How it used to be in’t olden days of racing... 🏍️ 🚗 💨
- Thread starter Exige
- Start date
A good few years ago I came round that corner on my K5, nearly high sided myself!!
It’s always damp there!
I carried on as if nothing happened, I could hear everyone clapping and laughing, bastards!!!
Randy Mamola on the Cagiva 500
1976 Barry and Frank Sheene - Suzuki RG 500 XR14
The characteristic feature of the 1974-75 XR14s was its peaky, short-stroke engine but from 1976 onwards they became the 54x54 mm.
The engine now delivered 114 hp at 11,000 rpm with a curb weight of 132 kg.
Even the chassis was modified and lost 8 kg.
The rear shock absorbers were moved forward and now the pivot of the swing arm was in front of the rear wheel axle.(from the book:"Suzuki RG 500 The Racing Myth")
The characteristic feature of the 1974-75 XR14s was its peaky, short-stroke engine but from 1976 onwards they became the 54x54 mm.
The engine now delivered 114 hp at 11,000 rpm with a curb weight of 132 kg.
Even the chassis was modified and lost 8 kg.
The rear shock absorbers were moved forward and now the pivot of the swing arm was in front of the rear wheel axle.(from the book:"Suzuki RG 500 The Racing Myth")
AnonymousUser1
Elite Member
AnonymousUser1
Elite Member
Honda 250/6 RC166 - TT 1967
Steve Hislop- tragically killed aged 41, whilst piloting a helicopter (Robinson R44) near Hawick in2003.
Eleven times TT Winner and first rider to lap at over 120mph - His first win came in the 1987 TT Formula 2 Race on a Yamaha.
Eleven times TT Winner and first rider to lap at over 120mph - His first win came in the 1987 TT Formula 2 Race on a Yamaha.
Spa-Francorchamps 1982
The start line of the 1988 North West 200, with Foggy on a Honda RS250 and you can already see that legendary steely determination in his eyes.
Late, great Tony Rutter amidst TT and Pantah racers that he and Pat Slinn made world famous
One of the finest Isle of Man TT racers of his generation, Rutter began his TT career in 1965 and would go on to amass 20 podiums and 7 victories around the TT Mountain Course.
Born in 1941, Rutter started racing at the age of 20 and graduated to the TT aged 23 when he contested the Junior Race and finished 46th.
The Brierley Hill rider soon climbed up the leader-board, placing 13th and 14th in the Junior Races of 1968 and 1969 respectively before taking his first major result in 1970 when he placed fifth in the same race.
A first podium came in 1972 when he finished second to the great Giacomo Agostini in the Junior Race, which was also the first of his five World Championship podiums.
The following year saw Rutter make the step up to the top of the podium, claiming his maiden TT win in the Junior Race when riding a 350cc Yamaha backed by Bob Priest, a Stourbridge businessman who had been a loyal supporter of Rutter since 1969.
It kick-started a superb run of success and, along with the likes of Charlie Williams, Mick Grant and John Williams, made Rutter one of the best British riders of the 1970s – not just at the TT but at short circuits across the UK.
A second TT victory on the Priest Yamaha came in the 1974 Junior Race, a year when he also took podiums in the Senior and Formula 750cc Races. Three more podiums came in 1976 when he finished second in the Junior and Production Races and third in the Classic Race.
Out of luck in 1977 when he had no less than four retirements, the following year was also lean as a rare crash in practice lead to a broken leg. But Rutter was back in 1979, finishing second to Mike Hailwood in the Senior Race and setting his fastest ever lap of the TT Mountain Course at an average speed of 112.32mph while riding a Suzuki RG500.
1981 saw Rutter claim the first of four famous Formula Two TT wins with Ducati, with the second coming twelve months later. Indeed, 1982 was a superb year on the Island with another victory coming in the 350cc Race and a third place finish in the Classic Race.
Despite being a more senior racer at this stage of his career, Rutter was still a major force to be reckoned with at the TT and two further Formula Two wins came in 1983 and 1985.
But 1985 would be the last of his seven TT victories as, a little over a month later, he was involved in a multi-rider crash at Montjuic circuit, Spain that almost cost him his life. He recovered enough to ride again, returning to the TT in 1987, and although the injuries sustained meant he couldn’t reach his previous heights, Rutter did take 12th place in the 1989 Supersport 400cc Race.
By then, his son Michael had begun his own road racing career and Tony would remain in the paddock for many years to come as he nurtured Michael’s considerable talents which, to date, have seen him match his father’s achievement of 7 TT wins.
In total, Tony Rutter competed in 83 TT Races, finishing 51 and winning no less than 33 Silver Replicas. His 7 wins and 20 podiums cement him as one of the greatest ever TT racers.
Elsewhere, Rutter recorded five victories at the Ulster Grand Prix and nine wins at the North West 200, which included the only ever dead-heat when he shared the 1977 350cc victory with Ray McCullough.
He was also twice British Champion, winning the 1971 350cc and 1973 250cc titles, and contested the World Endurance Championship for Honda Britain.
He died peacefully in 2020 at the age of 78.
One of the finest Isle of Man TT racers of his generation, Rutter began his TT career in 1965 and would go on to amass 20 podiums and 7 victories around the TT Mountain Course.
Born in 1941, Rutter started racing at the age of 20 and graduated to the TT aged 23 when he contested the Junior Race and finished 46th.
