Kevin Schwantz
How it used to be in’t olden days of racing... 🏍️ 🚗 💨
- Thread starter Exige
- Start date
Barry Sheene and Paul Smart on their Suzuki RG500's before the John Player Grand Prix at
Silverstone in 1976.
Silverstone in 1976.
Paul Lewis on a Skoal Bandit Heron Suzuki 500
Marco Luccinelli
Kevin Schwantz 1989 GP500cc Phillip Island.
Pepsi Suzuki RGV500
Pepsi Suzuki RGV500
Mick Grant - Honda NR500
First competed in the TT in 1970 finishing 18th on a Yamaha. His first rostrum places came in 1972 with third in the Junior and Senior on a Yamaha and Kawasaki respectively.
The first of his seven TT victories came in the 1974 Production 750cc Race, blowing away the opposition to take a magnificent win on his Triumph. Grant rewrote the record books in 1975 when he smashed Mike Hailwood’s eight year old lap record. He waited until the second lap of the final race of the week - the six lap Classic - and blitzed round at 109.82mph. The race ended in retirement for Grant but there was consolation in the new lap record and his win earlier in the week in the Senior Race.
Altogether Grant won two Seniors, two Classics and one TT Formula 1 before notching up his final win - the 1985 Production 750cc race.
First competed in the TT in 1970 finishing 18th on a Yamaha. His first rostrum places came in 1972 with third in the Junior and Senior on a Yamaha and Kawasaki respectively.
The first of his seven TT victories came in the 1974 Production 750cc Race, blowing away the opposition to take a magnificent win on his Triumph. Grant rewrote the record books in 1975 when he smashed Mike Hailwood’s eight year old lap record. He waited until the second lap of the final race of the week - the six lap Classic - and blitzed round at 109.82mph. The race ended in retirement for Grant but there was consolation in the new lap record and his win earlier in the week in the Senior Race.
Altogether Grant won two Seniors, two Classics and one TT Formula 1 before notching up his final win - the 1985 Production 750cc race.
Gene Romero, Barry Sheene, and Gary Nixon
Sadly, now all gone to the paddock in the sky.
Transatlantic 1974.
Sadly, now all gone to the paddock in the sky.
Transatlantic 1974.
Dave Potter
Originally from Hovingham in Yorkshire, Potter’s career got underway at Croft late in the 1969 season on a 500cc BSA, with his first wins coming the next year when he raced a 750cc Dunstall Norton. However, he was persuaded to move south, where he started working for Paul Dunstall and he soon struck a partnership with Vincent Davey of Gus Kuhn.
Riding the Kuhn Norton, Potter took the Lord of Lydden title in both 1971 and 1972 and it was in the latter where he really came to the fore on the British scene, winning the ACU British Championship. He also took sixth in that year’s MCN Superbike Championship with his best results being fourth at Mallory and on two occasions at Brands Hatch, whilst his efforts meant Kuhn picked up the dealer award.
Such was his progression, he was soon a member of the annual Anglo-American match races with his debut year, 1973, seeing him not only be the second-highest British scorer, and finish fifth overall, but also secure his first win when he took the chequered flag at Brands.
In 1974, Dave moved camp and had a short association with Willie Ryan, helping develop the 500 Crescent machine, and although it was relatively unsuccessful, he did enjoy good fortunes in the flourishing Production class with a win at Brands and a fourth at Silverstone. Partnering Gary Green on a 750cc Triumph, he also took second in the Thruxton 400-mile race and a good seventh in the Barcelona 24-Hour race held around the twists and turns of Montjuich Park.
However, it was in the following season, 1975, where Dave got his real break and the one that everyone most remembers him for as he stepped into the shoes vacated by Barry Ditchburn to receive sponsorship from one of the best backers in the country – Ted Broad.
It was a partnership that would reap countless rewards and continue right until the very end. Broad, who had his own motorcycle business and was renowned for his brilliant engineering, had already drawn up a shortlist of riders to replace Ditchburn but Dave beat him to the draw, asking if there was any chance of a ride! Ted was reluctant at first due to his long friendship with Ryan but he supported the idea and the deal was done.
Suffering from a bad head cold, he plugged his nostrils with cotton wool before the race, only to swallow them and he coughed and spluttered his way through the second leg. But with sixth and fourth places in the two legs, he more than deserved his fourth place overall behind the illustrious trio of Johnny Cecotto, Patrick Pons and Steve Baker. Such was the severity of Dave’s illness though he had to spend two weeks in hospital with pneumonia afterwards.
Back to full health, he was also successful in some of the home Internationals with third at Scarborough, fifth at Brands and Mallory and sixth at Snetterton.
Continuing with Green in Endurance racing, albeit now on a 900cc BMW, he took second in the 1000 kms of Le Mans and fifth at the Barcelona 24-Hour.
Having already established himself as a solid, consistent performer – and arguably the best privateer in the country – 1977 saw Dave make real strides forward and challenge regularly for race wins, particularly in the MCN Superbike Championship.
