THE ISLAND LIFE
Only the legendary Mike Hailwood with 14 wins and Giacomo Agostini with 10 (tying with the great pre-Second World War maestro Stanley Woods), were more successful in the big-bike classes.
Considering the honours he was later to gain there, Surtees’ Island debut could hardly have been less auspicious. Already identified as a star of the future by virtue of his growing success as an 18-year-old short circuit rider, plans to ride in the Manx GP of 1952 fell through when, as a Vincent apprentice, he was called on to assist the factory in a series of record attempts at Montlhery in September that year.
However in 1953 John and his father obtained the promise of a Manx Norton from Norton boss Gilbert Smith, and entered for the TT. Imagine John’s astonishment when legendary Norton race boss Joe Craig then came up with a brace of Norton factory machines, on which to make his Island debut!
“To say I was both astonished and overawed would be an understatement,” recalls John. “Here I was, a lad of 19, still an
