5 replies to this topic

[Steve53]

Greetings all

I'm researching a slice of early racing history in the 1960's. To cut a long story short I'm trying to finish off a book I'm writing about my decade in the fast lane of the Continental circus, 1977 to 1987 working on the bikes both privateer and factory.I want to add some historical context to the places I was based and circuits I visited. It could well be that we were working in the same workshops as the Honda teams during the 1960's but I'm not sure. From 1960 they contested three or four classes so they would have had at least over 20 bikes, untold thousands of kilos of spare parts six or seven riders and Japs from Tokyo to Amsterdam. Someone must have organised all of that from the European end. Transport, Hotels, Customs paperwork, air fares, workshops etc etc., There would have been early importers/agents in Europe who would have been involved for sure. If anyone knows of any leads to help research this then PM me or extend the thread

Many thanks, Steve

[barrykm]

..Someone..please..this will be interesting 

[tonyed]

Greetings all

I'm researching a slice of early racing history in the 1960's. To cut a long story short I'm trying to finish off a book I'm writing about my decade in the fast lane of the Continental circus, 1977 to 1987 working on the bikes both privateer and factory.I want to add some historical context to the places I was based and circuits I visited. It could well be that we were working in the same workshops as the Honda teams during the 1960's but I'm not sure. From 1960 they contested three or four classes so they would have had at least over 20 bikes, untold thousands of kilos of spare parts six or seven riders and Japs from Tokyo to Amsterdam. Someone must have organised all of that from the European end. Transport, Hotels, Customs paperwork, air fares, workshops etc etc., There would have been early importers/agents in Europe who would have been involved for sure. If anyone knows of any leads to help research this then PM me or extend the thread

Many thanks, Steve

Of no help but interesting Honda Stuff - unless the Steve is you

 

http://www.vf750fd.c...ce_history.html

[GD66]

Should be fun ! There are still  few pilots around, Jim Redman is on facebook and Luigi A Taveri (Gigi) also, pretty sure he is Luigi's son.

Stuart Graham has or had a Honda car dealership at Crewe. All of them would have some inkling as to what was required to organise all that.

If you're talking mid-eighties the ex-Honda UK team boss Barry Symmons is on facebook as well, he still gets active when the bench racing starts and has good recall. The journo Christopher Hilton who did a good Honda book based around the GP teams seemed to get good inside access, may be worth chasing him down. Quite a project you have there, good luck.

[Tim Murray]

Christopher Hilton, very sadly, is no longer with us - he died in November 2010.
 
Christopher Hilton

[GD66]

Apologies for that. A fine and thorough journo.