Racers of the '80's
Discussion
First: Brands Hatch, Druids, slow down lap during the International Powerbike race in October ’82. Gardner in the centre on the 999 Honda superbike, Mick Grant (right) on the 997 Suzuki superbike, but who is the rider on the left? I’m not giving anything away by saying it’s obviously a 500 Suzuki GP bike.
Second: Another quiz: Cadwell Park, the Mountain. September ’82, the Yamaha RD Pro-Am race for their RD 350LC model. This racer went on to a GP career, with one highlight, and for a while was the youngest at what he achieved.
Three & four: no names needed. Transatlantic Trophy match races Brands Hatch Easter 1982. Freddie forgets to brake at Druids. BS: No I'm not giving you a bloody lift back to the pits.
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Second: Another quiz: Cadwell Park, the Mountain. September ’82, the Yamaha RD Pro-Am race for their RD 350LC model. This racer went on to a GP career, with one highlight, and for a while was the youngest at what he achieved.
Three & four: no names needed. Transatlantic Trophy match races Brands Hatch Easter 1982. Freddie forgets to brake at Druids. BS: No I'm not giving you a bloody lift back to the pits.
Copywrite: me.
Edited by Number 7 on Tuesday 2nd November 13:46
snowy slopes said:
The guy on t'other suzuki is, i think, keith huewen, he of slating barry sheene,and studio pundit for sky fame
The prom am lc rider would be alan carter, he of falling off whilst in the lead of the british grand prix fame
Full marks. But at least AC did win a GP - France '83, on his debut, which is pretty impressive.The prom am lc rider would be alan carter, he of falling off whilst in the lead of the british grand prix fame
Edited by snowy slopes on Tuesday 2nd November 13:50
A few more blasts from the past:
King Kenny at Snetterton in May 1983, during the Transatlantic Trophy races. Although he was a Yamaha factory rider, Yamaha America built him a special bike. Taken out to 680cc (from the GP limit of 500cc), it had a very narrow powerband – only 1,500 rpm IIRC, although I think it was still a square four, rather than the V4 that was used in the GP bike. The races were wet, and I don’t know he managed to stay on the thing. More of that one later.
Same meeting, Randy Mamola, on the works 500 Suzuki GP bike.
The last 2 are from a national meeting at Cadwell Park in March 1983, taken at the mountain. First up is Joey on the 1000 Honda, and then Mick Grant on the 997 Suzuki followed closely by Wayne Gardner on the Honda superbike.
King Kenny at Snetterton in May 1983, during the Transatlantic Trophy races. Although he was a Yamaha factory rider, Yamaha America built him a special bike. Taken out to 680cc (from the GP limit of 500cc), it had a very narrow powerband – only 1,500 rpm IIRC, although I think it was still a square four, rather than the V4 that was used in the GP bike. The races were wet, and I don’t know he managed to stay on the thing. More of that one later.
Same meeting, Randy Mamola, on the works 500 Suzuki GP bike.
The last 2 are from a national meeting at Cadwell Park in March 1983, taken at the mountain. First up is Joey on the 1000 Honda, and then Mick Grant on the 997 Suzuki followed closely by Wayne Gardner on the Honda superbike.
snowy slopes said:
IIRC didnt 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
Just checked in Sheene's biography: in '77 they started upping the capacity of the 500 motor for use in various British series. Initially it went to 652cc (called the RG700) with a heady 135bhp at 10,800 rpm. In '78 it had the same power, but was called the RGA700. In '79 the big version was called the RGB700 and pushed out 138bhp at 10,800rpm. This compared to the GP bike (RGB500) giving 124bhp at 11,000rpm. Fast Freddie on the NS500 triple at the Silverstone GP August 1982. Note the finger hovering over the clutch, just in case....
The second 2 are I think are from the Powerbike International meeting at Brands Hatch in October 1983. First up is Rocket Ron on the NS500 triple (he was a factory Honda rider and team mate to Freddie Spencer at that point), followed by Franco Uncini on his 500 Suzuki GP bike. Almost the forgotten man, he was 500cc world champion in 1982, aboard a Suzuki. In those days it was common for GP riders (even factory ones) to compete outside of the GP arena. Both shots at Druids.
Copywrite: me.
The second 2 are I think are from the Powerbike International meeting at Brands Hatch in October 1983. First up is Rocket Ron on the NS500 triple (he was a factory Honda rider and team mate to Freddie Spencer at that point), followed by Franco Uncini on his 500 Suzuki GP bike. Almost the forgotten man, he was 500cc world champion in 1982, aboard a Suzuki. In those days it was common for GP riders (even factory ones) to compete outside of the GP arena. Both shots at Druids.
Copywrite: me.
Edited by Number 7 on Friday 5th November 09:01
No excuses needed for another shot of Mr. Sheene, my all time bike racing hero, ths time at Cadwell Park in April 1982, in the MCN Superbike race (a real mixture of 2 and 4 strokes, anything from 351cc to 1,300cc) aboard the TZ750 Yamaha (2 stroke for those who don’t know). He used this meeting as a warm up for the Transatlantic Trophy races. As an aside, I remember reading in the mid-70’s in Superbike magazine that some loony had actually taken a TZ750 racer and made it road legal, and it was absolutely mental. I might have the magazine somewhere.
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Copywrite: me.
Edited by Number 7 on Monday 8th November 14:07
snowy slopes said:
I remember that, he had one of those generic square 70's custom bike headlights on the front fairing, and IIRC it was a green colour. Think they found it at the tt one year, and as was the fashion at the time, the owner had a pair of those motocross style boots with the metal plate on the front. Back then it was seen as mental, whereas now, i wouldn't mind a go on that
That's it - IIRC it had something like "the dogs b
ks" painted across the tank!
A few more from my archive:
First up is Dave Aldana (captain of the U.S. team) aboard a TZ750 tuned by Don Vesco in the Transatlantic Trophy Match races at Brands Hatch (Druids) in April 1982.
Greg Page on a GSX1100 in the MCN / Shell Oil Streetbike race at Cadwell Park (the Mountain) in April 1982.
Randy Mamola on the works HB Suzuki 500 GP bike at Donington in 1982.
Graeme Crosby on the 500 Suzuki GP bike, going up Hailwood Hill during the Powerbike meeting at Brands Hatch in October 1981. Only a couple of months previously, Crosby had incurred Sheene’s wrath by crashing whilst leading the British GP at Silverstone on lap 3. Sheene went down whilst braking to avoid him, and was also run over by Marco Luchinelli. Their feud continued for some years. Unfortunately, Sheene never won his home GP (in any class).
Copywrite: Me.
First up is Dave Aldana (captain of the U.S. team) aboard a TZ750 tuned by Don Vesco in the Transatlantic Trophy Match races at Brands Hatch (Druids) in April 1982.
Greg Page on a GSX1100 in the MCN / Shell Oil Streetbike race at Cadwell Park (the Mountain) in April 1982.
Randy Mamola on the works HB Suzuki 500 GP bike at Donington in 1982.
Graeme Crosby on the 500 Suzuki GP bike, going up Hailwood Hill during the Powerbike meeting at Brands Hatch in October 1981. Only a couple of months previously, Crosby had incurred Sheene’s wrath by crashing whilst leading the British GP at Silverstone on lap 3. Sheene went down whilst braking to avoid him, and was also run over by Marco Luchinelli. Their feud continued for some years. Unfortunately, Sheene never won his home GP (in any class).
Copywrite: Me.
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