12 replies to this topic

[ravemotorsport]

Hi Chaps,

 

I have started a website recording the earliest of Yamaha road racing history.Starting with their first dedicated works racing 250cc's that trounced Honda in the 1957 Asama Race, the bikes which were later revamped for the 1958 Catalina GP in the USA and subsequently campaigned by Sonny Angel, who later raced the first (later model) Yamaha in the UK.    

 

I was lucky enough to be given the authority to use many photo's from Sonny Angel's collection, as I am currently restoring one of these first 1957 Yamaha's.

 

I hope you find it interesting !

 

www.ydracer.com

 

All the best

 

Richard

 

 

 

 

[tonyed]

Very interesting Richard.

 

With your name (Dick Tracy) you should not have too much of a problem solving old mysteries 

[Paul Collins]

What a great write up, well done and thank you for sharing.

[ravemotorsport]

I forgot to add.... I am looking for any pictures of the early (privateer) Yamaha racers in the UK during 1963 or 1964.  

 

Rider included :- Robin RDL Denny, John JE Field, Bill WD Ivy & Dave DF Degens  (both rode for Geoff Monty), Geoff GW Kellond,  D. Lee, T.Morris, T. Springett, M.P O'Rourke, R. Spink, C. Duke (riding for Padgetts) & S.M. Millard

 

More early Yamaha racers in the UK than I initially thought !  

 

Thanks,

Edited by ravemotorsport, 09 January 2016 - 13:26.

[billlawrence]

HI Richard very interesting .As far as I know Dave Chester riding a Ted Broad Yamaha was the first to win a race  on a Yamaha in the UK at  Snetterton 1964 .Ted went one to be one of the main Yamaha dealers bought my Yamaha YDS2 of off him    Bill Lawence

[ravemotorsport]

Hi Lawrence, thanks for that info re Dave Chester - another rider to add to my list....  The earliest win so far I found was Robin Denny who won a National at Snetterton in June '63  

Thanks

Richard

[billlawrence]

HI Richard looks like Robin Denny was the first . Brain fade it was a long time ago .I remember looking at the TD1C at Teds shop nice looking thing   Regards Bill Lawrence

[Revetts]

Not too sure when it was but I remember that a local (Suffolk) dealer, Pat Keeble of Theberton, sponsored Dick Wyler on a fairly early 250 Yamaha. Wyler crashed the Yamaha during a race in Europe. Maybe somewhere in Spain? A photo. of the bike laying among the trackside rocks (!!!!) appeared in the motorcycle weeklys. Last I know of that bike was it was rebuilt and running by Pat's son John a few years ago.

[billlawrence]

HI Richard we must not forget Reg Everett who had a great deal of success's on Ted Broad,s Yamaha  .You may be interested in Reg Everett,s book  (from rocker to racer )     Regards Bill Lawrence  

[tonyed]

Ted Broads bike was a TD1A if Reg Everetts book details are correct and I doubt if they are not.

 

Ted updated the crank with homemade parts from a Jaguar crank I believe the book reported to prevent the crank mounted clutch shearing off.

 

I do remember, and this was later of course 1969, when I started racing at Bemsee meetings the Jeavon brothers one of which had an early TD1 machine.

[ravemotorsport]

Hi Bill, sorry misread you name last time ! Yes, I know Reg..a real gent ... I was lucky enough to have made it into his book ! And Correct Tony, Ted Broads early bike that Reg rode was a TD1A. Then modified and later (66 I think, maybe 67) revised with a special frame and the original frame was then used for the 350 class. I used to have the Broad Special, it now belongs to friend....

[GTPRacing]

My earliest memories of the racing Yamahas were of local rider Brian Warburton from Lymm in Cheshire riding in club meetings at Oulton Park. I believe it was around 1964/5 on what was I think a TD1B.  I have a faint recollection that he had a brother who also rode  a TD1B, but that may just be my memory playing tricks! 

I also recollect that  Brian was runner up in the Lightweight Manx in 1965 on the same bike.  

Tragically he lost his life after a crash in the 1988 Production TT. 

[barrykm]

My earliest recall of racing Yamahas in South Africa was around '63/'64 at the Roy Hesketh circuit in Pietermaritzburg when the different sound caught my attention. Johnny Gwillam I think?