ALL CLOCKS FLAT

RACE DAY MEMORIES

By Glen Cooper

Covering the 1970 - 1987 Seasons

WARNING MOTOR RACING CAN BE DANGEROUS RACE PROGRAMME 30p

GRID POSITIONS

Race 1 The Introductions
Race 2 Eary Morning
Race 3 Race Start & Atmosphere
Race 4 Heroes of Speed
Race 5 Here There & Everywhere
Race 6 Sponsors & Friends
Race 7 Chequered Flag to Sunset
Race 8 Race Bike Of The 70s
Race 9 British Series & Circuits
Race 10 The Sidecar Teams
Past Fast Tracks
Masters & Legends
My Bikes & Helpers

THE INTRODUCTIONS

The poem within this programme I dedicate to all the Racers,
Sponsors, Marshalls, Mechanics and Personnel of the British Motor
Cycle Road Racing Circuits of the fantastic 70s and 80s eras.

I started the poem as a 13 year old boy remembering the excitement of
going to the race-track. I then lost the poem but found it 40 years later
and finished it, again picking up the thrill I felt from the time of those first
visits to Snetterton where I would sit in the Bomb Hole Stand and watch riders
such as Paul Smart (wearing goggles at that time) hanging off his bike and
swooping around the bend from the old Home Straight, and hearing the
thunder of his Triumph .

As that young boy I was immediately captured by the Sport, and would
hitch-hike to the track from my home in the Norfolk Village of
Walsingham, hitch-hiking back again at the end of a wonderful day.
After a while my enthusiasm was noticed by the Clerk of the Course,
Colin Ames and his wife Marie, and from then on they invited me to stay
with them and their family and travel with them in their caravan to the
Circuits.

I also had the privilege at this time to meet many of my Heroes such as
Barry Sheene, Giacomo Agostini, Chas Mortimer and others. And
when in 1977 I moved to London, one day when push-biking to work
I had the enormous luck to meet Ken Clarke. Ken sponsored many
riders, such as James Dean, and the Sidecar Racer, Mick Barton who
went on to become European Champion in the early 80s. And after my
chance meeting with him he helped me in my own racing ambitions by
transporting me and my Bike to the Club meetings of Newmarket,
Snetterton Combine, Bemsee and Bantam.

I would never otherwise have had the chance, at 17 years old, to Race
on a Greeves Silverstone 250 etc, if it had not been for all these wonderful
people - I owe them so much. SO I THANK them all.

RACE 1

EARLY MORNING

CAL RAYBOURN KENT ANDERSSON GEOFF BARRY TONY JEFFERIES

Vans start arriving with Race Bikes inside them - & fairings all strapped up with care.

The machines are unloaded with tool kits & stands - crash hats, leathers & spares,

with amazing display's of Bikes & Sidecars - as I wander around everywhere.

I can hardly wait to hear those bikes start - & smell the in the fumes in the air.

PERCY TAIT TONY RUTTER VICTOR PALOMO PHIL CARPENTER

CHRIS REVETT RENZO PASOLINI GARY NIXON PAUL SMART

The Riders sign in, which allows them to race - & pick up some Regs on the way,

There’s the tinkering sound of spanners around - as they cue at the Scrutineer's Bay
And the churning of chains as the wheel turns around - to top centre to start up their bikes.

One hand there’s a pull on the back wheel & BOOM! - engine’s Fire & then Crack into life.

Little by little the day comes alive - with the Paddock now humming in tune,

commentator Fred Clarke now announces his part - way up so high in his room.

Then over the tannoy Marie Armes has to say, "ATTENTION PADDOCK! riders now please

make your way to the Gathering area Race One, & please be sure you arrive on time or

the gate will be closed with no run". RACE 2

RACE START & ATMOSPHERE

TEPI LANSIVUORI RAY PICKEREL JOHNNY CECOTTO KORK BALLINGTON

From the pits to the racetrack they ride their bikes slow, following in line & then forming a row.

They look for their number to start for the race - for any time now they’ll be off at full pace.

The marshals are ready with flags at the call - as they help bikes & riders should anyone fall.

At the side of track in a very small room - there are people that clock all Race times,

well they'll have to be fast as each bike whizzes past, when Lap Records are smashed at the line.

Then Clerk of the course Colin Armes sets his sights - to the roaring pack of those motorbikes.

He checks all is proper, legal & fair, to insure for the safety of riders out there.

And only his nod can give the word go”, this he then does : SO IT’S ON WITH THE SHOW!.

KIM NEWCOMBE BILLY NELSON JOHN NEWBOLD DAVE CROXFORD

The machines they are revving to warm for the start - as they stand by their bikes & are ready to part.

Sounding so crisp as they’re all tuned so fine - Yes they aim to be first ‘cross that chequered flag line.

A board is held high that tells them to stop, the bleeping of throttles now engines are hot.

Dave Bailey stands poised before the flag falls - & tensions are high as we wait for that call.

They click their machines into first gear - & check one more time that their visors are clear.

Rocking their bikes forward & back, ready & watching that Union Jack.

Before the flag drops there’s a silence out there, but when clutches bite - there’ll be ROARS in the air.

