Closer look lo | 1958 MGP
John Hurlstone (Norton) rounds Governor’s Bridge during early morning practice. He was to finish fourth in the Senior.
On the way from the boat to the garage are Liverpudlians Ken Barfoot (left) and John Dunne.
At precisely 5.45am, on Monday, September 1, 1958, the first MGP Junior and Senior runners bumped off to head down Bray Hill to start the first practice session on the 37¾-mile Mountain Course. Often, there was rivalry to be first away, but the results of this light-hearted fun passed the press boys by. During the week, two practice sessions were held per day, and with huge helpings of butterflies, the newcomers were out on the course for the first time on Wednesday astride racing motorcycles. Even before the fun started, UK-based MGP fans travelled to the Isle of Man by ferry from Liverpool or Fleetwood or air from Liverpool, Birmingham, London and Belfast. There were also flights from other locations, including Dublin. Most ferry tickets cost between £2-3 per person and £1.50 per motorcycle, pushed on board as all fuel (non returnable) had to be drained at the quayside before embarking. And if you didn’t want to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements, tour operators could help. Often, the weeklies publicised Don Crossley’s course coach tours. Don knew his way around the Mountain Course, having started his 1938 MGP career aboard an OK Supreme, and rode many models, enjoying two wins (1948 Senior, Triumph; and 1950 Junior, AJS). Don ran two trips on pre-practice Sunday for newcomers and another on Monday for MGP runners. Memories confirm the trips were often full and the ‘craic’ great. Entry lists make fascinating reading. Of local interest to me was newcomer Brian Allen (Ely Club, Norton) and seven runners were from the Louth Club (Lincs), perhaps encouraged and advised by local star Freddie Frith, the former MGP and TT winner, plus 1949 350cc world champion. Stars and future
‘names’ apart, including Read and ‘Banbury Dan’ Shorey, one would also have spotted many racing engineers like Geoff Monty and Francis Beart, who’d built and prepared Peter Middleton’s (Wakefield) light green-finished Manx Nortons from the start of the 1958 season. While Ned Minihan initially practiced on his regular mounts, later in practice week Norman Surtees arrived with a pair of brother John’s Nortons for Ned’s race week. Sunshine and adrenalin encouraged a few experienced riders who should have known better to try too hard early on, including Ellis Boyce (Geoff Monty Senior Norton) who ‘ran out of road’ after Bedstead Corner (cuts, abrasions and a broken thumb), while earlier, Peter Middleton (Beart Norton) and Ned Minihan (own Norton) collided at the 11th milestone, bringing down Manx runner Colin Broughton (Senior Norton). Broughton suffered a broken collarbone ending his MGP fortnight before it started, while Middleton cut a finger and Minihan walked away unscathed. Spills apart, the first morning’s sunshine ensured fast times which riders would struggle later to better. In the Senior it was Ken Patrick (Norton) at 89.34mph from Manxman Bob Dowty (Norton) 86.97mph, while Alan Shepherd (Bill Bancroft AJS 7R) led the 350s pursued by Scottish RAF serviceman, on-leave Bob Ritchie (Tom Arter AJS 7R). Later, IoM mist slowed the fast boys and felled a few newcomers who literally didn’t know their way round Braddan, Ballaugh, Sulby and Governor’s Bridges and Ramsey Hairpin… although some were taken to hospital, a few broken bones were the worst injuries. On Wednesday, better conditions (well, the rain held off..) saw Ernie Washer
H R Gibson on his Matchless G45 during practice week. The pushrod parallel twin was no match for the Manx Nortons.
Out in the early morning is Ken Patrick, on his Norton.
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE | SEPTEMBER 2018
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