Sheene and Grant were the men to beat, along with new Suzuki signing Pat Hennen, but Dave ensured he was part of the equation and ended the year with five podiums from 10 rounds, just 13 points behind second-placed Grant compared to the 110-point gap the year before.
Brands, Scarborough, Cadwell and Mallory were the circuits where Dave got to stand on the rostrum and it was a season of some controversy with Potter, Sheene, Grant, Hennen, Ditchburn and Steve Parrish boycotting the opening round at Brands after a disagreement over tyres. It was the only round held under a national permit and with slicks disallowed the leading contenders felt it wasn’t safe to ride on patterned tyres.
He only contested the TT once, retiring the 500cc Crescent machine from the 1974 Senior, but 1977 saw him perform strongly at the North West and Ulster. Riding the TZ 750cc Yamaha, he took a solid sixth in the opening Superbike race at the NW200, where he was making his debut, but performed better still at the Ulster, riding brilliantly in the 1000cc race to finish third, only beaten by Dundrod experts John Williams and Tony Rutter.
The 1981 season started well for Dave as he got the defence of his Superbike title underway in fine style at Cadwell with first and third places, whilst he then took a win at Oulton in the Transatlantic trophy, finishing second overall in the points to team-mate John Newbold.
However, a dispute over start money led Dave and BP Broad Yamaha to miss the second Superbike round at Donington and things went from bad to worse at round three at Snetterton when he crashed and hurt his arm. Sandwiched in between though was a career-best sixth in the 500cc Dutch Grand Prix, plus two seconds behind Graeme Crosby in the ShellSport 500cc series.
Despite being late August, Oulton would host the fourth round of the Superbike Championship and although he was 40 points behind the pace-setting Wayne Gardner, there were still seven races to go and Dave hadn’t given up hope of making it three titles in a row.
That could be seen in the opening race, which he won in fine style from Haslam and Graham Wood, and he was leading the second and looking good to claim back further ground when tragedy struck with just one lap to go.
Dave crashed out at Cascades and although it was a relatively straightforward spill, he slid into an unprotected Armco barrier suffering severe head injuries.
Taken to Chester Royal Infirmary and then transferred to Stoke Mandeville, Dave never regained consciousness and passed away 17 days later. He was 31 years old.
Ironically, the circuit organisers immediately placed some bales in front of the Armco before the remaining races, but it was too late for Dave and his death cast a huge shadow over the sport and the Superbike Championship in particular, as he had become so synonymous with it over the years.
Haslam went on to clinch the title but his feelings were those felt by many: “I’ve been trying for years to win this title so I’m pleased to have won it now. But without Dave Potter about it just doesn’t seem the same.”
Originally from Hovingham in Yorkshire, Potter’s career got underway at Croft late in the 1969 season on a 500cc BSA, with his first wins coming the next year when he raced a 750cc Dunstall Norton. However, he was persuaded to move south, where he started working for Paul Dunstall and he soon struck a partnership with Vincent Davey of Gus Kuhn.
Riding the Kuhn Norton, Potter took the Lord of Lydden title in both 1971 and 1972 and it was in the latter where he really came to the fore on the British scene, winning the ACU British Championship. He also took sixth in that year’s MCN Superbike Championship with his best results being fourth at Mallory and on two occasions at Brands Hatch, whilst his efforts meant Kuhn picked up the dealer award.
Such was his progression, he was soon a member of the annual Anglo-American match races with his debut year, 1973, seeing him not only be the second-highest British scorer, and finish fifth overall, but also secure his first win when he took the chequered flag at Brands.
In 1974, Dave moved camp and had a short association with Willie Ryan, helping develop the 500 Crescent machine, and although it was relatively unsuccessful, he did enjoy good fortunes in the flourishing Production class with a win at Brands and a fourth at Silverstone. Partnering Gary Green on a 750cc Triumph, he also took second in the Thruxton 400-mile race and a good seventh in the Barcelona 24-Hour race held around the twists and turns of Montjuich Park.
However, it was in the following season, 1975, where Dave got his real break and the one that everyone most remembers him for as he stepped into the shoes vacated by Barry Ditchburn to receive sponsorship from one of the best backers in the country – Ted Broad.
It was a partnership that would reap countless rewards and continue right until the very end. Broad, who had his own motorcycle business and was renowned for his brilliant engineering, had already drawn up a shortlist of riders to replace Ditchburn but Dave beat him to the draw, asking if there was any chance of a ride! Ted was reluctant at first due to his long friendship with Ryan but he supported the idea and the deal was done.
Suffering from a bad head cold, he plugged his nostrils with cotton wool before the race, only to swallow them and he coughed and spluttered his way through the second leg. But with sixth and fourth places in the two legs, he more than deserved his fourth place overall behind the illustrious trio of Johnny Cecotto, Patrick Pons and Steve Baker. Such was the severity of Dave’s illness though he had to spend two weeks in hospital with pneumonia afterwards.
