A modern slant on classic racing. The legendary bikes and the courageous, talented heroes that mattered then and still matter now.
In the early 1970s, 500cc Grand Prix racing was boring in the extreme, usually consisting of a cruise to the chequered flag by Giacomo Agostini and the MV Agusta ahead of a field of outdated British singles.
Read more
In 1971 he scored three GP wins on the ex-Stuart Graham 125 Suzuki at Spa, Belgium; Anderstorp, Sweden and Imatra, Finland. He’d even won the 50cc GP in Brno, Czechoslovakia, as guest rider for the
Read more
‘The fastest teenager on earth.’ That was how the press described Michael Hailwood in 1959.
Read more
This is John Surtees in 1960, en route to winning the Senior TT. His MV Agusta was easily the fastest bike compared to the following gaggle of Norton singles, with a time of 2 hours,
Read more
A 500cc Grand Prix winner at the age of 23, John ‘Noddy’ Newbold was a formidable opponent during the 1970s and 80s, winning an International road race and countless British Championship races as both a
Read more
Just sometimes it’s good to be different, and Andy Smith is a man who is prepared to swim against the tide. Graham Lawlor tells the story of his unlikely race bike and the history behind
Read more
Photo: Mortons Archive Three big V-twins, featuring plated petrol tanks and even at a glance a fine specification, with speedometers and lighting sets apparent. Brough Superiors, right? Wrong… At a glance – and to be
Read more
Tony McGurk blames the media frenzy around Giacomo Agostini for costing him a podium finish in the 1968 Senior TT. John Watterson explains. Photographs: John Watterson and Mortons Archive www.mortonsarchive.com Now aged 73, McGurk was
Read more
Classic Bike Guide reader John King is trying to track down his old BSA for a romantic reunification. Could you help him? John writes: “I’m hoping for readers’ help. In 1960, I bought a BSA A7
Read more
Ask any of the competitors who raced regularly against Austin Hockley and the most common description they give him is ‘fearless’. Chris Carter charts his varied career. Words: Chris Carter Photographs: Austin Hockley Collection and
Read more