13 replies to this topic

[GTPRacing]

Some help required here. Many years ago, I had the good fortune to meet the late great Bob McIntyre at a British Championship meeting at Oulton Park.

At the time, the British Championship was decided by a one race meeting held at Oulton in August each year.

On this particular occasion, I remember, Bob had just stepped down from the rostrum and I as a small boy asked him for his autograph. Bob had a laurel wreath around his neck and was holding a silver trophy.

I remember this particularly, as he handed me the trophy to hold, whilst he signed my autograph book.

As you can imagine, I was absolutely made up with this!

The problem I have is, I'm not sure what year this would have been. I'm not even sure that he actually won the race, or was just in the top three.

It would have been 1958, 59 or 60. 

Does anyone have a list of British Championship winners of this period?

I seem to recollect that it was before his Honda days and that he was riding a Norton on the day.

I also recollect that it was at the end of the day, so possibly the 500cc Senior race, which was generally the last solo race of the day.

I'm just curious as to when it would have been, I've tried googling, but cannot find the information.

I don't know if this information may help to find the year,  but on the same day, Mike Duff signed my autograph book, another that I remember because he signed "Mike Duff Canada" which to a young boy seemed quite exotic! 

Edited by GTPRacing, 08 March 2016 - 13:05.

[knickerbrook]

According to Bob Guntrip's book (Racing Line), Bob Mac won a total of four British Championships. These were:

 

1956 - 250 and 500  (too early I think for Mike Duff).

1960 - 350 and 500.

 

Barry.

[Russell Burrows]

Some help required here. Many years ago, I had the good fortune to meet the late great Bob McIntyre at a British Championship meeting at Oulton Park.

At the time, the British Championship was decided by a one race meeting held at Oulton in August each year.

On this particular occasion, I remember, Bob had just stepped down from the rostrum and I as a small boy asked him for his autograph. Bob had a laurel wreath around his neck and was holding a silver trophy.

I remember this particularly, as he handed me the trophy to hold, whilst he signed my autograph book.

As you can imagine, I was absolutely made up with this!

The problem I have is, I'm not sure what year this would have been. I'm not even sure that he actually won the race, or was just in the top three.

It would have been 1958, 59 or 60. 

Does anyone have a list of British Championship winners of this period?

I seem to recollect that it was before his Honda days and that he was riding a Norton on the day.

I also recollect that it was at the end of the day, so possibly the 500cc Senior race, which was generally the last solo race of the day.

I'm just curious as to when it would have been, I've tried googling, but cannot find the information.

I don't know if this information may help to find the year,  but on the same day, Mike Duff signed my autograph book, another that I remember because he signed "Mike Duff Canada" which to a young boy seemed quite exotic! 

I think the history of the Brit champs was discussed before, as well as the ACU star system and how these were set up - don't think we unravelled that one.  Had a quick gander on interweb but found nowt.  The ACU should know but I bet quids they don't.   Duff arrived in Britain in 1960 so that's some info at least. 

Edited by Russell Burrows, 08 March 2016 - 19:21.

[GTPRacing]

Thanks for your help. It would seem from the information that you have both provided that 1960 would be the correct year.

Bob won the 500cc Championship that year and Mike Duff would have been present too, so it does tally with my memory of the day.

I was 9 years old (approaching 10) and it is still clear in my mind, when Bob handed me the trophy & signed my autograph book, just couldn't figure out the year. Thanks again for your help, it was just one of those things that was bugging me, as Bob was my hero (even more so after that day).

My father & I were regulars at Oulton, but were away on holiday in August 1962 when Bob had the fatal crash.

 

 

I too tried to find the information on line without success, seems to be information on later years, but nothing around that period.

[knickerbrook]

I think the history of the Brit champs was discussed before, as well as the ACU star system and how these were set up - don't think we unravelled that one.  Had a quick gander on interweb but found nowt.  The ACU should know but I bet quids they don't.   Duff arrived in Britain in 1960 so that's some info at least. 

 

In the Racing Lines book (page 51), Bob Guntrip explains the ACU Star system.

 

Apparently, they were decided on points awarded at national meetings throughout the season, with the rider's best eight results in each class to count - while the British Championships were decided in just a single race (per class) at Oulton Park! Not the best way of establishing the most worthy rider in the country I would have thought - and this "system" continued into the mid-sixties!       

