Roger Burnett Dave Griffith and Mick Grant
How it used to be in’t olden days of racing... 🏍️ 🚗 💨
- Thread starter Exige
- Start date
Stuart Graham on a 250 Honda 1966 TT - he finished 2nd behind Mike Hailwood , with Peter Inchley on a Villiers 3rd
This was the Villiers
This was the Villiers
Scott Russell on his ZX7R
Known as "Mr. Daytona," Russell is a legendary figure in motorcycle racing, celebrated for his unparalleled success at the Daytona International Speedway.
Born on October 28, 1964, in East Point, Georgia, Russell earned his iconic nickname by securing a record five Daytona 200 victories, cementing his legacy in the sport.
His career highlights include winning the 1992 AMA Superbike Championship and the 1993 Superbike World Championship, showcasing his exceptional skill and versatility.
Known as "Mr. Daytona," Russell is a legendary figure in motorcycle racing, celebrated for his unparalleled success at the Daytona International Speedway.
Born on October 28, 1964, in East Point, Georgia, Russell earned his iconic nickname by securing a record five Daytona 200 victories, cementing his legacy in the sport.
His career highlights include winning the 1992 AMA Superbike Championship and the 1993 Superbike World Championship, showcasing his exceptional skill and versatility.
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Guacamole agocardo.. legend...
Prominent Seeley exponent was John Blanchard, who was offered rides on the works' 350cc and 500cc Seeleys. On the 350 Seeley John finished 3rd first time out at the Brands Hatch International in 1966 and at that year's Isle of Man TT placed 4th in the Senior race and 6th in the Junior event.
At international level he won at Mettet in Belgium on the 500 Seeley and also rode in selected Grands Prix. At the Isle of Man TT in 1967 John lapped at over 100mph on the 500 Seeley only to suffer a broken primary chain while in 3rd place.
In 1968 John prepared his own Seeleys and the following year he was sponsored by Bill Chuck Motorcycles. At that year's North West 200 John won the 500cc race, breaking lap and race records.
John Blanchard died of a stroke 06/10/2015.
John Blanchard - 4th Place Finisher in the 1966 Senior TT on a 500cc Seeley Matchless.
J
At international level he won at Mettet in Belgium on the 500 Seeley and also rode in selected Grands Prix. At the Isle of Man TT in 1967 John lapped at over 100mph on the 500 Seeley only to suffer a broken primary chain while in 3rd place.
In 1968 John prepared his own Seeleys and the following year he was sponsored by Bill Chuck Motorcycles. At that year's North West 200 John won the 500cc race, breaking lap and race records.
John Blanchard died of a stroke 06/10/2015.
John Blanchard - 4th Place Finisher in the 1966 Senior TT on a 500cc Seeley Matchless.
J
Huewen, Potter, Stewart, Sheene, Williams, Mellor, Fogarty
Oliver's Mount
Oliver's Mount
Union Mills (TT) 1930's
Dane Rowe.
As a passenger in a sidecar, she was part of the "Continental Circus", the then informal name of the World Road Racing Championship.
Initially, she was a passenger for Bill Copson and later her path crossed with Rudi Kurth and that resulted in one of the most iconic couples of the 70's.
At the end of the 60s and until the middle of the following decade, the Swiss Rudi Kurth became notable as a rider and as a vanguard technician in Sidecars.He also designed a 500cc motorcycle, the MONARK, a revolutionary motorcycle that was unable to overcome budgetary difficulties in order to assert its attributes.
As a passenger in a sidecar, she was part of the "Continental Circus", the then informal name of the World Road Racing Championship.
Initially, she was a passenger for Bill Copson and later her path crossed with Rudi Kurth and that resulted in one of the most iconic couples of the 70's.
At the end of the 60s and until the middle of the following decade, the Swiss Rudi Kurth became notable as a rider and as a vanguard technician in Sidecars.He also designed a 500cc motorcycle, the MONARK, a revolutionary motorcycle that was unable to overcome budgetary difficulties in order to assert its attributes.
MICK GRANT
Not the finish he hoped for.