They run & they push to bump-start the bikes - then jump in the saddle and Scream out of sight.

The smell of the fumes has to be Castrol R, as through the smoke cloud the bikes seem so far.

Bobbing & thrusting through the wind, they approach the first corner, THE RACE BEGINS!

RACE 3

HEROES OF SPEED

TOM HERRON PATRICK PONS MARTIN SHARP PHIL HASLAM

To the left, then to the right they lean their machines with all their might.
Scraping their knees around each bend, going faster & faster as fast as they can.

They roar down the straight - number eight sets the pace but can he succeed in winning the race?
A loud smack from the engine, they click one more gear, going quicker and quicker without any fear.
There’s thirty or forty of other race bikes, slipstreaming and weaving their way at top flight.
They speed at one fifty, one sixty or more,.. I was simply amazed watching bikes at full bore.
I standby the pit wall and trying to take in, all riders that pass but my head is in a spin.
The noise of the engines whining so loud; other people around me but they’re just the crowd.
Some are mechanics, sponsors & wives, but my heroes were there: in front of my eyes.

GREG PAGE STEVE MANSHIP STEVE MACHIN DIETER BRAUN

Agostini, Read & Sheene streak by - those MVs, Suzukis & Yamahas Fly.
The John Player Nortons are not far behind - with Williams and Croxford both matching their times.
With ‘Mooneyes Cooper’, Pickerel & Tait - all riding their Triumphs & BSA’s Great!.
Lansivuori, Cecotto, Findlay & Smart - swooping through corners just inches apart.
Bonera, Palomo & Ballington too - Ditchburn & Rutter are chasing them through.
If Hailwood & Ivy were here at this time - with the Honda Six BELLOWING just Blowing my mind
plus the YELL of the Yamaha two fifty four - both would be chasing up front, that’s for sure. RACE 4

ALEX GEORGE DAVE POTTER GIANFRANCO BONERA RON HASLAM

HERE THERE
& EVERYWHERE

CHAS MORTIMER BOB SMITH

From race to race I was all over the place, just to see as much as I can,

Walking corner to corner then under the Lapboard and sometimes I'd sit in a stand.
125, 250, 350 & 50 Program Race order as lists - 750, Production, 500 & Sidecars then 1000cc
‘they can Shift.
With making my way cross the Dunlop signed bridge - I'd peep through a crack to the track.

Like an arrow they'd fly beneath my feet, engines crying & pounding for chat!
The sound of that boat engine Konig that screamed, - & the super loud sidecar that ran the TT.

I’d Stand by the bikes in the pits where they park - just to hear engines shouting, Yes! just for the Lark.

JOHN WILLIAMS ALAN NORTH RAY KNIGHT BARRY RANDLE

PHIL MELLOR MICK CHATTERTON GREG HANSFOED CLIVE PADGETT
RACE 5

SPONSORS AND FRIENDS

WALTER VILLER OLIVIER CHEVALIER BARRY DITCHBURN JOEY DUNLOP

As the bikes race the circuit far over the back, I have time to reflect who I’ve seen on the track.

I’ve seen Potter, Newbold, Newcombe, Dunlop - Nelson, Herron, Nixon & Sharpe.

Villa, Chevalier, Ekerold & Pons - Pasolini, Manship, Machin & Braun.

Du Hamel, Roberts, Aldana, Jefferies - Mortimer, Mann & Rayborns Harley.

There’s Marshal & Parrish, Wood’s, Haslam, Aldana, Hennen, Huewen & Carr,

Katayama, Romero, Nieto & more - Charlie Williams & others I’m so Glad I saw.

JOHN EKEROLD PAT HENNEN STEVE PARRISH DAVE ALDANA

They glide back towards me hugging the bend & swing through the Esses, then Gone with the wind!

I think that was Saarinen or Dodd’s flashing past - I can hardly keep up as those bikes go so fast.

Spaggiari’s Ducati goes THUNDERING by - but Grant’s Kawasaki then captures my eye.
I could only imagine that feeling in awe - of racing those bikes that continued to ROAR.

The support race with riders like Dinham & Nash all club racing winners that all stand a chance.
There's Lerego, Page, Tuxworth & Went, Christmas, Peers-Jones, Keen & Patrick.

Harris & Bond, Meller & Knight - Chatterton, Revett & Nicholls, at flight.

Sponsors like Revetts, Carter & Beal - Manchester, Padgett, Ted Broad & Jim Lee, Harold
Coppock, Eddie Crooks are some of the Guys, who dedicated money to give many their rides.

RACE 6

CHEQUERED FLAG TO SUNSET

YVON DUHAMEL ROGER MARSHALL ANGELNIETO WAYNE DINHAM

Oh, what a glorious sight & sound: with those racing machines now pounding around.

Ducking the screen as they stream down the straight - with the screaming of engines at very high rates.

Then selecting the bike’s very top gear, it’s flat out & fast: as fast as they Dare
Under the bridge then a hairpin awaits, they crunch down the gearbox & hard on the brakes.
They round this bend with some sort of ease - then up pops the wheel as the power they feed.
With throttles wide open, the rev counters peak - they crank through each corner for victory they seek.
Again they duck down behind the screen - flat-out & ready to lap once again.
As the whizz & screams of bikes cross the line, there’s a click on the stopwatch to Capture their times.

