205 replies to this topic

[ERIC63]

hi,i came across the forum by accident a few weeks ago,and after reading some of the posts i thought i'd dig out some photos that have been lying in the bottom drawer for the last 30 odd years.The quality isn't too good but i thought they might be of some interest.Here's one of Dave Edwards at Three Sisters in 1981.

Edited by ERIC63, 21 December 2014 - 11:31.

[greg1953]

hi,i came across the forum by accident a few weeks ago,and after reading some of the posts i thought i'd dig out some photos that have been lying in the bottom drawer for the last 30 odd years.The quality isn't too good but i thought they might be of some interest.Here's one of Dave Edwards at Three Sisters in 1981.

Post them all, we love them.

Greg

[ERIC63]

I'll scan some more tomorrow.In the meantime,one of Mark Hodge at Flookburgh 1979

[khsuzukitr500]

Oulton Park

1976

[ERIC63]

[ERIC63]

Ian Parkinson,Keith Walker and Rob Hall-Croft 1979

[khsuzukitr500]

Maybe N.G.M.C.R.C. or STAVERTON 1976

 

 

[ERIC63]

2 more from Three sisters 1981.Gavin Bate.......

Edited by ERIC63, 23 December 2014 - 05:56.

[ERIC63]

.......and Ray Preston

[greg1953]

Ian Parkinson,Keith Walker and Rob Hall-Croft 1979

Keith Walker photo....thats a Niko Bakker framed bike, he broke his collarbone on that at Flookburgh.

[GrahamEtheridgepicblanc]

No 40 Alan Stewart, Ivor Morgan helmet behind him just visible, no 88 Mick Cook? no 67 ? Hart?

answer to KhsuzukiTR500 race start picture. his other pic is Ian Richards, Mick Patrick & AN Other.

Edited by GrahamEtheridgepicblanc, 23 December 2014 - 16:46.

[ERIC63]

I only ever watched 2 meetings at Flookburgh,but if I remember rightly,the surface didn't exactly look smooth.

[greg1953]

ERIC63, on 23 Dec 2014 - 20:36, said:

I only ever watched 2 meetings at Flookburgh,but if I remember rightly,the surface didn't exactly look smooth.

It wasn't as bad as Silloth which was also a lot faster...I had the biggest crash ever at Flookburgh & May '79, my TZ350 was pulverised.

Greg

[ERIC63]

I wondered if that was at my other visit,but checked(I've still got the programmes)and I was at the the July and October ones.Never got to Silloth.I watched mainly at Aintree and Longridge and then Three Sisters.Still do in fact.

[ERIC63]

Barrie Baxter-Three Sisters 1981

[ERIC63]

Chris Hawkes-Three Sisters 1981

[knickerbrook]

Maybe N.G.M.C.R.C. or STAVERTON 1976

 

 

I think 132 is Keith Hanford (AKA "khsuzukitr500"). 

And is that you with the lightning start (number 25) at Oulton Keith? Looks like Albion Street colours, but I don't remember you having that yellow top?

[Paul Collins]

Chris Hawkes-Three Sisters 1981

I remember having a real ding dong with Chris in 1981 at 3 Sisters, somewhere I have a photo of us both scrapping which someone gave me, I'll try and find it when I get time.

Stuart Marshall was another quick local there who I locked horns with a couple of times, I loved racing there

[GrahamEtheridgepicblanc]

Yes your right Barry it is Keith Hanford.

[ERIC63]

Hi Paul.I remember seeing you have some good rides at Sisters.Didn't you win a couple of championships there?As for Stuart Marshall,he was very quick at Aintree as well.I think he was class lap record holder at one time.

[khsuzukitr500]

I think 132 is Keith Hanford (AKA "khsuzukitr500"). 

And is that you with the lightning start (number 25) at Oulton Keith? Looks like Albion Street colours, but I don't remember you having that yellow top?

Barry, you don't miss much do you?.

Yes you are correct on both counts. The yellow top is a wet weather suit.

[Paul Collins]

Hi Eric I won the 1000cc championship in 81 but the following year I threw it into the scenery on the last corner of the last lap while trying to defend it from Stuart, I was leading and 200 yards from the flag but under huge pressure from behind when I lost the front lapping another rider, nobody's fault but my own.

