Racers of the '80's

[Biker's Nemesis]

snowy slopes said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

snowy slopes said:

Back in the day, there were some right characters in racing. Anyone remember chris guy's pink panther crash helmet?? I spoke to mike fairholme years ago about having my arai painted like that, but it was going to cost the earth and take waaay too long to do. Number 7 and i were talking the other day, and does anyone else remember the late mark salle?? What a rider he was, like so many, sadly taken too early

I remember Chris Guy, he was a stocky litle bugger, anyone know what happened to him?

(without using that wiki ste)

Supposedly he lives in exeter now. Cant remember where i saw that, but t'was on t'web somewhere. Here's another one for those of us who are now seniors, anyone remember that guys name who used to race(badly) an rs500 honda in the british championships, peter somebody or other, very well funded(due to parents being rich) and bought one of the first harris 500's to go to GP's along with kevin mitchell. Now theres another name from the past

It'll come to me, sooner or later.

[snowy slopes]

I can see his face, his rs500 honda was a red colour, and he was usually at the back of the field on the best bike out there, but i cant remember his name for the life of me.

[Biker's Nemesis]

snowy slopes said:

I can see his face, his rs500 honda was a red colour, and he was usually at the back of the field on the best bike out there, but i cant remember his name for the life of me.

Dooreackers? (zepling)

[snowy slopes]

Dont think so, just had a shufty round google, and the name that rings a bell......peter graves

[Biker's Nemesis]

snowy slopes said:

Dont think so, just had a shufty round google, and the name that rings a bell......peter graves

I think you may be right, Sean Emmet was riding in GP's at the same time wasn't he.

[snowy slopes]

Biker's Nemesis said:

snowy slopes said:

Dont think so, just had a shufty round google, and the name that rings a bell......peter graves

I think you may be right, Sean Emmet was riding in GP's at the same time wasn't he.

I would have said no, but a quick google says we have a winner

[NS400R]

Chipchap said:

A few of SA Racing proddie Superbikes in the '80's

Thanks for posting these. Have you any others of either of the Bristol brothers or Robbie Peterson?

[srob]

Biker's Nemesis said:

s3fella said:

Just had a read up to remind me of the tragedy aroud the Carters. Geez!!

Mal Carter, (senior) sponsored Ron and Phil Haslam, and his lads too. Mal Junior died in 1984 (suicide??) and also the mother killed herself in about 1985 too. In 1984, Phill Haslam was killed at Scarborough circuit, and a few months later, Terry Haslam (brother) was killed at Assen in a sidecar. Ron retired for the rest of the Season.
Alan had the fight at Silverstone GP around this time, IIRC?(84?) meanwhile brother Kenny won the British Speedway championship, and in 1985 too. Then in 1986, Kenny killed his wife and then shot himself orpahning their two kids....


WTF..... As a kid I remeber it was all very sad, but fk me, that is a couple of st years for the family (ies). No wonder Alan faded away somewhat?

I'm sure Phil died a lot earlier than 1984.

I remeber the rest to espically when Kenny Carter killed his wife.

For those interested, Alan Carter was racing at Snetterton this weekend, in the Classic GP race supporting BSB. Sadly he came off chasing Ian Simpson (of Norton F1 fame) down for the lead. Shame as it was shaping up to be a brilliant dice.

He was also promoting his book, which looks like it'd be an interesting read:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alan-Carter-Light-Darkness...

[Fleegle]

Ordered

looks like a good holiday read.

[Number 3]

Chipchap said:

The Suzuki was 680cc and it was all for the Daytona 200 and F750 classes

I love reading statements like that when it turns out all 3 points are incorrect

They did build a 4 cylinder 750 which put out 150hp but when the F750 series lost WC status they scrapped it so it never saw the light of day sadly. It surely would have given the TZ's a run for their money.

Edited by Number 3 on Sunday 17th June 13:30

[Riff Raff]

^^^^

Holy thread resurrection Batman.

[Chipchap]

Number 3 said:

I love reading statements like that when it turns out all 3 points are incorrect

They did build a 4 cylinder 750 which put out 150hp but when the F750 series lost WC status they scrapped it so it never saw the light of day sadly. It surely would have given the TZ's a run for their money.

Edited by Number 3 on Sunday 17th June 13:30

So this link of Crosby on an RGB 650 is a figment then ? Oh yes I got the capacity wrong, however they did race in Uk F750 events and "Open class events" It was called XR 23

http://www.suzukirg500.com/

Oh and a link showing it raced under Team Gallina in F750 in 1979 ridden by Franco Uncini.

So I got 2 out of 3 correct and wasnt even cheeky about it ! No wonder Aussies get a bad name for being outspoken.

[Number 3]

To clarify I am aware of the XR23 it was just that your 3 points about it were all wrong.

Chipchap said:

1. The Suzuki was 680cc

It was actually 652cc and was not an RGB650 but a RG/A/B700

Chipchap said:

2. and it was all for the Daytona 200

It never competed at Daytona nor was it intended to.

