ClassicRacer 25
and again.Philbrakedonthe inside
of thecorner at theend of the back
straightand Ijustroderight round
the outsideofhim, right on the limit,
but in control.
“I wasridingabsolutelyon the limit
but neverstupidly.The key thingwas
that Iexpectedtowin. It wasjust a
matter of doingthe job. Ineverthought
aboutcrashingornot winning.
“The problem wasthat Phil’s Yamaha
out-acceleratedthe Honda on every corner.I
wasgoing to have to do somethingdifferent.
“A sweapproached afast right-handerI
decided that if Icould get through it without
lifting my chin offthe tank, Icould carry extra
speedontothe finishing straight towin.It
wasamistake, as the extra speedcaused
the backwheel to stepoutinabigslideand
Phil wentpastagainasIfoughtforcontrolof
thebike.
“I alwaysracedwithmybrain,andtoafar
lesser extentwithmyballs,soIreallycursed
mymistake.
“A sweapproachedthesecondtolast
cornerImadeupmymindthatwherever
Philbraked,Iwouldgodowntheinsideand
passhim.Ihadtochangedowntwoextra
gearstotryandstopforthecornerandwhen
Icrackedopenthethrottlethebikesurged
forward,withtherevcounterneedle 2000 -
3000 revsoverthelimit.
“Ihadnotimetoworryaboutthebike
blowingupbecauseIhadnochoice.IfI
changedat13,5 00 rpm,Iwasgoingtolose
and if itblewupIwasgoingtolose,soit
eithertooktheextra 3000 rpmandstayed
together,oritdidn’t.Secondplacewasnot
anoption.
“WhenIsawhowwellthishadworked
Ididexactlythesameonthelastcorner.
Asweapproachedthefinishingline,Isaw
Phil comingupalongsideandIknewthatifI
changedgearIwouldlose the race. Idecided
not to changegear and let the enginerev its
heartout –ifitburst Ilost,and if Ichanged
gear Ilost,soIhungggon andwwwooonnnbbbyyyooonnneee
hundredthofasecond.
“In thosedays,the blokewith the
chequeredflagused to stand on thetrack and
he reallypanickedwhen he sawthesetwo
maniacs screamingtowardshim with their
heads buriedinthe tanks.Caption“Hejumpedbacksomewhereabitsafer
butNobbyClark,whowasquick-thinking,
rusheduptothefinishinglineandtooka
pictureincasetherewasanargumentabout
wwwhhhooohhhaaadddwon.
“No one willeverknowwhat figure that
motor revved to becausetherev counter only
read up to 18,000rpmand theneedle was
stuckthere.And this wasabikeIhad never
pushedover15,000rpm before! Whatalittle
beautythat motor was.“AikaSanstrippeditafftttertheraceand
foundnothingwrongbuthestillreplaced
everything,aseverypartmusthavebeen
uuunnnmmmeeerrrccciiifffuuullllllyyyssstttrrreeesssssseeeddd.
“Duringthis lastlap Philand Ipassed and
re-passedeachother no less than 12 times.
We were way aheadof all the others,lapping
the entire field, except forTommyRobbin
thirdplace, whowas nearly threeminutes
behind.The lap and race records forthis race
were well and truly smashed!022 Jim Redman_SEP.indd 25 02/08/201710:37:27