Classic Racer July/August 2017

M

KORK'SKR500 EUGENIO LAZZARINI HO OW TO FIND THE PODIUM

WIITH SPECIAL METALS AND NOT MUCH WEIGHT

FROM BENELLI TO MAICO AND MBA TO KREIDLER

#186

www.classicracer.com where legends live on...

PLUS:

ENDURANCE LEGENDS BACK TO THE GREAT DAYS WITH A PARTY AT DONINGTON

TZ750BRUTAL BRILLIANCE

www.classicracer.com

OFFICIAL PARTNER

FROM A TIME WHEN THE BIKES BIT BACK

BO OBMAC'S 10 00mphlap THE E DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED ON THE MOUNTAIN COURSE

1974's500GP IMATRA! BONERA SPOILS TEPI'S PARTY

2 ClassicRacer

WHAT’SINSIDE 006

Archive opener

One from our archive that not only shows a great rider doing what made him great, but also the folly of the watching crowd, who choose the wrong direction in which to spectate.

008

Paddock Gossip

Malcolm’s been out and about in various corners of various paddocks gathering the where, the what and the why over the past few weeks.

016

Readers Write

Or, more accurately, your thoughts and missives on the biggest topics of the past month in the classic racing world.

020

Line Art

The first in an extensive series of line drawings featuring the most iconic racing motorcycles ever made. And to kick things off, we have a specific Honda that was once sat underneath Freddie Spencer.

022

Legend: Jay Springsteen

The story of a man who defined a generation and took what he had on hard-pack dirt and managed to find form on Tarmac, too. For a career that spans four decades, it’s quite a tale to tell. Told here.

032

Technical: Kork’s KR500

How exotic materials and sheer bloody-mindedness took a bike and turned it into something (comparatively) unique.

040

Eugenio Lazzarini

How a small Italian man made his way in the crazy and competitive world of small capacity Grand Prix racing. Tough as a boiled boot, these lads.

052

Potts McIntyre: Part One

Combine Bob Mac with a bespoke, somewhat single-minded plan to make a fast Norton and you’ve got a brilliant story from a time when the bravest souls made the biggest gains.

058

Grand Prix 1974! Imatra

Tepi was on home soil and still in with a shot at the 500cc title.

All he had to do was to beat Phil Read (and not crash in the 350cc race).

064

Bob Mac’s 100mph lap

Today we do the ton. It’s that moment where the first – and some would say most significant – major milestone of the Isle of Man was delivered. From behind a dustbin fairing.

066

TZ750 flat tracker: Brutal

Going fast, sideways on dirt, was long the preserve of the likes of Springsteen and, for a while, K Roberts esq. Terry Stevenson takes a look at the motorcycles that made men of men.

074

On Track

Donington played host to the Endurance Legends, ICGP and Lansdowne races and BHR made its way out twice while Mallory and Pembrey saw CRMC action. It has been a very busy few weeks for the racers this racing issue.

JULY/AUGUST2017 ISSUE186 EDITOR Tony Carter tcarter@mortons.co.uk

Kieron Deekens 01507 529576 kdeekens@mortons.co.uk

PUBLISHER Tim Hartley thartley@mortons.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Paul Deacon

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Rayond Ainscoe, Graham Lawlor, Russ Lee, Mike Yiend, Mike Ofield, Norm DeWitt, Alan Cathcart, Mark McCloskey,Terry Stevenson, Jan Burgers, Len Hartley, Malc Wheeler

CIRCULATION MANAGER Steven O’Hara

PRODUCTION EDITORS Sarah Wilkinson Sarah Palmer SENIOR DESIGNER Kelvin Clements DESIGNERS Michael Baumber Libby Fincham PICTURE DESK Paul Fincham Jonathan Schofield DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Sue Keily ADVERTISING Leon Currie 01507 529413 lcurrie@mortons.co.uk

MARKETING MANAGER Charlotte Park PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Nigel Hole EDITORIAL ADDRESS Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR UK WEBSITE www.classicracer.com GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES 01507 529529 24hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Jane Skayman 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk

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CLASSIC RACER ARCHIVE

CORNER: Strubben // YEAR: 1977 // TRACK: Assen // Steve Baker makes sure the Yamaha 750 is inch-perfect Steve Baker makes going this fast almost effortless during his hunt for the F-750 crown in 1977.