LEON LEREGO DEREK CHATTERTON MICK PATRICK NEIL TUXWORTH

Well the day would stand still for the Lunch hour meal, but then carry on singing it’s song

with the sound of those Bikes to my pure delight, playing till late afternoon.

Now the last race has run, packing up has begun, all attendees will then make their way

from the pits to our homes feeling everyones won, Yes! we’ve all had a Fabulous Day.

These are my thoughts of some racer’s from past - they’ll not be forgotten,
THE MEMORIES WILL LAST

RACE 7

RACE BIKES OF THE 70s

KR 750 KAWASAKI - 1973 KONIG 500 - 1974 XR-TT HARLEY DAVIDSON - 1973

BSA750 ROCKET 3 - 1971 MZ 125cc - 1976 TD-2 YAMAHA 250 - 1972

DUCATI 750 IMOLA - 1972 RG SUZUKI 500cc - 1974 SLIPPERY SAM 750cc - 1974

750 JOHN PLAYER NORTON - 1973 AERMACCHI 250cc - 1976 500 MV AUGUSTA - 1974

750 TRIUMPH TRIDENT - 1971 KRIEDLER 50cc - 1973 750 TZ YAMAHA - 1975
RACE 8

BRITISH SERIES & CIRCUITS

HUTCHINSON 100 - KING OF BRANDS - TRANSATLANTIC TROPHY - RACE OF ACES - RACE OF THE YEAR - COCK O NORTH
TT RACES - BRITISH INTERNATIONAL GP - RACE OF THE POWER BIKES - LORD OF LYDDEN - POST TT
------------------------------
LYDDEN HILL - CADWELL PARK - OULTON PARK - ISLE OF MAN - OLIVER'S MOUNT
BRANDS HATCH - SNETTERTON - MALLORY PARK - SILVERSTONE - THRUXTON

CHARLIE WILLIAMS CLIFF CARR GENE ROMERO

PAT MAHONEY STAN WOODS KEITH HUEWEN

TAKAZUMI KATAYAMA JOHN DODDS DICK MANN

RACE 9

THE SIDECAR TEAMS

Those sidecar racers are Spectacular too, with driver and passenger that make up a crew,
They are low-level bikes, machines with side cars, - very strange to look at ‘but go very Fast..
The Passengers work so hard in the chair, one side then the other & then up in the air.
They lean from the sidechair hanging on with full might, to balance the bike so they have to hold tight.
Scratching the circuit they lean their way round , & try to keep three wheels ‘firm to the ground.
I don't understand how the passenger hangs on, they have to have grip or the bike would be gone.
The drivers they steer & race to their best, but neither of them seem to get any rest.
Mostly motorbike engines with up to six gears, & the rasp of their engines is lovely to hear.
With three big fat wheels & a chassis so stiff, with two people boarded they really are Swift.
Those tyres put full grip striaght to the ground, which allows the machine to speed both around.

NICK & GERRY BORET JOCK TAYLOR

GEORGE O’DELL 1970 BMW SIGGY SCHAUZU

MICK BODDICE TERRY & RON HASLAM RACE 10

180

mph

160 LAP TIME

TOP SPEED 1.35 secs

140 AVERAGE
103 mph

120

180

mph

160 LAP TIME

1.38 secs
TOP SPEED

140 AVERAGE
106 mph

120

180

mph

160 LAP TIME
1.36 secs
TOP SPEED
AVERAGE
140 101 mph

120

180

mph

160 LAP TIME
1.42 secs
TOP SPEED

140 AVERAGE
93 mph

120

180

mph

160 LAP TIME
52 secs
TOP SPEED

140 AVERAGE
92 mph

120

180

mph

160 LAP TIME

TOP SPEED 1.39 secs

140 AVERAGE
81 mph

120

MASTERS & LEGENDS

KENNY ROBERTS

JARNO SARAANEN
BARRY SHEENE

PETER WILLIAMS

MIKE THE BIKE HAILWOOD

PHIL READ GIACOMO AGOSTINI
MICK GRANT JOHN MOONEYES COOPER

ISLE OF MAN TT COURSE

MY BIKES & HELPERS

250 TZ YAMAHA -1979 GREEVES SILVERSTONE 352 TZ YAMAHA -1985
Brands Hatch test day 250 Single Summer -1976 Mallory Park Shaw's Hairpin

THE TEAM GC RACING - 1979
Stephen Bond, Stephen Greaves

Erica Kirk, Glen Cooper
TZ 250 YAMAHA

Dieter helping with my T20 250 SUZUKI -1977 Me with Jack Findlay Silverstone GP -1974

Biggest transport in the paddock back then. Mike Lewis 70s & 80s Champion of multi
classes Helping with Scrutineering -1985
Race Days with Dick Williamson
He helped with my first venture on track -1976

Dick also Raced his 250 Single Cotton

Maybe a future Champion?
My Son Sebastian aboard my 350 TZ Yamaha at Lydden Hill 1986