Back to full health, he was also successful in some of the home Internationals with third at Scarborough, fifth at Brands and Mallory and sixth at Snetterton.
Continuing with Green in Endurance racing, albeit now on a 900cc BMW, he took second in the 1000 kms of Le Mans and fifth at the Barcelona 24-Hour.
Having already established himself as a solid, consistent performer – and arguably the best privateer in the country – 1977 saw Dave make real strides forward and challenge regularly for race wins, particularly in the MCN Superbike Championship.
Sheene and Grant were the men to beat, along with new Suzuki signing Pat Hennen, but Dave ensured he was part of the equation and ended the year with five podiums from 10 rounds, just 13 points behind second-placed Grant compared to the 110-point gap the year before.
Brands, Scarborough, Cadwell and Mallory were the circuits where Dave got to stand on the rostrum and it was a season of some controversy with Potter, Sheene, Grant, Hennen, Ditchburn and Steve Parrish boycotting the opening round at Brands after a disagreement over tyres. It was the only round held under a national permit and with slicks disallowed the leading contenders felt it wasn’t safe to ride on patterned tyres.
He only contested the TT once, retiring the 500cc Crescent machine from the 1974 Senior, but 1977 saw him perform strongly at the North West and Ulster. Riding the TZ 750cc Yamaha, he took a solid sixth in the opening Superbike race at the NW200, where he was making his debut, but performed better still at the Ulster, riding brilliantly in the 1000cc race to finish third, only beaten by Dundrod experts John Williams and Tony Rutter.
The 1981 season started well for Dave as he got the defence of his Superbike title underway in fine style at Cadwell with first and third places, whilst he then took a win at Oulton in the Transatlantic trophy, finishing second overall in the points to team-mate John Newbold.
However, a dispute over start money led Dave and BP Broad Yamaha to miss the second Superbike round at Donington and things went from bad to worse at round three at Snetterton when he crashed and hurt his arm. Sandwiched in between though was a career-best sixth in the 500cc Dutch Grand Prix, plus two seconds behind Graeme Crosby in the ShellSport 500cc series.
Despite being late August, Oulton would host the fourth round of the Superbike Championship and although he was 40 points behind the pace-setting Wayne Gardner, there were still seven races to go and Dave hadn’t given up hope of making it three titles in a row.
That could be seen in the opening race, which he won in fine style from Haslam and Graham Wood, and he was leading the second and looking good to claim back further ground when tragedy struck with just one lap to go.
Dave crashed out at Cascades and although it was a relatively straightforward spill, he slid into an unprotected Armco barrier suffering severe head injuries.
Taken to Chester Royal Infirmary and then transferred to Stoke Mandeville, Dave never regained consciousness and passed away 17 days later. He was 31 years old.
Ironically, the circuit organisers immediately placed some bales in front of the Armco before the remaining races, but it was too late for Dave and his death cast a huge shadow over the sport and the Superbike Championship in particular, as he had become so synonymous with it over the years.
Haslam went on to clinch the title but his feelings were those felt by many: “I’ve been trying for years to win this title so I’m pleased to have won it now. But without Dave Potter about it just doesn’t seem the same.”
Steve Baker
Born September 1952. Developed his riding skills in dirt track racing in the Pacific Northwest, then switched to road racing.
Was three times the Canadian national champion, and in 1977 signed with the Yamaha factory team. Riding the YZR750 (0W31), won the Daytona 200 (a 200-mile race) in 1977, and in the same year became the first Formula 750 World Champion.
In 1977, also rode a YZR500 (0W35) in the World GP500. Beat off teammates Giacomo Agostini and Johnny Cecotto for 2nd place.
In 1978, switched to a Suzuki private team. Was ranked 7th in the World GP500 but met with an accident in a local race in Canada. Serious injuries - a broken left leg and arm put an end to his racing career.
Born September 1952. Developed his riding skills in dirt track racing in the Pacific Northwest, then switched to road racing.
Was three times the Canadian national champion, and in 1977 signed with the Yamaha factory team. Riding the YZR750 (0W31), won the Daytona 200 (a 200-mile race) in 1977, and in the same year became the first Formula 750 World Champion.
In 1977, also rode a YZR500 (0W35) in the World GP500. Beat off teammates Giacomo Agostini and Johnny Cecotto for 2nd place.
In 1978, switched to a Suzuki private team. Was ranked 7th in the World GP500 but met with an accident in a local race in Canada. Serious injuries - a broken left leg and arm put an end to his racing career.
28K views · 1.8K reactions | A disastrous and incomprehensible start that fortunately ended only with a mechanic with a broken leg - Year 1981 - Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder | A disastrous and incomprehensible start that fortunately ended only with a
A disastrous and incomprehensible start that fortunately ended only with a mechanic with a broken leg - Year 1981 - Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder
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