Born in 1944, Grant was a relatively late starter in racing with his one and only Manx Grand Prix appearance coming in 1969, just a year after his racing debut.
It proved to be an inauspicious Mountain Course debut though as he finished 48th – and last – on his Velocette in the Senior.
Not the finish he hoped for.
Born in 1944, Grant was a relatively late starter in racing with his one and only Manx Grand Prix appearance coming in 1969, just a year after his racing debut.
It proved to be an inauspicious Mountain Course debut though as he finished 48th – and last – on his Velocette in the Senior.
Italian Racing Legend Carlo Ubbiali
Nine-Time Motorcycling World Champion
One Of Motorcycle Racings Greatest& Winner Of 5 TT's Including The Lightweight & Ultra Lightweight
Pictured Below At The 1956 TT aboard His MV Agusta
Agostini Said ~ "I was 10 years old when he was winning everything and I dreamed of being like him one day."
Nine-Time Motorcycling World Champion
One Of Motorcycle Racings Greatest& Winner Of 5 TT's Including The Lightweight & Ultra Lightweight
Pictured Below At The 1956 TT aboard His MV Agusta
Agostini Said ~ "I was 10 years old when he was winning everything and I dreamed of being like him one day."
Richard Creith and his NW200 and UGP winning Ryan Norton
Remembering Nicky Hayden on his birthday.
Nicky Hayden, affectionately known as "The Kentucky Kid," remains an iconic figure in the world of motorcycle racing. Born on July 30, 1981, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Nicky's journey from a local dirt track racer to a MotoGP World Champion is a testament to his dedication, talent, and indomitable spirit.
Hayden's racing career began at a young age, influenced by his family's deep-rooted passion for motorsports. By the time he was a teenager, Hayden had already made a name for himself in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) races, showcasing his remarkable skills and competitive edge. His breakthrough came in 2002 when he became the youngest AMA Superbike Champion at the age of 21, an achievement that catapulted him onto the global stage.
In 2003, Hayden joined the prestigious MotoGP circuit with the Repsol Honda Team. Despite facing fierce competition from seasoned riders, Hayden's perseverance paid off. His defining moment came in 2006 when he clinched the MotoGP World Championship, breaking Valentino Rossi's streak and earning admiration from fans and peers alike. This victory was not just a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for American motorsports, as Hayden became the first American to win the MotoGP title since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000.
Beyond his on-track achievements, Hayden was known for his humility, work ethic, and infectious optimism. He remained a beloved figure in the paddock, respected for his sportsmanship and dedication. Even after transitioning from MotoGP to World Superbike in 2016, Hayden continued to inspire with his relentless pursuit of excellence and love for racing.
Tragically, Hayden's life was cut short in May 2017 following a cycling accident in Italy. His untimely death was a profound loss to the motorsport community, but his legacy endures.
Nicky Hayden's story is one of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. He was always smiling and had time for a quick hello and always had time to talk with his adoring fans both young and old. As we remember him on his birthday, we celebrate not just his victories on the track but also the enduring impact he made on the world of motorcycle racing.
Nicky Hayden, affectionately known as "The Kentucky Kid," remains an iconic figure in the world of motorcycle racing. Born on July 30, 1981, in Owensboro, Kentucky, Nicky's journey from a local dirt track racer to a MotoGP World Champion is a testament to his dedication, talent, and indomitable spirit.
Hayden's racing career began at a young age, influenced by his family's deep-rooted passion for motorsports. By the time he was a teenager, Hayden had already made a name for himself in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) races, showcasing his remarkable skills and competitive edge. His breakthrough came in 2002 when he became the youngest AMA Superbike Champion at the age of 21, an achievement that catapulted him onto the global stage.
In 2003, Hayden joined the prestigious MotoGP circuit with the Repsol Honda Team. Despite facing fierce competition from seasoned riders, Hayden's perseverance paid off. His defining moment came in 2006 when he clinched the MotoGP World Championship, breaking Valentino Rossi's streak and earning admiration from fans and peers alike. This victory was not just a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for American motorsports, as Hayden became the first American to win the MotoGP title since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000.
