10 ClassicRacer
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MYMEMORYOF
MIKEHAILWOOD
DearCR
Asunny morning practice at avery full
BraddanBridgein 1967,itwas justlikea
raceday,with everyone waitingfor Mike
and the Honda.Thenthat fantastic howl
camefromQuarter Bridgeto Braddan,
in roundthe left-handerinto thedip and
everyonestoodup to look at theiridol, and
Mikenoticed.
He looked up and gave abig nod to
everyone,how we all smiledandchuckled
–amemory forever.
Thenin 1978 Imet Mikeatagarage I
worked at as acar sprayer,hewantedhis
crashhat painted. Igot the job, ‘wonderful‘
he said to me on pickingit up adding,
‘GodIwishIcoulddo something likethat’
andIsaid Iwished Icould ride abike–we
laughed. Ihad my photo taken withhim and
someof the otherlads Iworked with.
Afew yearsago Iwalked up to David
Hailwoodand said:“I painted yourdad’s
crashhat in 1978,”hewas so surprised. I
had agood natter withhim as well.
PeterTrimnell, Malew
IsleofManHelloPeter–Thankyouverymuchfor
theletter. Asthemanwhopaintedthe
helmet,howdoyoufeelitcomparesto
othersofthetimeandsince,intermsof
celebrity?Is thathelmetasfeaturedasa
modernValentinoRossihelmet? Arethere
moreimagesofitthanBarry’sDuckmotif
helmets?Wheredoesthehelmetrankin
termsoffame?
TonyDearCR
I’ve just renewedmysubscriptiontoClassic
Racer–it’sthe only motorcycle magazine
wwworth reading!
Imissedthe TT this year as Iwas due in
hospital foranoperation at the same time
it took place.Itwas the first timesince
1999 47 that IhavemissedaTT, butIplan
tooobe at the ClassicManxinSeptember,
wwwhich Ithink will replacetheTTeventually,
asssnostalgia is ahugegrowthindustryand
surely is the future forthe Isle of Man.
Seventyyears’continuousattendance,
participationin84TTraces, 51 replicas, four
TT class wins,sponsoring112 ridersinthat
timeissomething Ifeeljustifiablyproud of
andfightingtopreservethe TT’s standingin
thhheFIM,wearingmyACU chairman’shat,is
another proud memory.
TommyRobb,who livesnearmeis
always reminiscing aboutthe 60 yearsof
raaacing and Idecidedthatout of allthe races
ttthhheTTstill stands supreme.
Long maythe TT andManxsurvive.
BillSmith,ChesterHelloBill
Thankyouverymuchindeedforthe
continuingsupportforCR,Malcand
Iappreciatebothit andall you’restill
doingtohelpthesportthatweall love
continueandflourish.
AmentoyourcallfortheTTandthe
Manxtosurvive,ifdoesfeellike–in
termsofthewiderpicture,globally–
eventsonTheIslandareonthecrestofa
waveatthemoment!
Iwonder, doyoufeelthattherecent
EnduranceLegendseventsarethe
answertobringingmoreofthatnewly-
awarefanbasetoeventsliketheClassic
TTetc?
TonyIn myview...
DearCR
Iwould liketoair my viewsonthe current
classic racing scene.
Original bikesshould be racing modern
replicas riddenbyprofessionals,original
bikesare racedfor the enjoymentofthe
riderwhereasmodernreplicasare builtand
raced forprofit.
Secondly,Ihateand detest thenoise
restrictions imposed, my bikesare open
meggas andwill neverbesilenced to
appease householders,sotheywill remain
show bikes.
To my wayofthinking, theracetracks
were therebeforehouses,sotheowners
should have aclause writtenintotheir
deeds that states theyare unableto
complain.Iftheydonot agree,sellupand
move.
People living underairport flightpaths
have no optionbut to acceptit.
Finally, my other gripe,the TT races,toomanyridersget killed
each year,the island should
be renamed: TheIsleof
Manslaughter.
Iwould liketosee theengine
capacitiesgreatlyreduced,
bring back the50, 125and 250
classes then limitthe senior
to 350cc. Today’sbikes are
toopowerful, uncontrollable,
unreliableand expensive,arear
tyre lastsfor 75 miles (ridiculous).
BobMac’s Gilera dideight laps
on the same tyresand younever
sawhim clamberingall over the
bike.Bob wasaproperrider,unlik
today’shighspeed acrobats.
Lastly, InoteMichael Dunlop is
riding Bob’sGilerainthe Classic
Parade lap, wordsfailme.
GordonChatterton
EmailIf you want to getintouch...
Then pleasedo. We read every letter,email and comment
sent to us and we enjoyhearing fromyou. If you’ve an event
comingup, amotorcycle youown or just want to let us know
aboutsomethingyou find interestinginClassicRacer’sworld.Classic Racer,MortonsMedia Group,MediaCentre,Morton Way, Horncastle,Lincs,LN9 6JR. [email protected] facebook.com/ClassicRacerMag/.
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