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.
Copywrite: me.
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
Number 7 said:
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
Got Heuwan and A C too! Used to go to watch nearly all these races as a kid, the transactlantic match races were great. And the Pro Am was brilliant too, proper carnage stuff. And who remembers the "Wrangler" sponsered bike that was given to the guest rider? (Love to see some pics of that!) And remember, the riders used to draw keys to work out whihc bike they rode!!
As for Alan Carter. Yes, up til Scott Redding last year, he was the last Brit GP winner in 83. Part of a talented but ultimately flawed family of bikers, his bro was in Speedway IIRC and there was a shooting and subsequnent suicide between some of the family members.... very sad waste of a lot of talent and courage there.
Great photos. Just shows what has been lost in modern racing, where spectators are 200 yeards back from the track edge! I remeber the catch fencing at Woodcote which must have been terrifying on a bike, particularly on skinny waxy tyres.
Oh and BAzza on the Akai Yam, later the JPS Yam....always wanted a rep of that on a RD500!! And Fast Freddie.....the first rider to take an analytical aproach maybe to modern motorcycling, adding to the wealth of natural talent he and his fellow racers had? My Dad's friend was his brake engineer, and said the approach he took to getting the best out of the bike, and himself, was like no one else. He was the "first" to take this complete approach.
Awesome stuff!
As for Alan Carter. Yes, up til Scott Redding last year, he was the last Brit GP winner in 83. Part of a talented but ultimately flawed family of bikers, his bro was in Speedway IIRC and there was a shooting and subsequnent suicide between some of the family members.... very sad waste of a lot of talent and courage there.
Great photos. Just shows what has been lost in modern racing, where spectators are 200 yeards back from the track edge! I remeber the catch fencing at Woodcote which must have been terrifying on a bike, particularly on skinny waxy tyres.
Oh and BAzza on the Akai Yam, later the JPS Yam....always wanted a rep of that on a RD500!! And Fast Freddie.....the first rider to take an analytical aproach maybe to modern motorcycling, adding to the wealth of natural talent he and his fellow racers had? My Dad's friend was his brake engineer, and said the approach he took to getting the best out of the bike, and himself, was like no one else. He was the "first" to take this complete approach.
Awesome stuff!
Edited by s3fella on Tuesday 2nd November 22:40
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 f
k me, that is a couple of st years for the family (ies). No wonder Alan faded away somewhat?
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 f
k 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
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?
That is bloody awful.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 f
k 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
Anyway, cracking pictures! When I get home I'll have to scan some my dads pics in. He has some crackers from the 60's and 70's. Plenty of Hailwood, Ago and early Sheene.
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.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 f
k me, that is a couple of st years for the family (ies). No wonder Alan faded away somewhat? I remeber the rest to espically when Kenny Carter killed his wife.
I'm sure that I can remember Alan Carter making a comeback a few years later on a Ducati Supermono which briefly got him a ride on an early 916 before packing it in again.
Also seem to recall the Pro-am Yamaha series being shown on TV, fantastic racing (& carnage), certainly convinced this, then 16 year old that he 'needed' a 250LC complete with belly pan & nose fairing. Collected 5 long days after his 17th birthday.
Also seem to recall the Pro-am Yamaha series being shown on TV, fantastic racing (& carnage), certainly convinced this, then 16 year old that he 'needed' a 250LC complete with belly pan & nose fairing. Collected 5 long days after his 17th birthday.
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