Features

Hailwood v Read 1967 250cc championship (pdf) There have been some close finishes in the 50-year history of the World Championships, but none have been tighter or more chaotic than the 1967 250cc title chase. In fact, it was so close and confused that the FIM steward at the final round of the series in…

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Restored Moto Cinelli Ducati TT2 What was a fairly normal Wednesday morning in Classic Racer Towers suddenly took on a different complexion. I'd rolled in expecting to be working on copy to keep designer Holly gainfully employed, but as ever the first job was to listen to the answer phone and sift through scores of…

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Joey Dunlop profile (pdf) This June the cheers for racing legend Joey Dunlop were echoing around the Isle of Man, and the rest of the world, when the quiet Ballymoney Freeman added another chapter his incredible record by win­ning three more TT races to take his total to 26. The richly deserved congratulations and cele­brations…

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Spa-Francorchamps 1977 It’s almost a Suzuki benefit, as on pole there’s Phillipe Coulon, Barry Sheene next to him, then there’s Michel Rougerie (31), South African Alan North and on the very end John Newbold. Riders behind include Steve Parrish (11), Wil Hartog (19) and Virginio Ferrari (21). In the background, the blue open face helmet…

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Eric Oliver – four times world sidecar champion It can be positively stated that no other racing rider has ever put more effort into his grand prix career than four-times sidecar world champion Eric Oliver. Although he gained factory support from Norton and Watsonian sidecars, Eric was essentially a privateer. There was never any question…

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Brooklands circuit history Brooklands Track, Weybridge, Surrey. The first motor racing arena in the world — it was con­ceived and brought to execution by one man, wealthy land owner, Hugh Locke-King, with the constant support of his wife Dame Ethel. He donated over 30 acres of his estate, and spent more than £150,000 of his…

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