67 replies to this topic

[fil2.8]

[rotrax]

How many ex racers have the ultimate hero, mine was Jarno Saarinen. Hailwood is an obvious choice but lets set him aside for the moment.

Hi, My heroes are those who are/were multi disiplined. Geoff duke was a good trials rider before he took to the tarmac, World Speedway Champion Tommy Price rode in the MGP several times and Alf Hagon was top at Speedway, grass track and drag and sprint racing. But I think the Czech rider Franta Juhan must of been a bit special. He was a top class road racer, got a Gold Medal in the ISDT and won the Golden Helmet Grass track at Pardubice. This race was over 7 kilometers per lap around the horse race circuit, outside the jumps. At the time in the 1930`s it was the richest race in Europe, the prize included,as the name suggested,a real Gold Helmet. He was a JAWA works rider under the English rider/ tuner George Patchet.I believe he won a Swiss GP pre war,Riding a MK8 Velo. In Sport, Rotrax.

[GD66]

You'd have to have a soft spot for old Arthur Browning too then, eh Ro ?

[picblanc]

You'd have to have a soft spot for old Arthur Browning too then, eh Ro ?

I wonder if this is the same Arthur Browning Glenn? #50, programme says he is from Great Barr?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo taken in 2007.

Edited by picblanc, 20 February 2011 - 16:14.

[fil2.8]

I wonder if this is the same Arthur Browning Glenn? #50, programme says he is from Great Barr?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Photo taken in 2007.

That's him , Curly , Speedway , Scrambles , Trials , and later Racing !!!!

Mind you , in the US they used to mix and match for the AMA #1 plate , do they still do that ?? , seem to remember it was loaded against out and out ' pavement ' racers

[Herr Wankel]

That's him , Curly , Speedway , Scrambles , Trials , and later Racing !!!!

Mind you , in the US they used to mix and match for the AMA #1 plate , do they still do that ?? , seem to remember it was loaded against out and out ' pavement ' racers

And he was very nearly top scorer one year in the ISDT when it was in wales.Got outmanouvered by some dodgy scandinavians on the last day IIRC.Impressive watching him wring the nuts off that XT500 there.

HW

[larryd]

And he was very nearly top scorer one year in the ISDT when it was in wales.Got outmanouvered by some dodgy scandinavians on the last day IIRC.Impressive watching him wring the nuts off that XT500 there.

HW

Comes across and does the Pre-TT Classic every year now, Andy.

Bloody hard rider, too - but then, he was a motocrosser

[Herr Wankel]

Comes across and does the Pre-TT Classic every year now, Andy.

Bloody hard rider, too - but then, he was a motocrosser

;)

Yes a tough old b........ I think.You all ok over there Larry?

Hw

[rotrax]

You'd have to have a soft spot for old Arthur Browning too then, eh Ro ?

I should have, but the bugger used to knock me out of the Red Marley Hill Cilmb every year! I have a super photo of me at the top,front wheel high,back wheel driving and throwing dirt. Trouble is Big Arthurs roost can be seen just in front-again. You are absolutely right,Arthur is a top all rounder and a real hard man on a motorbike. He is a nice bloke too. In Sport, Rotrax.

[Paul Rochdale]

Heroes? I went to the very first motorcycle event on the newly opened GP circuit at Brands Hatch and saw Derek Minter in the paddock. Short and looking older than his years, he became my hero especially after the Dave Downer crash when he suffered a broken back yet was back in the saddle after six weeks. I followed him throughout his career until his retirement. I got the impression that he was a opiniated little bugger, and this may have cost him offers of factory rides.

Lance Weil was another 'hero' but for different reasons. He came over from the States and lived hand to mouth racing a pair of AJS/Matchless's, then appeared the next year with his 883cc Harley Davidson. Other than at a wrong-way-round Hutchinson 100 at Brands, I only saw him at Lydden Hill where he frequently gave Charlie Sanby, the local favourite, a run for his money. At the time Lance sent me a couple of very nice signed photos which I still have. It was sad to read he'd been killed in a workshop accident.

Edited by Paul Rochdale, 21 February 2011 - 09:50.

[stuavant]

No wonder I couldn't find it. e-mailed the Louvre and they scanned it for me. I wonder if it was opposite the Mona Lisa instead of next to she'd be laughing instead of a smile. Probably ! Like all fine art it needs to viewed from a distance, a long distance sometimes....

By joeninety at 2011-02-17
I seem to remember someone called Carol what an artist Mick Chat had a superb painting adorning his living room it was like a photo it was so good. Mick Chat by the way had a TT replica holding up an indoor TV aerial ! I was so lucky to compete with the likes of Mick Chat, Derek Chatterton, Rod Scyviere ? Sorry Yendor if your tuned in never could spell yer name.... ! They are true heroes giving everything they had and often at a great finacial sacrifice.

Carol who's painting adorned Micks living room would be most likely Carol Young, Lewis Youngs long time partner. A 5 star person with incredible ability. She mostly concentrated on "car racing friends" but she had a few paintings around the house of megastar friends like Mike the Bike. Carol recently said '"hello"to me via facebook so I know she is alive and kicking. Whilst I am no expert. I would wonder what value her painting have?

[joeninety]

Maybe it's a bit off topic regarding motorcycling but I have a soft spot for Graham Hill and Jim Clarke. The recent TV programme on Graham is a gem. In many ways he pre-dates Sheene's latter date persona by becoming much bigger than the sport.

Edited by joeninety, 24 February 2011 - 21:37.

[fil2.8]

Maybe it's a bit off topic regarding motorcycling but I have a soft spot for Graham Hill and Jim Clarke. The recent TV programme on Graham is a gem. In many ways he pre-dates Sheene's latter date persona by becoming much bigger than the sport.

I agree with you , Graham Hill was an icon , witty , an early James Hunt , if you like , and Jim Clark was the perfect foil ,

[GD66]

I was lucky enough to get an extended stage interview with the great Jim Redman at a "Meet the Riders" night before the 2003 Australian Historic roadrace nationals. As part of the line of questioning, I asked about his projected foray into Formula One as the Honda team leader : this was very much on the cards at the end of 1964. Anyway, Honda were testing at Suzuka (cars and bikes) with the car squad under advice from Jack Brabham. Many will recall the ensuing domination of F2 by the Brabham Hondas driven by Jack and Denny Hulme. Anyway, Jack as a keen ex-motorcyclist (entered for Bathurst 1948 on a 500 Velo, but didn't race that year) came down the pit road for a look round the bikes.
In those days, all the exotica was on show : the 50 twins, the 125 and 250 fours etc : Jack was pretty interested in a gallop on the diminutive wonders, but Jim explained to him that he was way too big to get round on a tiddler, and should try Jim's championship-winning 350 instead.
Out Jack went, still wearing his race driving suit, and worked his way round Suzuka, gradually getting faster and faster on the howling 350, to the mild consternation of the team bosses.
Finally, he reappeared tootling down the pit road, to everyone's relief, but it was only to refill the gas tank, and out he went again, having a ball and amazing all present with his quick adaptation to the GP machine. Finally having convinced all and sundry that enough was enough, he pulled in with a big grin, parked the bike and returned to the car pits to continue testing.

A good lad !

Can post an unattributable pic from the occasion, but not just yet...

Regards GD

Edited by GD66, 25 February 2011 - 10:35.

[picblanc]

And now you can.....

[fil2.8]

And now you can.....

Good find , maestro .................( is it one of yours , perchance ?? )

[picblanc]

Good find , maestro .................( is it one of yours , perchance ?? )

One of Glenn's finds Phil.

[Coupe Kawasaki]