While the crowd seem all to be more interested in what’s coming their way, Baker’s precise, inch-perfect line of attack on Dutch soil paid dividends.

This was the first year that the 750 formula was upgraded from a FIM ‘prize’ event to a pukka world championship and Baker will be forever immortalised in the annals of history as the first king of those big bikes.

In 1976 the FIM annual congress, the Technical Commission, reviewed the series for the second time.The conclusion it came to was that the motorcycles were too powerful for both the riders and the equipment that could be fitted to the bikes of the time.

Even the ability of the tyres to simply last a whole race was called into question.

Indeed, the Daytona 200 looked like being so far from what could be achieved on the big bike formula that in 1977 the event was split into two 100-mile races.That decision was taken partly over fears that the weather was going to be too poor to do such a distance and that, even if the predicted heavy rains did hold off, the tyres would be torn to shreds by the bikes anyway.

As it turned out, the weather did turn sour (so much so that the second 100-mile race was cancelled due to heavy rain) but there was the first 100-mile outing, which saw Baker deliver good on his pre-race promise by winning from Kenny Roberts by a huge 28 seconds.Takazumi Katayama was third during that first Daytona race.

The year was packed with incident and theYamahas were king (at Imola 39 Yamahas were entered against just three Kawasakis) but nobody got close to Steve.

By the time the championship turned up to the final race at Hockenheim, Baker was already King, 76 points ahead of second-placed Christian Sarron.

This moment in time, captured by Nick, sums up Steve Baker’s 1977 year perfectly.

Out on his own and pushing hard and perfectly on the racing line.

Nice spectacles, too.

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Picture: Mortons Media Archive / Nick Nicholls

ClassicRacer 7

REGULAR PADDOCK GOSSIP

PaddockGossip Compiled by Malc Wheeler // Send your classic racing news to:

mwheeler@mortons.co.uk

TT wheelchair challenge The son of an Isle of Man TT racer is bidding to make his mark on the legendary Mountain course, by pushing a speciallyadapted wheelchair.

Graham Inchley, from Andover, intends to cover the equivalent distance of the TT course, 37.73 miles, within eight hours on July 22, to raise money for the Joey Dunlop Foundation.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is supporting his challenge by covering the cost of travel for Graham, his support team and his equipment.

Graham’s planned route will see him depart from the TT Grandstand and head down Bray Hill, before turning off at Quarterbridge towards Castletown. There he will complete a lap of the Billown circuit, where both his father and Joey were race winners. The challenge will then head north to cover several sections of the TT Mountain course, finishing at the Grandstand at around 6pm.

Volunteers will take to the special endurance wheelchair during the journey, with Graham pushing all the way. He already has experience of the challenges ahead as in 2014 he set a world record for pushing an occupied wheelchair, completing a distance of 100.41 miles in 24 hours.

The idea for the Isle of Man marathon came after Graham visited the Island last year to take part in the Classic Racer Lap of Honour during the Festival of Motorcycling. Graham rode the Villiers Starmaker Special that his father Peter had raced to a podium finish in the 1966 TT. After a remarkable ride, Peter finished behind the works Hondas of Mike Hailwood and Stuart Graham in the 250cc race at an average race speed of more than 91mph. Sadly Graham’s ride on the same bike, 50 years later, wasn’t quite as successful.

“Unfortunately, the ignition packed up between Quarterbridge and Braddan

Graham’s father Peter during TT practice in 1966.

NMM raffle results The lucky winners of the National Motorcycle Museum winter raffle were drawn byTroy Bayliss at the Classic MotorCycle Show at Stafford in April.

The winner of the brandnewTriumphThruxton R was Roger Ward from

8 ClassicRacer

Worksop.The runner-up was Peter Baldasera from Newcastle onTyne, who won a 1954 AJS Model 18, and the third prize, a luxury classic weekend hotel break for two, was won

by Paul Wright from Ipswich.

Graham Inchley and daughter Isla with the endurance wheelchair he will use in his TT course bid.

Bridge”, Graham explained. “This was terribly disappointing, but I was made more comfortable by the fantastic people from the Joey Dunlop Foundation whose building is just behind the marshal post.

“They offered me a beer and good company during the last race of the day, which I watched from the balcony. It was soon obvious to me that breaking down here had happened for a reason.”

