January - February 2020

Classic Racer

Where legends live on

Classic Racer1 min read
On The Subject Of Aliens
Dear CR Regarding Pat Alexander’s proposal in CR #200, I think that first it needs to be decided what is to be (re) created. If the intention is to put on modern races for totally standard machines, so the only real deciding factor is rider abilit
Classic Racer4 min read
Readers Write
... please do. We read every letter, email and comment sent to us and we enjoy hearing from you whether you’ve an event coming up, a motorcycle you own or you just want to let us know about something you find interesting in Classic Racer’s world. Dea
Classic Racer2 min read
Gossip From The Crmc Paddock
The CRMC invited the founder members of the club to celebrate its 40th meeting at Snetterton, the venue for the first CRMC meeting and also the 2019 season finale. Among those attending were co-founder Dick Linton, former chairman Alan Hilton, Eric K
Classic Racer1 min read
Win This Amazing New Shoei Glamster Helmet Worth £399.99!
It’s so new that these won’t be in the shops until March 2020 (so you’ll have to wait for yours until then if you’re our lucky winner), but you can bet that the beautiful new Glamster is going to be an instant modern classic and it’s certainly up to
Classic Racer2 min read
WAYNE RAINEY ...rides again
Over 26 years after his career ending accident, grand prix legend Wayne has been back riding a motorcycle for the first time. The three-time world champion got his first emotional return at a local Californian track on a specially modified Yamaha R1.
Classic Racer1 min read
Lean, Mean And Lime Green
The books in the Lean, mean and lime green series are without doubt the most complete story ever told of racing with Kawasaki in the USA and the long-awaited VolumeTwo covers the important years from 1978 until 1983 that saw the emergence of the Supe
Classic Racer2 min read
Welcome
You know, I don’t normally get sentimental at this time of year. It feels like a long time between race ending and the season yet to come and these two things often make me grumpy (ask Malc) – but seeing the story of Wayne Rainey getting out on a mot
Classic Racer1 min read
Goodbye, Percy
Motorcycle sport lost a true legend when Percy Tait passed away on November 17, aged 90. Percy will be best remembered for the part he played in the success of Triumph in racing and also the development work he did on the company’s road machines. Per
Classic Racer2 min read
Heroes
I’ve no idea who first said ‘you should never meet your heroes’, but in my experience they couldn’t have been more wrong. Perhaps I got off to a good start, or was just plain lucky, but growing up in Lincolnshire, just a few miles from Cadwell Park
Classic Racer1 min read
In Memory Of Chris... Thank You
I would like to thank the scores of people who sent cards to us following the death of Chris, my son, at Ballaugh Bridge in August. Many cards included heartfelt letters, not the easiest thing to do or say, and we are all overwhelmed by your thoughts
Classic Racer1 min readAutomotive
Stafford Success
Despite the best the weather could throw at it, making parking a nightmare for the organisers, The Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics show was pronounced a success by visitors and traders alike. The Classic Racer Grand Prix Paddock proved as po
Classic Racer1 min readAutomotive
Classic Racer Iconic Metal
Named after an article in The Motor Cycle which carried the headline ‘ThruxtonTriumph by Bonneville’, theT120Rs – widely known as the Thruxtons – quickly carved out a position in motorcycle racing history. Ge ettttiinngg tth ha att lleeggeenndd u und
Classic Racer13 min read
The Making Of silver Dream Racer
Forty years on from the hugely complex task of filming it, director David Wickes and star David Essex tell Classic Racer the inside story on the making of the film. With a budget equivalent to £20 million in today’s money, and one of the biggest pop
Classic Racer7 min read
Devil In Disguise Dr Joe’s 350 Emc
While struggling to establish the fledgling bike business he’d founded in 1946, Joe Ehrlich developed a water-cooled EMC split-single, two-stroke GP racer. That motorcycle was born with a ladepumpe supercharging piston. It was a design clearly based
Classic Racer8 min read
Joe Ehrlich – A true original
Love him or loathe him (and there were plenty in both camps), Dr Josef Ehrlich was a true original. Volatile but inventive, constantly coming up with new ideas and innovative designs right up until his death in September 2003 at the age of 88, the sp
Classic Racer6 min readAutomotive
Gianni Rolando The Hunter
Arider takes up motorcycle racing knowing nothing about it – we’ve all heard that before – but in this case, it’s embarrassingly true. How about this for a moment of clarity that a professional racer would definitely rather forget? The man who transp
Classic Racer2 min read
Hangin’ With The Trailblazers
Honourees at the Trailblazers’ 75th banquet included a member of Ascot Park’s first family of race promoters, Chris Agajanian. Hall of fame inductees included off-road’s John Penton, the 93 years young patriarch of the legendary Penton clan (John,Tom
Classic Racer8 min read
How To Build A Classic Tt Race Bike Molnar Manx Norton
CR: HAVEYOU ALWAYS BEEN MECHANICALLY-MINDED? AM: Yes, I suppose I have. My dad was an engineer and, like now, the engineering works was at the back of the house in the old stables. My father was a genius – he designed and made very complex packaging
Classic Racer8 min read
THE NORTH WEST A History
Those original pioneers of 1929 will have had no idea how the event would develop or how it would produce such a multitude of record-breaking feats, so many defining moments, controversy, triumph and tragedy in equal measure, races of the highest ord
Classic Racer6 min read
Let’s Go Racing!
We’ve already learned how the CRMC was formed by Alan Cathcart and Dick Linton, following a fall out over them wanting to get classic bikes out on track that were considered by the Vintage Club to be too young and modern. After a very successful init
Classic Racer1 min readAutomotive
Later Years
Joey Dunlop’s total of 13 wins was eventually bettered by his brother Robert who took 15, although it’s now Seeley who is considered the course specialist with a commanding 24 victories. Further course changes have taken place at Mill Road (the round
Classic Racer2 min readAutomotive
The 1980s
Organisers responded by removing the Shell Hill Bridge section, an iconic part of the original course, with a new link road from University Corner to Ballysally Roundabout being introduced for 1980.That brought the circuit length down to 8.9 miles bu
Classic Racer3 min read
40 Years Of The Crmc
On the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club’s 40th birthday it was only fitting that co-founders Alan and Stella Cathcart were guests of honour at the annual awards and dinner held on November 23, at the customary venue of the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel.

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