Beyond his on-track achievements, Hayden was known for his humility, work ethic, and infectious optimism. He remained a beloved figure in the paddock, respected for his sportsmanship and dedication. Even after transitioning from MotoGP to World Superbike in 2016, Hayden continued to inspire with his relentless pursuit of excellence and love for racing.
Tragically, Hayden's life was cut short in May 2017 following a cycling accident in Italy. His untimely death was a profound loss to the motorsport community, but his legacy endures.
Nicky Hayden's story is one of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. He was always smiling and had time for a quick hello and always had time to talk with his adoring fans both young and old. As we remember him on his birthday, we celebrate not just his victories on the track but also the enduring impact he made on the world of motorcycle racing.
Bill Lomas
Bill Lomas had an inauspicious start to his TT career, retiring in the Clubman’s Junior Race of 1949 with a ‘repeat’ in the Junior TT of 1950. In 1951 however, he gained the first of nine Silver Replicas, two of which were coveted winners versions in 1955.
Riding machines as diverse as the sedate Royal Enfield to ‘works’ Velocette and AJS singles to the multi cylinder MV Agusta's and the legendary Guzzi V8, he was to win back to back 350cc world championships in 1955 and 1956 on the Italian Guzzi single cylinder bikes.
His double victory of 1955 was achieved, firstly in the Junior TT, on the single cylinder Guzzi held on the Mountain Course, he had a race long dual with Bob McIntyre on his Joe Potts prepared Norton, and had to break the lap record on his seventh and final circuit to gain what was to be the first Junior win for a foreign make of machine! Teammate Cecil Sandford finished third. Riding in the nine lap Lightweight 250cc TT on the Clypse Course, Bill enjoyed an ‘all Italian’ battle between himself on the MV and Cecil Sandford on the Guzzi. Sandford led for the first seven laps, Lomas then seized the advantage and stayed ahead to the chequered flag.
Bill Lomas was to have debuted the fabulous Guzzi V8 in the Senior of 1956, but it was not ready in time, so he had to revert to the trusty single cylinder version, which brought him home in 5th place.
After a racing accident at the early season Imola International in 1957 he retired from road racing.
Bill died in 2007 in Mansfield, after a heart attack. He was 79.
Bill Lomas had an inauspicious start to his TT career, retiring in the Clubman’s Junior Race of 1949 with a ‘repeat’ in the Junior TT of 1950. In 1951 however, he gained the first of nine Silver Replicas, two of which were coveted winners versions in 1955.
Riding machines as diverse as the sedate Royal Enfield to ‘works’ Velocette and AJS singles to the multi cylinder MV Agusta's and the legendary Guzzi V8, he was to win back to back 350cc world championships in 1955 and 1956 on the Italian Guzzi single cylinder bikes.
His double victory of 1955 was achieved, firstly in the Junior TT, on the single cylinder Guzzi held on the Mountain Course, he had a race long dual with Bob McIntyre on his Joe Potts prepared Norton, and had to break the lap record on his seventh and final circuit to gain what was to be the first Junior win for a foreign make of machine! Teammate Cecil Sandford finished third. Riding in the nine lap Lightweight 250cc TT on the Clypse Course, Bill enjoyed an ‘all Italian’ battle between himself on the MV and Cecil Sandford on the Guzzi. Sandford led for the first seven laps, Lomas then seized the advantage and stayed ahead to the chequered flag.
Bill Lomas was to have debuted the fabulous Guzzi V8 in the Senior of 1956, but it was not ready in time, so he had to revert to the trusty single cylinder version, which brought him home in 5th place.
After a racing accident at the early season Imola International in 1957 he retired from road racing.
Bill died in 2007 in Mansfield, after a heart attack. He was 79.
Yer Maun fixing his bike
Sammy Miller
Derek Minter being filmed for a Dunlop Tyre commercial
Valentino Rossi with Eddie Lawson's Yamaha YZR500.