The Joey Dunlop Foundation, fo ormed in 2001 to honour 26-times TT winner Joey, offers accessible holiday accommodation on the Island, at Braddan Bridge House, to people of all ages with special re equirements. Demand for the specialised accommodation has le ed to additional apartments being built, which have just been completed.

Graham continued: “The facility the Foundation provides is excellent and is a cause which deserves support. The occupied endurance wheelchair push, around the Isle of Man, which will cover the equivalent distance of a full lap of the TT course, should raise awareness of the Foundation and money to support its important work.”

Fundraising is already well under way and you can support Graham by donating at www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ Graham-Inchley-Joey-DunlopFoundation-Wheelchair-Push Steam Packet Company chief executive Mark Woodward said: “Graham is taking on a considerable challenge to raise money for the Joey Dunlop Foundation, a cause we have supported for many years, and we are pleased to be able to help by covering travel costs.”

BSA SUMMER DRAW The National Motorcycle Museum’s summer raffle is set to be a BSA extravaganza, with a first prize of a 1960 500cc BSA Gold Star DBD34 Clubman. The runner-up will receive a 1955 BSA C11G,

and third, a luxury classic weekend hotel break for two.

The draw will take place on Saturday, November 4, at the National Motorcycle Museum LIVE event. Tickets cost £2 each and are

being distributed during May/June via subscription copies of the specialist press.

Tickets may also be obtained via the museum on (01675) 444123 or ordered securely online from www.thenmm.co.uk

Watching

You can feel the atmosphere as Italian Giacomo Agostini pushes off fff on his MV alongside Liverpool’s Keith Heckles (Nort rton) t to start rtt the 1969 Senior TT.

KEITH HECKLES TRIBUTE Both sons of the late Keith Heckles will return to the Isle of Man to ride in the Classic Racer Lap of Honour at this year’s Classic TT and Festival of Motorcycling in August, as a tribute to their father.

Mark Heckles, who had a successful race career in the UK and Europe, including

World Super Bike, returns from the USA where he now lives and still races, and will ride his father’s distinctive Beart Norton on which Keith enjoyed so much success.

Paul Heckles will set off alongside his brother on the Norvil Commando which Keith also rode in the Isle of Man TT.

Landmark IoM stamps This four-stamp issue, TT Winners, features Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop, Ian Simpson and Ian Hutchinson, who, between them, have achieved more than 50 TT victories. 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Dunlop’s first win, Hislop’s 30th, Simpson’s 20th and Hutchinson’s 10th.

The stamps, designed by local business Isle of Man Advertising and PR, feature photographs of each rider during the race that they took their first win. The TT Winners stamp issue was released on May 26 to coincide with the start of TT fortnight.

The issue is available inside a four-side presentation pack or on a First Day Cover, postmarked with the first day of issue. Both contain additional photography, including pictures taken by legendary road racing photographer Stephen Davison, and the story of each first win written by David Wright, author of six books about the races and a marshal at both the TT and Manx Grand Prix for two decades. They are available in both mint condition and cancelled to order sets.

Isle of Man Post Office has also produced a highly collectable set of four stamp cards featuring the designs, priced just £2.50.

Maxine Cannon of Isle of Man Stamps and

Coins, said: “We couldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate four important anniversaries falling in the same year. This set is a tribute not only to the achievements of each of these popular racers, but also to the remarkable history of the event, which marks its own 110th anniversary in 2017.”

Ian Hutchinson said: “Winning a TT race is such an incredible feeling, and it is a great honour for my first victory to be featured on a stamp. I’ll never forget the buzz of taking the chequered flag in 2007. To be featured alongside three TT greats has made me really proud.”

Gary Dunlop, Joey’s son, added: “The Jubilee Classic TT, 40 years ago, was the beginning of an incredible success story which saw dad take 26 wins, a record which remains unbroken today. I think it’s brilliant that the Isle of Man Post Office has commemorated his first win like this, it’s a wonderful record of an important day.” TT Winners can be ordered from www. iomstamps.com.

Hello and welcome to this latest issue of Classic Racer – I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

There is change in them there racing worlds. And we’re witnessing what could end up being the start of something pretty special.

I’m talking about our racing world and how it’s starting to be viewed by the wider, less specialist audience.

