Having ridden several fast road bikes in the early 1960's, I was tempted tp buy a 500cc Norton International
that was advertised in our local Hull Daily Mail.
I went to view the bike, but it was too expensive. The owner was a local lad who needed money to pay for a genuine 500cc
Manx Norton that he had bought, to race on the british circuits.
This was David Boxhall, and after meeting him and seeing both his Manx Norton, and a 350cc AJS 7R of his friend George Ardill,
I had a longing to buy a race machine of my own. He was my inspiration to finaly decide to race motorcycles.
I went to race meetings to watch these two local lads, and their friends too.
Some were much older than myself, so it was hard to befriend them, but I watched with envy those local heros.
Names like Noel Stevenson, Laurie Brown, Ron Phillips, Jack Leddy, Wally Dawson, Ben Noble, Trevor Beharol all made
impressions on me.
Other circles of grass track and scrambling greats also gave me much drive, with Johnny Panks, who I worked with at one time
also keeping a burning ember for want of a go at road racing.
I soon got to know lots of racing men, some just helpers, others drivers, mechanics, and even wives.
I cannot remember all, but Colin Hooley, Frank Barton, Peter halstead, Mike Moor, Bert' and Tony Myers, Dick Pipes, Eric Wilson, Robin Bell, Peter
Inchley, "Cis" Collins,
Robin Barker-Platt, Ian Hampton, Martin Thornton, Howard Dennis, were just a few of those I got to know. My first bike
was firstly a long stroke AJS 7R, the frame came from Collin Hooley, and engine from a well known Sidecar outfit racer
from Bawtry, by the name of Fred Brindly. It was old, but still had speed.
I rode it for a year or two, before buying a faster short stroke model that had been owned by a well known Manx rider.
Many lads were working lads, and many around the country rode sports models, such as BSA Gold Stars, as parts were cheaper, although even these
sort of bikes could be competetive on short circuits.
Page Updated 01-June-2006