(Yamaha Racing Legends 2024 - Jerez)
(Yamaha Racing Legends 2024 - Jerez)
Jack Findlay on his broken down Linto at Le Mans
Jack was born Cyril John Findlay in Mooroopna on 5th February 1935 and grew up living in Northgate Street Mooroopna. He fell in love with motorcycle racing during his boyhood and set his sights as a professional motor cycle racer. At 15 years of age he used his father’s driver’s licence to gain his motorcycle competition licence. His father’s name “Jack” has been with him ever since.
Re raced motorcycles in his youth and loved the sport. By the time he reached 23 years of age he followed his dream to compete internationally and took a ship to England.
Life in England was hard but Jack never faltered in his pursuit and gradually edged towards becoming an established name on the racing circuits of Europe. He was proud to race as an Australian and had the image of a kangaroo emblazoned on his racing helmet.
His brilliance started to bring results and he won three 500cc. Grand Prix events in Austria, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
He rode as a privateer against the might of the factory teams but his talent and dogged persistence saw this Mooroopna man competing against the best in the world.
1963 was a wonderful year for Jack as he won a total of 11 international races including a win on the full LeMans circuit. He twice won the title of best privateer in the world championships – in 1966 and 1968. Jack was 3rd in the world 500cc championship in 1966, 2nd in the 68 championship and 4th in the same event in 1970 and 1971. Jack had cemented his place as a world class rider, and was top privateer in the world for 15 incredible years. In 1973 he became the only Australian rider to have won the Isle of Man senior TT event. He won the F.I.M Formula 750 prize in 1975.
His success brought him fame and the movie Continental circus featured Jack Findlay as himself in a film about the extremes of Grand Prix racing. He became a test rider for the Michelin Company and played a key role in the development of their radial tyre.
Following his racing career he became a road racing world championship director and travelled the world to Grand Prix meetings taking responsibility for the technical aspects of racing and its development.
Jack Findlay showed what can be achieved if you have a dream and take risks and be prepared to work hard to achieve the results you desire. The City of Greater Shepparton can be justly proud of Jack Findlay who took on the world and succeeded against all odds. He was not able to return to live in Australia due to his commitment to his sport.
Jack died in France on 19th May 2007.
Jack was born Cyril John Findlay in Mooroopna on 5th February 1935 and grew up living in Northgate Street Mooroopna. He fell in love with motorcycle racing during his boyhood and set his sights as a professional motor cycle racer. At 15 years of age he used his father’s driver’s licence to gain his motorcycle competition licence. His father’s name “Jack” has been with him ever since.
Re raced motorcycles in his youth and loved the sport. By the time he reached 23 years of age he followed his dream to compete internationally and took a ship to England.
Life in England was hard but Jack never faltered in his pursuit and gradually edged towards becoming an established name on the racing circuits of Europe. He was proud to race as an Australian and had the image of a kangaroo emblazoned on his racing helmet.
His brilliance started to bring results and he won three 500cc. Grand Prix events in Austria, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
He rode as a privateer against the might of the factory teams but his talent and dogged persistence saw this Mooroopna man competing against the best in the world.
1963 was a wonderful year for Jack as he won a total of 11 international races including a win on the full LeMans circuit. He twice won the title of best privateer in the world championships – in 1966 and 1968. Jack was 3rd in the world 500cc championship in 1966, 2nd in the 68 championship and 4th in the same event in 1970 and 1971. Jack had cemented his place as a world class rider, and was top privateer in the world for 15 incredible years. In 1973 he became the only Australian rider to have won the Isle of Man senior TT event. He won the F.I.M Formula 750 prize in 1975.
His success brought him fame and the movie Continental circus featured Jack Findlay as himself in a film about the extremes of Grand Prix racing. He became a test rider for the Michelin Company and played a key role in the development of their radial tyre.
Following his racing career he became a road racing world championship director and travelled the world to Grand Prix meetings taking responsibility for the technical aspects of racing and its development.
Jack Findlay showed what can be achieved if you have a dream and take risks and be prepared to work hard to achieve the results you desire. The City of Greater Shepparton can be justly proud of Jack Findlay who took on the world and succeeded against all odds. He was not able to return to live in Australia due to his commitment to his sport.