‘Modern’ classic racing is now, suddenly, being granted the lustful eyes of those who wouldn’t have turned towards such things before. Take two recent racing meetings at the same venue. One weekend saw the Endurance Legends lads hold their big outing at Donington with plenty of interest both on and off-track. Spectators turned up, preevent publicity was high and a very good day was had by a lot of people (James Whitham included – despite the tip-off). You can read more about what happened there in our report which starts on page 74.

There was a genuine buzz about the place.

A real taste for the excitement about to unfurl as various classic machines headed out in comparative anger.

It was good, it was exciting and it had something that a lot of modern racing doesn’t seem to have. The human touch – and accessibility.

Which brings me on to the second race meeting at the Leicestershire circuit a couple of weeks later, World Superbikes.

Now, there’s no denying the skill and pace of the factory machines and the modern racers who race the bikes that make up the WSB world. That’s a given. But the point I’m reaching for here is that, with all the pre-event back-and-forth that I see for both of the above championships, the Endurance Legends event was the one that grabbed the imagination of the general public in a far more direct and effective way than the WSB camp did.

Where WSB is flashy but distant, and clearly failing to engage with large numbers trackside (have you seen how many people turn out to watch the races compared to where it was in the 1990s?), the Endurance Legends event was understandable, outwardly it didn’t take itself too seriously and if you were planning on going along to watch it then you really felt like you’d have a great time. The racing is always important but the atmosphere that surrounds it at an event is, arguably, even more so.

We’re very, very lucky in that with classic racing in general – and the Endurance Legends in particular – we’ve now got something that speaks to a largely unconnected group of racing fans who might have overlooked classic racing before.

More fans, more people and more interest could really open things up for us in general and with some encouragement lead to more events happening.

What do you think? Would that be a good thing?

Tony Carter

REGULAR PADDOCK GOSSIP

Successful Prescott The seventh annual Prescott Bike Festival, held at the home of the Bugatti Owners’ Club, on Sunday, April 9, was hailed as the most successful yet.

Thanks to the glorious weather over 6,000 motorcycle enthusiasts flocked to a sun-baked Prescott to support the fundraising event for Blood Bikes and were treated to a whole feast of entertainment both on and off the track.

Festival Organiser Gordon Downie said: “It was a hugely successful Bike Fest and we’d like to thank everyone who helped make it so, from those that took to the hill, the entertainers, musicians, volunteers, marshals, bike clubs to trade stands and exhibitors – not least the thousands of visitors who came to support us.

“We will post the final results on our Facebook page, but early indications are that a record-breaking sum has been raised for the Blood Bike charities this year. Exciting plans are already afoot for next year, the event being held on Sunday, April 15.”

The Mayor of Gloucester, Coun Neil Hampson said: “I am delighted to support the work of the Blood Bikers. As a district qualified nurse, I understand the importance of the service that they provide moving vital medical supplies, blood, pathology samples and human breast milk from medical centres and hospitals throughout the UK. Prescott Bike Festival is a great fun way for the charity to boost its fundraising and profile”.

Amongst the many VIPs in attendance was David Hailwood, son of the legendary Mike ‘the Bike’ Hailwood, Norton sidecar racing World Sidecar Champion Stan Dibben, British motorcycle racing champion Rod Scivyer and popular British sporting hero Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards. Eddie took to the hill in a Grinnall threewheeler.

On the hill Matt McKeown thrilled the crowds once again with his Chinook helicopter engine powered Shopping Trolley and his latest project, the World’s Fastest jet powered Hearse called ‘Dead Quick’ which he hopes to set a new 200mph record in later this summer, and engineer Tom ‘The Atom’ Anable was ecstatic to actually reach the top of the hill climb course in his record-breaking Monowheel.

The event featured large displays of historic, modern and race bikes, a Paddock Specials Show ‘n’ Tell area, and the unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in the spectacle by ‘running the hill’ or participating in thrilling passenger ride experiences.

Entertainment was provided with live music, stunt shows, trade stands, motorcycle manufacturers and motorcycle clubs, all helping to raise vital money and awareness for the Blood Bikes charities to help keep them on the road.