I went back last year to see the circuit for the first time in 30 years, it's a great little place and now has some nice facilities like the cafe etc too.

[ERIC63]

The facilities have definitely improved over the years.When I looked at these old photos,I couldn't believe how much the place has changed.I've been going there since 1980 and I suppose that something improves every year,but you don't notice the changes until you see how it used to be.

[Paul Collins]

The facilities have definitely improved over the years.When I looked at these old photos,I couldn't believe how much the place has changed.I've been going there since 1980 and I suppose that something improves every year,but you don't notice the changes until you see how it used to be.

Yes I was impressed with the cafe/clubhouse, and the Tarmac paddock, the last time i,d seen the place prior to last year was 1983 when the paddock was still coal dust, the toilets were portaloos and the catering was a burger van.

A fantastic little circuit, friendly organisers, and it's great to see its survived and developed over the years,

When I get chance I'll see if I can find any photo's from the early 1980's, I'm sure I've got a couple somewhere.

Other handy lads from that era who you may remember, Ian Shacklady, Dave Marsh, Dave Dearden, all local lads I think, I knew Ian quite well, I think he lived in Skelmersdale.

And didn't Foggy and/or Hodgson make their racing debuts there a couple of years later?

[greg1953]

Yes I was impressed with the cafe/clubhouse, and the Tarmac paddock, the last time i,d seen the place prior to last year was 1983 when the paddock was still coal dust, the toilets were portaloos and the catering was a burger van.

A fantastic little circuit, friendly organisers, and it's great to see its survived and developed over the years,

When I get chance I'll see if I can find any photo's from the early 1980's, I'm sure I've got a couple somewhere.

Other handy lads from that era who you may remember, Ian Shacklady, Dave Marsh, Dave Dearden, all local lads I think, I knew Ian quite well, I think he lived in Skelmersdale.

And didn't Foggy and/or Hodgson make their racing debuts there a couple of years later?

Trevor Cooper & me went there once around '82ish, should have done research, we had Croft gearing and couldn't get past 2nd gear and as usual we forgot to take spare sprockets.

Greg

[ERIC63]

Hi Paul-I'm not sure that Foggy ever raced there.I've a programme where he's entered but doesn't feature in the results(which seems unlikely).Neil Hodgson certainly did on a production 125.His dad Mark used to race a 250 round there.You might have come across him.Also,10 years or so ago,there used to be an Anglo Irish Match Race.One of the riders guesting for the Irish team was a young lad called Casey Stoner.Went round in about 54 secs on a 125.Absolute lap record at the time,Ithink.

[ERIC63]

Hi Greg.I seem to remember years ago that somebody turned up there with what was  allegedly an ex Barry Sheene RG.It was chucking it down,and he was quoted as saying that he couldn't get it out of 1st.

[ERIC63]

A very bad pic. of Mark Hodgsson

[Paul Collins]

That brings back memories, I dealt with Mark until fairly recently when I was running a lad on my RS125 and buying parts from him, he managed to turn up one of my old race bikes from somewhere which I bought back from him.

 

 

 

Oh and the guy with the RG500, I think it was 1980, I remember him turning up with it.............. and putting it straight back in the van after first practice

[greg1953]

That brings back memories, I dealt with Mark until fairly recently when I was running a lad on my RS125 and buying parts from him, he managed to turn up one of my old race bikes from somewhere which I bought back from him.

 

 

 

Oh and the guy with the RG500, I think it was 1980, I remember him turning up with it.............. and putting it straight back in the van after first practice

Could have well been Foggy, his dad, George often bought ex - works bikes from Suzuki, someone once told me Suzuki would only let you buy an RG if you also bought a 750 triple, George would often turn up at Croft with both. Carl came to Ouston once, he was about 18 and was riding an ex - works Ducati 600, If memory serves he won a couple but a mate of mine who spoke to him described him as a "big headed little ****.

Greg

[ERIC63]

1980 sounds about right.I know it was a good few years ago.I read an article recently(I think it was in another post on here)that Foggy won his first ever race on the Ducati at Aintree,then was disqualified for using an electric starter in a push start race.

[greg1953]

1980 sounds about right.I know it was a good few years ago.I read an article recently(I think it was in another post on here)that Foggy won his first ever race on the Ducati at Aintree,then was disqualified for using an electric starter in a push start race.