Jack died in France on 19th May 2007.
VICTOR PALOMO - Yamaha 350 cc 1975
Born in Barcelona in 1948, Víctor Palomo was a pioneer in the motor racing world in Catalunya in the 1960, along with his two-year elder brother José Ma Palomo. They were the sons of Víctor Palomo Monegal, the Saab importer who also owned Subway, a famous sportscar dealership located in Barcelona downtown.
Víctor Palomo obtained a degree in Law in 1971 and that same year he gave up water-skiing (he was a Champion Water-Skier) to concentrate on motorcycle racing. He raced an Ossa Enduro in off-road races before switching to road racing with a 750 cm3 Norton Commando.
In July 1972 took part in the Barcelona 24 Hour race, sharing with "Petrus" Millet the Norton entered by the Spanish Norton importer, Challenge Motors - retired after nine hours. Palomo later joined team Gus Kuhn Norton, competing in the UK and Europe. He soon made his debut in the World Motorcycle Championship. Riding a Yamaha 250 cm3, he finished seventh in the 1972 Spanish Grand Prix at Parque Montjuïc, the first of his 30 Grand Prix starts.
His first Grand Prix podium came in 1973, when Palomo took a fine second place at Hockenheim in the German Grand Prix 350 cm3 riding his Yamaha, behind the winner, Teuvo Lansivouri. And on 20 May of that same year, he was among the riders involved in the tragic accident that took the lives of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini, during the ill-fated Gran Premio delle Nazioni at Monza.
In 1974 Víctor Palomo achieved his first victory in the Spanish Grand Prix at his home track, Parque Montjuïc with his 350 cm3 Yamaha. The next year he rode Eric Offenstadt's revolutionary monocoque SMAC-Yamaha bikes, competing in both the 250 and 350 cm3 classes and also in the Formula 750 series, earning several podium finishes and numerous mechanical problems.
Finally, in 1976 he was the winner of the 750 cm3 FIM Cup. After starting with Freddy Swaep's team, midway through the season they separated and Palomo joined French team Sonauto. Riding their Yamaha TZ750, he managed to win on aggregate time, despite not winning a single heat, the final three races at Silverstone, Assen and Hockenheim. He grabbed the Formula 750 European Championship, just two points ahead of the Kawasaki KR750 of the American Gary Nixon, who would have been the champion, but a controversial ruling by the world governing body trumped achievement.
During that same season, Palomo finished sixth in the 350 cm3 class, which became his best placing in the World Motorcycle Championship. Unfortunately, in 1977 he suffered a more than 200 km/h (124 mi/h) crash during practice for the non-championship Moto Journal 200 event at Le Castellet, which caused serious spinal injuries.
During his career Palomo sustained several other accidents, some of them really serious. During the 1979 Montjuïc 24 Hours, he crashed at about 190 km/h (118 mi/h) in front of the stadium into another rider's motorcycle, fallen in the middle of the track. His leg was badly shattered and after undergoing operations and a long convalescence, he was disabled in the right leg, not returning to racing until the autumn of 1981. Owing to another accident during the 1982 Yugoslavian Grand Prix at the Automotodrom Grobnik, he retired from active racing, moving to Ibiza where he lived for the rest of his life.
Víctor Palomo died on Monday, 11 February 1985 in the Hospital General Alvarez de Cast in Gerona, Spain, in diabetic coma, due to heart and liver failure. He was suffering from diabetes and needed daily doses of insulin; according to his family members sadly he fell victim of an addition to pain killers, which he began to take to cope with the pain resulting from many fractures incurred in his racing crashes and these two factors combined led him to a terribly premature death at the age of just thirty-six.
Victor Palomo riding his Yamaha TZ750, during the 200 Miglia held at Imola on 03 April 1977.
Born in Barcelona in 1948, Víctor Palomo was a pioneer in the motor racing world in Catalunya in the 1960, along with his two-year elder brother José Ma Palomo. They were the sons of Víctor Palomo Monegal, the Saab importer who also owned Subway, a famous sportscar dealership located in Barcelona downtown.
