
4 minute read
Colin Seeley
By Alan Turner
A businessman, a first class engineer, a successful sidecar racer, a race team leader, a trustee of a valued charity. That covers some of his major achievements. Just after his 84th birthday, in January, 2020, Colin Seeley had a fall and died a few days later. His funeral took place at Eltham Crematorium on 10 February, attended by hundreds of mourners. Before the funeral, the usual respectful silence was broken as some examples of the many race bikes that bore the Seeley name were fired up.
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Colin had some early motorcycling background with support from his family that included borrowing his father's HRD Series A Rapide outfit on which to pass his riding test. Working for local dealers, including a spell at Schweiso Brothers at Dartford, he left to start his own dealership when he was aged just 20. He had competed solo in scrambles, but soon, with employee Wally Rawlings, they bought an ex-Eric Oliver Norton outfit. It did not work out well as the outfit, in which Wally was passenger, was in need of a total, expensive rebuild. They were also having great difficulty in getting race entries. A change of tack saw the acquisition of a brand new outfit, combining a Matchless G50 and Canterbury racing sidecar. This showed the team meant business, including a remarkable podium finish at the 1962 TT. With a half-litre capacity limit imposed, the bike to have for Grands Prix at the time was one of the exotic BMW Rennsports. Eventually securing such an outfit led to World Championship standings before Colin retired from racing in 1967.
Bought from the ailing AMC, his business now had the rights to continue manufacturing Matchless/AJS racing machinery. A lifeline for road racers as there was virtually no alternative for over-the-counter race bikes in the larger classes. However, the 350 7R and 500 G50 power-trains were installed in re-designed frame and cycle parts and, badged 'Seeley'. These became the bikes to have. The design was steadily refined. John 'Mooneyes' Cooper had been racing a G50 for Colin and was struggling with a wayward 350 Yamaha in as-supplied form. He orchestrated the idea of putting the twin's engine into his Seeley 7R chassis. The resulting 'Yamsel' crossed the bridge into the next, Japanese-dominated road-race era, allowing riders a combination of the quickest engine and best-handling chassis. Everyone wanted one!

Hamming it up? Colin Seeley takes control of Dennis Etheridge's Gilera outfit while Paul Smart looks less than serious about the prospect
The Seeley name was a by-word for superbly executed engineering. Later, all sorts of engines were fitted to suitably designed chassis as the business expanded into limited-edition road bikes. As well as big Honda fours, such as the CB 750 Phil Read Replica, there was even a TL200 trials bike.
In the nineteen-seventies, Bernie Ecclestone had bought the Brabham race team and later invited Colin to join what was an impressive roster of talented engineers. Colin had known Bernie from his teenage years and the arrangement lasted for quite a time but this combination of two visionary, but determined and individual personalities eventually, inevitably, saw a parting of the ways.
Colin moved into bike race team management. His ethos of attention to detail, appearance and high standards worked to give results and raise the profile of a number of teams, including rejuvenating the rotary Nortons, boosting the BSB (British Super Bikes) race series to become hugely popular.
His former bike-building glories were certainly not forgotten. The advantage the Seeley-framed bikes offered new was just as prized as they found second leases of life and even greater success. The steady rise in interest in classic road-racing has seen Seeley machinery ever more in demand and there are several sources for replica frames.
Of course, much of the history can be read about in Colin's two large books that document road-racing, racers and other significant characters of that era. These were the culmination of seven years work and were published in the 'noughties'. Soon deemed collectable, current prices are about £100 for a second-hand copy of each volume.
With such a skill-set Colin was long ago taken on by Bonhams as a consultant for its auction activities. He was involved in the sale of the Tom Arter collection, which completed a circle as some bikes originated from the AMC race shop, the rights to which Colin had purchased many years before.
Colin took advantage of an invitation from the Barber Museum at Birmingham, Alabama USA to become Grand Marshal for its 2018 Vintage event. He was extremely impressed by the set-up, the museum and the whole transatlantic experience. Another important legacy is the The Joan Seeley Pain Relief Memorial Trust. Joan was Colin Seeley at the AMC 80th Anniversary celebrated at ELK Promotions Ardingly Show in October, 2018
Colin's first wife and died after a troubled illness. The charity was formed to alleviate similar problems that might beset others in such circumstances. While modern technology has improved hospital treatment, the charity organises payment for better equipment for nursing homes and hospices. To date, it has raised around a quarter-million pounds and remains open for those who would like to donate in Colin's memory. http//joanseeleytrust.co.uk.