I am trying to do some research into the bikes Dickie Dale rode in the 1958 European season, after he lost his works Moto Guzzi rides. He and Geoff Duke were named as getting works rides from BMW for 1958 but then BMW decided to support only one rider and Duke was chosen. However, BMW told Dale that if he purchased a 500cc Rennsport they would update it to the latest specifications and maintain it for the season.
Dale bought a Rennsport from Australian Doug Fugger in early 58 and Tom Phillis brought the bike with him from Australia when he returned to Europe for the start of the 58 season. Dale took the bike to Munich and subsequently rode it in the Continental Circus, GPs and some UK events, along with his 350cc Norton. Another Australian who raced a BMW in Europe at this time was Jack Forrest, who also raced an NSU Sportmax in the 250cc class. At the TT in June, Dale borrowed Forrest’s NSU for the 250cc race, run on the Clypse circuit at that time, and took over the entry of New Zealander Noel McCutcheon who had an entry for the race on an NSU. Dale had problems in each of the 3 practice sessions, put down to ignition problems, and failed to complete one lap in any of the sessions, so did not qualify to start in the race. It was reported in the following week’s motorcycle press that Dale had bought the Sportmax from Forrest.
After Dale took the BMW to 11th place in the 7 lap, Senior race on Friday, June 6th after a slow first lap due to machine problems, he travelled to Mallory Park for the Post TT race on Sunday June 8th where he finished 2nd to Mike Hailwood in the 250cc race, both on NSUs.
Dale rode the NSU in the Dutch TT at the end of June and, from the race report in Motorcycle News, so did Forrest also on an NSU. Both were mentioned several times in the course of the race report but both Dale and Forrest failed to finish the race, reportedly with engine problems. Included in the race report was the fact that Sammy Miller was riding his NSU in place of the works CZ that he was entered on as this had failed to appear, so I would have thought that if Forrest was riding another bike in place of the NSU this would have been mentioned.
The question is did Jack Forrest have 2 NSUs with him in Europe?
Following the Dutch TT, Forrest also sold his BMW to Pip Harris for use as a sidecar machine.
Can any of our Antipodean members cast any light on this?
Thanks,
Stan