Víctor Palomo obtained a degree in Law in 1971 and that same year he gave up water-skiing (he was a Champion Water-Skier) to concentrate on motorcycle racing. He raced an Ossa Enduro in off-road races before switching to road racing with a 750 cm3 Norton Commando.
In July 1972 took part in the Barcelona 24 Hour race, sharing with "Petrus" Millet the Norton entered by the Spanish Norton importer, Challenge Motors - retired after nine hours. Palomo later joined team Gus Kuhn Norton, competing in the UK and Europe. He soon made his debut in the World Motorcycle Championship. Riding a Yamaha 250 cm3, he finished seventh in the 1972 Spanish Grand Prix at Parque Montjuïc, the first of his 30 Grand Prix starts.
His first Grand Prix podium came in 1973, when Palomo took a fine second place at Hockenheim in the German Grand Prix 350 cm3 riding his Yamaha, behind the winner, Teuvo Lansivouri. And on 20 May of that same year, he was among the riders involved in the tragic accident that took the lives of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini, during the ill-fated Gran Premio delle Nazioni at Monza.
In 1974 Víctor Palomo achieved his first victory in the Spanish Grand Prix at his home track, Parque Montjuïc with his 350 cm3 Yamaha. The next year he rode Eric Offenstadt's revolutionary monocoque SMAC-Yamaha bikes, competing in both the 250 and 350 cm3 classes and also in the Formula 750 series, earning several podium finishes and numerous mechanical problems.
Finally, in 1976 he was the winner of the 750 cm3 FIM Cup. After starting with Freddy Swaep's team, midway through the season they separated and Palomo joined French team Sonauto. Riding their Yamaha TZ750, he managed to win on aggregate time, despite not winning a single heat, the final three races at Silverstone, Assen and Hockenheim. He grabbed the Formula 750 European Championship, just two points ahead of the Kawasaki KR750 of the American Gary Nixon, who would have been the champion, but a controversial ruling by the world governing body trumped achievement.
During that same season, Palomo finished sixth in the 350 cm3 class, which became his best placing in the World Motorcycle Championship. Unfortunately, in 1977 he suffered a more than 200 km/h (124 mi/h) crash during practice for the non-championship Moto Journal 200 event at Le Castellet, which caused serious spinal injuries.
During his career Palomo sustained several other accidents, some of them really serious. During the 1979 Montjuïc 24 Hours, he crashed at about 190 km/h (118 mi/h) in front of the stadium into another rider's motorcycle, fallen in the middle of the track. His leg was badly shattered and after undergoing operations and a long convalescence, he was disabled in the right leg, not returning to racing until the autumn of 1981. Owing to another accident during the 1982 Yugoslavian Grand Prix at the Automotodrom Grobnik, he retired from active racing, moving to Ibiza where he lived for the rest of his life.
Víctor Palomo died on Monday, 11 February 1985 in the Hospital General Alvarez de Cast in Gerona, Spain, in diabetic coma, due to heart and liver failure. He was suffering from diabetes and needed daily doses of insulin; according to his family members sadly he fell victim of an addition to pain killers, which he began to take to cope with the pain resulting from many fractures incurred in his racing crashes and these two factors combined led him to a terribly premature death at the age of just thirty-six.
Victor Palomo riding his Yamaha TZ750, during the 200 Miglia held at Imola on 03 April 1977.
…Back in the day…enjoyed watching them both.
The Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts wheelie show.
Laguna Seca 1983
Laguna Seca 1983
Mike Hailwood on Honda-6 RC174 - he lapped the whole field on his way to his 2nd 350cc title, 1967 Sachsenring.
Craig and Dave Hallam (Father and Son) - both TT Winners (sidecar).
Dave died in 2021 aged 74.
Craig died suddenly last year aged only 51.
Their shop in Earl Shilton - closed a few years ago.
Dave died in 2021 aged 74.
Craig died suddenly last year aged only 51.
Their shop in Earl Shilton - closed a few years ago.