All proceeds from the event go to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and regional blood bike group Severn Freewheelers, one of 27 blood bike groups around the UK that provide a free out-of-hours courier service for medical essentials. The life-saving service is run by volunteers and operates between NHS facilities, with Severn Freewheelers alone dealing with around 400 calls per month on emergency response BMW R1200RTs. The online photographic gallery has now gone live: tinyurl.com/l9mr6xq

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BARRY SHEENE The Official Photographic Celebration of the Legendary Motorcycle Champion

Barry Sheene is arguably the greatest British motorcycle racing rider of all time. A chancer, lovable rogue and the leading sports star of his era, adored by the public and press alike. He won two world motorcycle championships in 1976 and 1977.

He achieved iconic status by being involved in some horrific crashes and was dubbed ‘the bionic man’ on account of the amount of metal used to reconstruct his legs after a particularly bad accident.

Barry emigrated to Australia in 1987 where he became a celebrated motorsport commentator. His premature passing in 2003 to cancer robbed motorsport of one of its

greatest characters.

For the first time, Barry’s family agreed to open up their personal archive to give an unprecedented insight into the two-time 500cc world champion. Through more than 120 previously unpublished personal photographs, Times journalist and award-winning author Rick Broadbent tells the story of a remarkable sports star. Barry’s son Freddie Sheene provides the Foreword.

Published to mark the 40th anniversary of his second world championship win, it provides a unique pictorial account of a life lived at full throttle and is an intensely personal look at a racer, legend, husband and father. The book, published by Bloomsbury Sport is available from all good bookshops and costs just £20.

Donington Classic hots up Former Grand Prix star Simon Crafer is to be the guest of honour at Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival, on August 4-6, 2017, where he will celebrate his 500 Grand Prix victory at Donington in 1998.

The list of machines planned for display over the weekend, and in many cases which will get track time in the special parades, is already impressive.

Topping the bill has to be the genuine Barry Sheene Championship winning Suzukis from 1976/77, which have just been restored by Barry’s original mechanic Martyn Ogborne. George Beale will display two of his 297 Honda 6 replicas alongside Peter Fox’s beautiful, and very noisy 500 MV3.

A rare sight will be not one, but two examples of the Foggy Petronas race bikes. One not to miss will be the stunning Alpha Centuri, recently featured in this magazine, which was lovingly re-created by Roy Kirkby in memory of

his late brother John.

Add to this a rare Bianchi 500 Grand Prix racer, and from the Mike Braid collection a Harley-Davidson XR750, Ducati 1098 WSB machine, a GP3 2003 Ducati, Monocoque John Player 750cc Norton and the MZ RE250 Grand Prix bike. Collector, Chris Wilson, will show an equally rare 500 Square Four Grand Prix Sanvenero, and local man, and custodian of a collection of evocative Cagiva race bikes, Dean Simpkins will provide an impressive line-up.

Stan Woods, who won the first 500cc final when the circuit reopened in 1977, will parade his RG500 and also present the 1977 trophy to the 2017 500cc winner.

The CRMC team are working hard to assemble a full set of Honda production racers from the 1960s, which will include the 50cc CR110, 125cc CR93, 250cc CR72, 350cc CYB350RSC and the 750cc CR750.

Dean Stimpson (78, Izzard Nort rton) t three-time winner, battles with Chris Firmin (1, ACR Nort rton) t

LANSDOWNE The season so far The Lansdowne season kicked off at Pembrey over the Easter weekend as guests of the CRMC, and ran in unseasonably warm and sunny weather.

Thirty riders entered the various classes to kick-start their points tally for the season.

Saturday morning qualifying saw the Bonhams class runners at the sharp end, with Dean Stimpson, Izzard Racing Manx, topping the timesheets with a 1:06.383s lap, and Chris Bassett heading up The National Motorcycle Museum-sponsored WRR class.

Race one saw the thundering pack charging down to the tightest hairpin on the calendar, with drum brakes tested to the max at the testing bottleneck. In the Bonhams-sponsored class Stimpson was away with it, taking the win from ACR Manxmounted Chris Firmin. In the WRR, Bassett took the class win from Ian Bain on his Manx.

In race two Glen English took an early lead on Ed Fenwick’s Manx and kept his nose ahead of Stimpson the whole race, only to be overhauled at the death by 0.4sec. Behind them,

the two ACR team-mates Chris Firmin and Sam Clews were beating each other up and were separated by 0.7 sec.