The Brierley Hill rider soon climbed up the leader-board, placing 13th and 14th in the Junior Races of 1968 and 1969 respectively before taking his first major result in 1970 when he placed fifth in the same race.
A first podium came in 1972 when he finished second to the great Giacomo Agostini in the Junior Race, which was also the first of his five World Championship podiums.
The following year saw Rutter make the step up to the top of the podium, claiming his maiden TT win in the Junior Race when riding a 350cc Yamaha backed by Bob Priest, a Stourbridge businessman who had been a loyal supporter of Rutter since 1969.
It kick-started a superb run of success and, along with the likes of Charlie Williams, Mick Grant and John Williams, made Rutter one of the best British riders of the 1970s – not just at the TT but at short circuits across the UK.
A second TT victory on the Priest Yamaha came in the 1974 Junior Race, a year when he also took podiums in the Senior and Formula 750cc Races. Three more podiums came in 1976 when he finished second in the Junior and Production Races and third in the Classic Race.
Out of luck in 1977 when he had no less than four retirements, the following year was also lean as a rare crash in practice lead to a broken leg. But Rutter was back in 1979, finishing second to Mike Hailwood in the Senior Race and setting his fastest ever lap of the TT Mountain Course at an average speed of 112.32mph while riding a Suzuki RG500.
1981 saw Rutter claim the first of four famous Formula Two TT wins with Ducati, with the second coming twelve months later. Indeed, 1982 was a superb year on the Island with another victory coming in the 350cc Race and a third place finish in the Classic Race.
Despite being a more senior racer at this stage of his career, Rutter was still a major force to be reckoned with at the TT and two further Formula Two wins came in 1983 and 1985.
But 1985 would be the last of his seven TT victories as, a little over a month later, he was involved in a multi-rider crash at Montjuic circuit, Spain that almost cost him his life. He recovered enough to ride again, returning to the TT in 1987, and although the injuries sustained meant he couldn’t reach his previous heights, Rutter did take 12th place in the 1989 Supersport 400cc Race.
By then, his son Michael had begun his own road racing career and Tony would remain in the paddock for many years to come as he nurtured Michael’s considerable talents which, to date, have seen him match his father’s achievement of 7 TT wins.
In total, Tony Rutter competed in 83 TT Races, finishing 51 and winning no less than 33 Silver Replicas. His 7 wins and 20 podiums cement him as one of the greatest ever TT racers.
Elsewhere, Rutter recorded five victories at the Ulster Grand Prix and nine wins at the North West 200, which included the only ever dead-heat when he shared the 1977 350cc victory with Ray McCullough.
He was also twice British Champion, winning the 1971 350cc and 1973 250cc titles, and contested the World Endurance Championship for Honda Britain.
He died peacefully in 2020 at the age of 78.
Ray Pickrell aboard Slippery Sam at the 1971 Isle of Man TT having borrowed Percy Tait’s helmet
Ago and Bill Ivy
Ago, Hailwood, Read and Ivy
Bill Ivy 1942-1969
Born August 1942. Infatuated with motorcycles since childhood, and as soon as he could leave school took a job as a mechanic at a local dealership. From the age of 16, developed an interest in amateur racing, and in 1959 made his official race debut in the big event that was Brands Hatch. Immediately got a third in the 50cc class. Then in 1962, raced (DNF) in the newly established 50cc class in the Isle of Man TT World GP. The following year notched up a 7th place. Because he was quite small at 157cm and weighing just 50kg, he had a hard time even in the 125cc class, but determined efforts in the 350cc and 500cc classes subsequently enabled him to overcome his lack of physical strength and perceptual limitations. Joined the Yamaha team from the 1965 Isle of Man TT.
In 1966, when he became a regular in the Yamaha team, his latent talents suddenly blossomed. In that year he won four victories in the 125cc class and was ranked number two. In 1967, took the title with a commanding performance that resulted in eight victories and two seconds out of 12 races in the 125cc class. However, during the 350cc official practice in the 1969 East German GP (after switching to Jawa), he crashed due to engine trouble, sustained serious head injuries, and died at the early age of 26.
@teamobsolete - the Tom Kirby Racing ultra short stroke AJS 7R of Bill Ivy/ Paddy Driver
Ago, Hailwood, Read and Ivy
Bill Ivy 1942-1969
Born August 1942. Infatuated with motorcycles since childhood, and as soon as he could leave school took a job as a mechanic at a local dealership. From the age of 16, developed an interest in amateur racing, and in 1959 made his official race debut in the big event that was Brands Hatch. Immediately got a third in the 50cc class. Then in 1962, raced (DNF) in the newly established 50cc class in the Isle of Man TT World GP. The following year notched up a 7th place. Because he was quite small at 157cm and weighing just 50kg, he had a hard time even in the 125cc class, but determined efforts in the 350cc and 500cc classes subsequently enabled him to overcome his lack of physical strength and perceptual limitations. Joined the Yamaha team from the 1965 Isle of Man TT.
In 1966, when he became a regular in the Yamaha team, his latent talents suddenly blossomed. In that year he won four victories in the 125cc class and was ranked number two. In 1967, took the title with a commanding performance that resulted in eight victories and two seconds out of 12 races in the 125cc class. However, during the 350cc official practice in the 1969 East German GP (after switching to Jawa), he crashed due to engine trouble, sustained serious head injuries, and died at the early age of 26.
@teamobsolete - the Tom Kirby Racing ultra short stroke AJS 7R of Bill Ivy/ Paddy Driver
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