Classic Racer — September — October 2017

Left: Chimay,Belgium in 1976 and spotthe

newsponsoron the chin bar. ThiswasFrench

jeansmaker Mashe,whichwas one of the

first companiesto payBarry forimportant

promospaceas he rode.Motorcycle racingas a

spectator sportwas rapidlyrisingin popularity

aroundthe worldand the crowdsflockedto

see Sheeneet al in action.The standard-issue

cigarette only addedtothe everyman image.

Even on the grid.

Right:Borntorace and love the camera. Born

on September11,1950, youngBarry wasthe

appleof his mum’seye.Thisisthe youngBazza

in primephoto spotwitholdersister Margaret

(Maggiewent on to marry Paul Smart) to his

right and mumIris withdad Franco completing

the familyygroup.g p

Above:TTThhheeeppprrrooommmoootttiiiooonnnaaalllwwwhhheeeeeellliiieeettthhhaaattthhhiiiddd

disaaappointment.In 1979 Barry and the rest offf

the SuzukiGrand Prix ridersweregiven the

chhhaaance to tryout twodifferent versionsof theee

RGGG 555 00,one with theradiator in the noseof thhhe

bbbiiiiikkkeee,the otherwiththe coolingpulledabit

fuuurther back. Barry instantlyliked the one wittth

thhheweightiernosebut wasoutvoted on the

biiike by VirginioFerrari(Team Gallina)andWil

Haaartog(Team Nimag).Barry wasforced to ride

aversionof the bikethat he didn’tlike.

Left: Barry and Stephaniewere madeforeachhh

ottther as theirenduring marriageshowed. Barrrry

wwwas very closetoStephanie’s son Roman,

looovinghim as his ownand in November 1985

–ayear afterStephanieand Barry married –

caaame daughter Sidonie,withFreddie arriving

fooour years later.The solidhomelifewas the

peeerfect complimentforBarry in Australia, a

cooountrythat wasperfect forthe active,

ouuutdoors-lovingfamily.

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