On second thoughts I think we have our dates wrong, I spoke to a mate last night who reckons Foggy at Ouston was about 84' -' 85, he would be too young in1980.

Greg

[ERIC63]

Had a look through the old programmes.The earliest mention I can find at Aintree is 1983,entered on a 500 Ducati.

[ERIC63]

Hi Paul.Yes, I remember all 3.Didn't Ian Shacklady do some drag racing/sprinting as well?

[Paul Collins]

Hi Paul.Yes, I remember all 3.Didn't Ian Shacklady do some drag racing/sprinting as well?

Not sure, the last time I saw him he was doing the MGP on a single cylinder Suzuki 4 stroke but that was mid 80's, sprinting does ring a bell though.

I've just collected a box full of programmes and MCN's from the era which have been in storage for years, I've finally got around to picking them up from my parents house whilst visiting over Christmas, once I get home again to the Isle of Man (the ferry is broken so it's turned into a longer trip than planned) I'll see what I have and do some sorting and scanning.

[ERIC63]

A couple of sidecar ones from Croft 1979-Geoff Bell and Tony Baker

[greg1953]

A couple of sidecar ones from Croft 1979-Geoff Bell and Tony Baker

Exit of Tower Bend ???

[ERIC63]

Can't remember the name of the bend,but this is one from the same place looking back down the track.

[greg1953]

Can't remember the name of the bend,but this is one from the same place looking back down the track.

Yep, thats Tower.

[ERIC63]

Never really knew Croft that well.It was another place I only went to twice.The first time was 1974 when I went to help out a lad I knew at the time,Pete Tidswell.We didn't have the best of days.I think it took about the best part of 4 hours to get there in the van,and then we had problems with the electrics all day.The bike would do about 1 lap and then cut out.I think Pete only managed about 5 laps in total, including practice.The other time was when these photos were taken which was October 1979,and as you can tell,it poured down all day.When did the original circuit close?It must have been fairly soon after this. 

[greg1953]

Original track closed at the end of the '81 season, this was a much better layout than the current one but noise disputes with local farmers dictated the modern pattern.

Greg

Never really knew Croft that well.It was another place I only went to twice.The first time was 1974 when I went to help out a lad I knew at the time,Pete Tidswell.We didn't have the best of days.I think it took about the best part of 4 hours to get there in the van,and then we had problems with the electrics all day.The bike would do about 1 lap and then cut out.I think Pete only managed about 5 laps in total, including practice.The other time was when these photos were taken which was October 1979,and as you can tell,it poured down all day.When did the original circuit close?It must have been fairly soon after this. 

[ERIC63]

I've only seen the new layout on T.V. when BSB has been shown.I can't picture the old track at all when I see them race on the new one.Didn't realise it was a noise issue that closed it down.Some things don't change.

[Paul Collins]

The new layout uses around a third of the old circuit, the starting grid used now is now where you would remember the old paddock Eric

[ERIC63]

I knew they used some of the old circuit,but couldn't get my head round which was the new bit and which was the old bit.Mind you it is 35 years since I've been there.Found a picture of Dave Marsh.It's a bit dark and fuzzy though.

[ERIC63]

Found a couple more from Croft.

[ERIC63]

[greg1953]

19 is Graham King from Ryton, Spondon framed TZ350

[ERIC63]

Spot on,Greg.According to what I've written on the back of the photo at the time,the other rider is Dave Connell.The 125's are left to right,Norman Rowles,John Wilson and Pete Banks.

[greg1953]

Spot on,Greg.According to what I've written on the back of the photo at the time,the other rider is Dave Connell.The 125's are left to right,Norman Rowles,John Wilson and Pete Banks.

Johnny Wilson usually rode 350 - 750 TZs, didn't know he'd had a go on a 125, must have been a one - off ride, he won the British Champ 350 round at Thruxton in '78 IIRC.
Greg 

P.S. my mate Trevor Cooper bought the 350E from Johnny, I've posted pics elsewhere on this forum.

[ERIC63]

He rode a 350 as well at this meeting.Thought I had a picture of Trevor Cooper somewhere,but I can't find it.Here's a scan of one of the Flookburgh programmes.It might bring back some memories.