In race three, Glen English was not to be denied the win this time and was followed home by Stimpson and Firmin who were just a whisker apart.

In the WRR, Bain took the win from Tony Perkin. In race four it was mayhem on the first lap at the hairpin. Firmin went down and three or four riders tripped over each other avoiding the wreckage, and Firmin. A red flag ensued. On the restart English and Stimpson battled it out with Stimpson taking the win. In the WRR class it was Bassett from Bain from Tony Perkin.

Throughout all four races Alex Sinclair on the Ripley Land long-stroke Manx fought it out with Sam Rhodes on Graham Austen’s Velocette for The Classic MotorCycle-sponsored class honours.

Just three weeks later the Lansdowne circus moved to Donington Park for a new meeting organised by Endurance Legends, with the CRMC running the racing on track.

Mike Hose (6, Ripley Land Matchless) had a race-long dice with youngster, Sam Clews (90, ACR Norton)

The Lansdowne had three 10-lap races and it evolved into a great meeting although Saturday dawned a bit wet and miserable but thankfully soon cleared up.

Mike Russell put the Richard Adams’ Manx on pole on a wet and slippery track.

Race one saw dry conditions make for a cracking race, with Stimpson holding off Russell by a wheel at the flag with the ACR jockey and current champ Firmin charging through to third from ninth on the grid.

In the Museum-sponsored WRR class, Bain was hounded all race by Bassett with Perkin third. The TCM class had a good mixture of bikes, Rudge, Triumph, Vincent and Velocette.

Charlie Williams was out for a ride on a Farrall Rudge but it ended in tears as the crankcase split horizontally, exposing the crankshaft. Rhodes on the Velo took the win from Patrick Walker on his nice and loud Vincent twin.

Race two was on a sunny Sunday morning and Glen

Glen English (25, Works Norton) in front of his nemesis, Dean Stimpson (78, Izzard Norton) who took a clean sweep of wins.

English lit the Manx touch paper and fired into an early lead with Stimpson and Russell both in close attendance. Stimpson was first across the line with a lap record. Bain again took the WRR win and Sam ‘Rodeo’ Rhodes charged to another TCM win.

With the sun belting down, race three saw English grab the lead from the start, with Russell and Stimpson mixing it at the front. Eventually Stimpson forced his way to the front with Russell pushing his Avon Tyres to the limit to keep tag, and all the time Firmin was scything his way through the field eventually pushing English to fourth.

In the WRR class, Ian Bain took the win from Chris ‘The Hound’ Bassett and George Thomas on an immaculate Dunnell Manx. The Rhodes Velo limped home to take the TCM class win with a rattling big-end.

After an excellent first two meetings, the Lansdowne organisers, machine owners, and riders thank their sponsors, Bonhams, The National Motorcycle Museum, Avon Tyres and The Classic MotorCycle.

The upcoming rounds of the Lansdowne are: June 3-4, Cadwell Park; July 8-9, Castle Combe; August 4-5-6, Donington Park; October 7-8, Brands Hatch.

ClassicRacer 11

REGULAR PADDOCK GOSSIP

Reflecting

Jack Ahearn Jack Ahearn, the runnerup in the 1964 world 500 championship, passed away in April, in Lismore, aged 92.

Ahearn won the 1964 Finnish GP at Imatra at age 39, on a privately entered Norton and was second in the World Championship to MV Agusta’s Mike Hailwood.

Australian Ahearn raced for a quarter of a century, during which he was a multiple winner at Bathurst and he represented Australia many times in the Isle of Man TT, starting in 1954 when he was 29.

One of the great characters of the Continental Circus during a golden period in motorcycle

racing, he raced in Europe in 1954/55, 1958 and 196266. The late Barry Sheene fondly recalled meeting him when he first went to Europe as a teenaged mechanic.

Born in Bondi (Sydney), Ahearn was the stereotypical private entrant travelling Europe and scratching just enough money to repair the bikes and travel to the next meeting, often hundreds of miles away.

Jack Ahearn’s career was effectively brought to a premature end when he was seriously injured while riding the four-cylinder Suzuki

250 two-stroke nicknamed ‘Whispering Death’.

Among with many of his fellow ‘Circus’ stars Jack Ahearn was feted in 1998 when he returned to Europe for the huge Centennial Classic meeting held at Assen.