Chipchap said:

3. and F750 classes

This is a common misconception, the bike was purely to test and develop parts for their future 500cc bikes. Suzuki never planned to use the bike in the F750 championship because for the F750 homologation it would have been necessary to build at least 25 street versions of the bike. Suzuki only built four RG700 bikes to use them in the Trans Atlantic "Open Class" Match Races and later for the British Superbike class.

Chipchap said:

Plus....Oh and a link showing it raced under Team Gallina in F750 in 1979 ridden by Franco Uncini

In 1979 the FIM announced the last season for F750 and dropped the homologation rule, this made it possible to race the XR23B at WC level and VIRGINIO FERRARI, not Uncini, rode his Team Gallina XR23B to a win in the bike's first F750 race.

You're welcome.

[gareth_r]

snowy slopes said:

IIRC didn't Suzuki take an rg500 out to 652cc in response to yamaha building that bike for kenny? Think they called it an rgb or something, anyway, i used to have a poster on my bedroom wall of sheene dicing with pat hennan on those things, and by all accounts they were a proper beast to ride

That brings back sad memories. I was at the TT when Pat Hennen had the crash that effectively ended his career. I remember seeing him go past, chasing Tom Herron, and looking somewhat ragged compared with Herron, who had infinitely more experience on the roads.

Herron was in the Texaco Heron Suzuki team with Sheene and Parish in 1979, but he was killed that year at the North West 200. IIRC there was controversy because he had chosen to, and been allowed to, race with an injured hand.

His widow, Andrea, married Barry Coleman, the bike journalist, and set up Riders for Health.

Peter Williams, Andrea's brother, was first to use cast wheels (on the Arter Matchless G50), and designed the monocoque Norton Commando F750 racer. Their father, Jack, was the AMC (AJS/Matchless) race chief. Peter lost the use of an arm in a crash at Oulton Park in 1974.

The Herrons




Peter Williams and Arter Matchless




Norton monocoque

Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 9th April 14:17

[srob]

gareth_r said:

Peter Williams, Andrea's brother, was first to use cast wheels (on the Arter Matchless G50), and designed the monocoque Norton Commando F750 racer. Their father, Jack, was the AMC (AJS/Matchless) race chief. Peter lost the use of an arm in a crash at Oulton Park in 1974.

How strange! We were talking about Peter at the weekend, and trying to remember his sister's name! I worked with Peter for quite a few years when he was at Lotus, mainly on a 'glass' engine when I was an apprentice. It was designed to be able to see what the gasses were doing in the combustion chamber. It really was an honour to have worked for/with him, he's an incredible engineer.

And he's a really, really nice bloke

[gareth_r]

Should have a pic of Pat Hennen as well... in unfamiliar guise (engine as well as rider ).

[Number 3]

gareth_r said:

Herron was in the Texaco Heron Suzuki team with Sheene and Parish in 1979, but he was killed that year at the North West 200. IIRC there was controversy because he had chosen to, and been allowed to, race with an injured hand

Correct, he raced with a broken thumb "for his fans" as he put it. He was dicing with Jeff Sayle for second place and Joey had cleared off out in front and it's possible he thought he was dicing for the lead on the last lap which would explain why he took such a risk "for his fans".

[hepy]

s3fella said:

Just had a read up to remind me of the tragedy aroud the Carters. Geez!!

Mal Carter, (senior) sponsored Ron and Phil Haslam, and his lads too. Mal Junior died in 1984 (suicide??) and also the mother killed herself in about 1985 too. In 1984, Phill Haslam was killed at Scarborough circuit, and a few months later, Terry Haslam (brother) was killed at Assen in a sidecar. Ron retired for the rest of the Season.
Alan had the fight at Silverstone GP around this time, IIRC?(84?) meanwhile brother Kenny won the British Speedway championship, and in 1985 too. Then in 1986, Kenny killed his wife and then shot himself orpahning their two kids....


WTF..... As a kid I remeber it was all very sad, but fk me, that is a couple of st years for the family (ies). No wonder Alan faded away somewhat?

Edited by s3fella on Tuesday 2nd November 23:21

Sorry for the thread resurrection but Alan Carter is on the Chasin' the Racin' podcast this week. Very interesting, and definitely a 'what might have been' story not just for Alan but for his brother and nephew.

[Zarco]

hepy said:

Sorry for the thread resurrection but Alan Carter is on the Chasin' the Racin' podcast this week. Very interesting, and definitely a 'what might have been' story not just for Alan but for his brother and nephew.

I'd never heard of him, but it was a great podcast.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Zarco said:

hepy said:

Sorry for the thread resurrection but Alan Carter is on the Chasin' the Racin' podcast this week. Very interesting, and definitely a 'what might have been' story not just for Alan but for his brother and nephew.

I'd never heard of him, but it was a great podcast.

Always interesting to hear from Alan and I had the pleasure of watching him ride when I was a teenager in Grand Prix’s and later as a 250GP rider (British Series) in the 80’s and early 90’s.

As I recall he always had some very pretty girls in tow. A real legend is Alan.