From The Archive

At the end of the 1973 500 Grand Prix season Giacomo Agostini lost the world title to his arch-rival and team-mate Phil Read. He took the brave decision to leave MV Agusta for the following season and joined the factory Yamaha team. Many of his disappointed race fans thought this would be the end of…

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EVERY now and again there arises a rider who could hop on any bike and blast the hell out of his peers. Mike Hailwood was one, Bill Ivy another. But there’s another example – albeit a much lesser known one – who shared the majestic two-wheeled prowess of both Hailwood and Ivy – Bob Smith.…

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22 – 24 Jan 2016 In the International Island Classic at Phillip Island Team UK made it two in row at Australia’s showcase of classic motorcycle racing. The Roger Winfield-led outfit held off a late challenge from Australia to retain the International Challenge trophy it first won last year. Hamish Cooper reports. In front of…

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Words: Malc Wheeler Photographs: Julie Wheeler The classic off-road bike scene showed its strength once again this weekend, February 20-21, as riders and enthusiasts packed in to Telford’s International Centre for the premier event of the year. Sponsored by Hagon Shocks, the Classic Dirt Bike Show welcomed thousands through the doors and traders in attendance…

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Unless you were an acknowledged star with a factory contract in your pocket, being a genuine full-time professional motorcycle road racer was no easy task in the 1950s and 60s. Personal or team sponsorship was unknown apart from some support from oil and tyre companies that only went to the top men anyway and, if…

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Jan and Hetty Burgers lived the gypsy life, travelling with the Continental Circus during the 1970s and recording some great images of just what it was like to live that exciting lifestyle. In the first in a regular series they remember how hard it was for a young Barry Sheene to make his mark on…

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McIntosh 25th anniversary: 1980 was a time when big-bore Formula One racing was catching on worldwide, and the crowds loved it! The bikes were big, made lots of noise and in the right hands they could sometimes take on production GP machines. Words Terry StevensonPhotographs Steve Parker, Terry Stevenson and TS archives It was a…

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Words: John Parnham Photographs: John Parnham Collection and Joe Dick – www.mortonsarchive.com Every racing motorcycle has a story to tell, but a chance encounter with Carlos Lavado revealed that this TZ may have a more interesting history than most. At that moment we could not have guessed how interesting it was. What had Carlos Lavado’s…

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All fans of the ‘light and lean, green and mean’ Kawasaki tandem twins, that finally overcame Yamaha’s domination of the World 250 and 350cc Championships in the 1970s, are aware that these lithe little machines, with their game-changing inline cylinder layout, took a total of eight World Championships in those classes between 1978 and 1982.…

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The Daventry Court Hotel was sold out for the CRMC’s annual awards and dinner/dance, with Guest of Honour Jim Redman presenting the prizes and recounting anecdotes and tales from his incredible racing life. Words: Graham Lawlor Photographs: Russell Lee Unfortunately, neither George Hogton-Rusling nor Ian Ashley/Roy Cunningham could be present to receive their respective awards…

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