He is survived by daughters Vicki and Julia, to whom all at Classic Racer send sincere condolences.

NEW DAVIDA LEATHER LINERS If it’s to match your bike, riding gear or simply to enjoy customising your helmet, the interior leather liners on both the Davida Speedster V3 and Ninety 2 can be removed and retro-fitted with Davida’s new Leather Liner Kits.

The Speedster V3 after-market liner kits are available in five different colours, black, brown, ZNut brown, ROX blood red and white, and in black, brown and ZNut brown for the Ninety 2 helmet.

Davida Speedster V3 and Ninety 2 helmets are the lowest profile road-legal helmets available, having evolved from the same

shell shape of Davida’s original Speedster, a jet-style helmet with a 26-year heritage that is highly evocative of the 1970s.

After Market Leather Liner Kits SRP £41.66 plus VAT

Steam Packet bookings open The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has opened provisional bookings for sailings to the 2018 TT. Provisional bookings, which are held with a deposit, can be made by visiting www.steampacket.com or by calling 08722 992 992 (UK) or 0044 8722 992 992 (ROI and outside UK). Deposits for foot passengers have again been held at £10, with vehicle deposits remaining at £50. Confirmation of sailings and fares will be sent out towards the end of 2017, with final balance payments due during February 2018.

Any provisional bookings which are not paid in full will be put back on sale the

12 ClassicRacer

following month.

Last year the Steam Packet Company completed more than 3,500 provisional bookings in just 10 hours and demand is expected to be extremely high this year.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company chief executive Mark Woodward said: “We are announcing the opening of provisional bookings to give fans as much time as possible to plan. Demand to visit the TT remains strong.”

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has also confirmed the date provisional bookings will open for the 2019 TT will be brought forward.

Mr Woodward explained: “Next year we will open provisional bookings for

the 2019 TT on Monday, May 21, 2018. Traditionally, provisional bookings for the following year’s TT have opened during TT practice week, but this is a time when our staff are already very busy. Bringing the date forward will allow us to deploy additional staff to assist customers with their bookings.

“Although it is more than a year away, we felt it was important to announce this change now as many people have become used to our traditional date and we wouldn’t want them to miss out. We will issue reminders about the change of booking date for the 2019 TT.” You heard it first here in Classic Racer so get the date in your diary.

I really enjoy writing, quite bizarre considering my English teacher at school suggested it was a waste of time me going back for the sixth year. Even then my only interest was motorcycles, much as it still is now to be honest.

I didn’t go back and he suggested I would never ‘make a living messing about with motorcycles’. (He actually said motorbikes, but even now I can’t bring myself to write it.)

Recently I have been working on Island Racer, our annual bookazine for the Isle of Man TT. Despite ‘retiring’ I’ve retained the role of publisher of IR, working with Classic Racer editor Tony as the editor. I love my time on IR; as some of you will remember my burning passion has always been the Isle of Man and the TT in particular.

Tony, being the gentleman he is, always asks me to do an archive-based feature in Island Racer, something I always, obviously, enjoy. This time he caught me on the back foot and went off at a bit of a tangent.

Over a pub lunch (how else would you plan a magazine) I let slip that this year would be our (yes I’ve dragged Mrs W to every one) 50th TT on the bounce.

Before she kicks off she was only 16 when we took a day trip to the 1967 Senior.

As the conversation progressed, Tony asked about my TT ‘that got away’. He must have heard the story many times before; most people have, but what I hadn’t realised was he was putting 50 years and missing a TT win by one second together and coming up with a feature idea! Careless words...

Before I could ask ‘is it your round or mine?’ he had planned for me to write a feature around both tales and a title for it too. Fifty years and one bloody second it was then.

As I said, I love writing, but this was one of the hardest things I’ve had to write. For most of us, writing about yourself is one of the toughest things to do. But after a few hours staring at a blank screen it happened – and what a liberating experience it proved to be.

Like most race careers, mine had some highs, and some very low, lows.

All those dark days are the first things that come to the surface when you prod the old memory.

But I’m grateful to Tony (don’t tell him I said so, I don’t want him to think I’ve gone soft) and thanks to that Island Racer feature my much talked about autobiography just might happen!

Malc Wheeler