike Hailwood (1984) is a pretty good book, but the one I really recommend is
Mike The Bike - Again: The Story of Mike Hailwood’s Return to the TT (1980)

[sterling49]

Thanks for the replies guys, I think I will look out the Ekerold book and have to see which of the Hailwood books I should choose. I am interested in the I.O.M. races, so perhaps that is a good starting point. I must try and visit, the atmosphere must be brilliant

I have a lot of empathy with Ivy, having grown up in Kent, I can just imagine him tearing around the roads ( as I did )and of course his was a household name in the '60s

Edited by sterling49, 08 September 2009 - 17:38.

[sterling49]

‘Driver flirted briefly with car racing in 1963 with a Lotus 20 Formula Junior car, but at that time he was still a top-notch motor cycle rider, having made his name on Nortons, and then AJS/Matchless, on which he finished third in the 1965 500 cc championship.’ - The Grand Prix Who’s Who, Steve Small

‘South African-born, Paddy came over with Jim Redman in 1958. Made a name on Nortons and had a brief spell with Suzuki before their machines were competitive. Switched to AJS/Matchless and finished third in the 500 cc championship in 1965. Retired to his Johannesburg home but continued to race on four wheels well into his 50s.’ - The Grand Prix Riders, Mick Woollett & Peter Clifford

The record books show that he was a regular in the top ten of the motorcycle Grand Prix world championships:

500cc
1960 - seventh with Norton (best result 4th x3)
1961 - tenth with Norton (best result 3rd)
1962 - seventh equal with Norton (best result 4th)
1964 - fifth with Matchless (best result 3rd x3)
1965 - third with Matchless (best result 2nd x2)

350cc
1960 - seventh equal with Norton (best result 5th x2)
1964 - seventh with AJS (best result 4th)

125cc
1962 - ninth equal with EMC (best result 3rd)

and also:

500cc
1959 - best result 6th x3

350cc
1959 - best result 5th x2
1965 - best result 6th




I have a couple of Hailwood books by Ted Macauley:
Mike: The life and times of Mike Hailwood (1984) is a pretty good book, but the one I really recommend is
Mike The Bike - Again: The Story of Mike Hailwood’s Return to the TT (1980)

Some impressive results, thanks for posting. Did he hit any high spots on four wheels? Young Bill did

[Hieronymus]

I suggest you get hold of a copy of the book PADDY - WHO? A DRIVER'S LIFE OF BIKES AND CARS. Written by Greg Mills, Robert Young et al. Published earlier this year. Be ready to fish out some seriois P&P costs...the book is 785 pages and has the weight of a brick! Thoroughly enjoying, though, and gives a good account of South African motorcycle racing over several decades.

[subh]

The thing I forgot to add was that if you look at the scan included here you will see that Paddy was 500cc National Champion in 1962:
http://forums.autosp...w...98910&st=40

Edited by subh, 08 September 2009 - 19:01.

[ex Rhodie racer 2]

The thing I forgot to add was that if you look at the scan included here you will see that Paddy was 500cc National Champion in 1962:
http://forums.autosp...w...98910&st=40

I´m a bit sceptical about that as Paddy was campaigning in Europe in 1962. It is possible he accumulated enough points during the European off season in order to win the championship though.