[Rennmax]

Hi GTP,

 

I assume Mick Walker's 'The flying Scot' biography about Bob McIntyre could be of interest to you. Certainly not a mind-boggling book compared to the ones of Colin Seeley, Bill Lomas, Mick Grant, Ken Sprayson etc. etc. but better than nothing.

 

On the very same day (Bank Holiday, Monday 1st August) Bob also clinched the 350 cc title on his Joe Potts framed 7R.

By the way, what a pity that member 'Joepotts7' is not longer contributing here because he is a real expert in respect of Bob Mac, but his 'Yorkshire Ferret' blog is still alive with a lot of information about Bob, Joe Potts and the Desmo Manx/Razor Blade frame saga.

 

(I have tried to insert the link to this site, but 'ctrl v' doesn't seem to work here any more )

 

Regarding this Forum, nice to see that there is still a bit of life in the old dog

 

Rupert

Edited by Rennmax, 09 March 2016 - 12:13.

[GTPRacing]

Hi Rennmax, thanks for the reply, I'll look out for "The Flying Scot" book I think that I would find it very interesting! Bob was and still is a hero of mine. I'm sure that he would have been a World champion had it not been for the tragic events of August 1962.

[Rennmax]

Hi GTP,

seems I've found out how the insert works:

http://www.amazon.co...ker flying scot

I also have a soft spot for riders like Bob Mac or Ray Amm, the 'hard-boiled' ones.

I agree, if Bob Mac, Bob Brown and Tom Phillis had survived and Derek Minter as a permanent world-championship contender, Jim Redman would have collected not so many championships as he actually did.....

And now the 'Yorkshire Ferret' link (tons of good stuff to read!)

http://yorkshireferr...otts-desmo.html

Rupert

Edited by Rennmax, 09 March 2016 - 18:52.

[GTPRacing]

Hi again Rennmax (Rupert). Had a quick look at the links, both very interesting, thanks for posting them.                                                        The photo on the book cover really does remind me of the day that I got Bob's autograph, that is exactly how he looked, complete with laurel wreath. 

I shall follow up with a book purchase and further looks at the "Yorkshire Ferret" blog.

You're quite right about the riders that you mention, all well capable of World Championship wins. Particularly, Bob & Tom Phillis for whom things were working out particularly well before fate intervened.

Derek Minter too, proved that he had what it takes when he won on the Island with the Honda. Wasn't it the great SMB Hailwood that described Derek as the rider whom he considered his most talented rival?  

[Rennmax]

Not a big 'www' deal




Does anybody know why John Surtees assumedly poses here as AJS mec?

Rupert

[Russell Burrows]

Not a big 'www' deal

 

Does anybody know why John Surtees assumedly poses here as AJS mec?

Rupert

Hi Rupert, nice pic which I've not seen before.  It looks a bit less like Surtees when zoomed into - could it be a doppelgänger?   No, I don't really think that either. There's a couple of British squadies at the back so probably in the UK.  Could it be the Ulster, '54ish ? 

Edited by Russell Burrows, 10 March 2016 - 17:17.

[Rennmax]

Hi Rupert, nice pic which I've not seen before.  It looks a bit less like Surtees when zoomed into - could it be a doppelgänger?   No, I don't really think that either. There's a couple of British squadies at the back so probably in the UK.  Could it be the Ulster, '54ish ?

Hi Russ, long time no see! The guy who gave me the photo assured me that it is actually John Surtees albeit the context with the AJS works team is a bit weird. The man in the white coat is of course Jack Williams, father of Peter and Andrea. I'm pretty sure the photo was taken in the UK but I don't know where.

Rupert

PS: Everything ok at your end?

[Russell Burrows]

Hi Russ, long time no see! The guy who gave me the photo assured me that it is actually John Surtees albeit the context with the AJS works team is a bit weird. The man in the white coat is of course Jack Williams, father of Peter and Andrea. I'm pretty sure the photo was taken in the UK but I don't know where.

Rupert

PS: Everything ok at your end?

 

Ah, missed Jack.  What about the tall guy in the beret between Farrant and Coleman ?   

[Rennmax]

I asked Rolf Eggersdorfer who kindly provided the photo but he doesn't know either. By the way, the shot is originally  from Ted Frend's private collection.

Therefore, LarryD, where are you?

 

Rupert

 

PS:  At the  bottom right is Bob Macs autograph!

Edited by Rennmax, 11 March 2016 - 12:01.