Top Men In Europe:

TOP MEN IN EUROPE:

B. R. Nicholls

JACK AHEARN

You WILL NOT get Jack Ahearn to admit how old he is, but some idea can be gained from the fact that he started racing out in his home country of Australia back in 1943. This makes it a fair bet that he must be in the region of thirtyseven and for a man of that age he is having a remarkably good road racing season. He was the only man at the T.T. this year to lap on a Norton at over one hundred miles an hour and that was done during practice on a perfectly standard over-the-counter Manx Norton with a four-speed box. In so doing he proved his point for he had argued that it could be done with a standard racer without fivespeed boxes or ultra sonic tuning.

Although he started racing in 1943 it was not until 1954 that he was seen in Europe. He did very well on the continent and with wins and some lap records in the bag he decided it was time to slow down to make sure of getting home that winter to get married. Back in 1955 he was one of the riders who gained suspension after the episode at the Dutch Grand Prix where the riders went on strike because of the poor start money.

In 1958 he won the Austrian Grand Prix and also in that year had his only works ride. It was on a 7R A.J.S. and the prototype G-50 which he rode in the T.T. and finished twenty-ninth. All very galling for he had lent his 500 Manx Norton to New Zealander John Anderson — no relation to Hugh — who finished sixth. For the next three seasons he stayed in the sun of Australia to become a regular winner and also quarter-mile record holder in the 250 and 350 classes.

This is supposedly his last season in racing but a man of his experience will be invaluable to a works team. Time alone will answer the question of whether he gains a works ride for 1964 but there is no doubt he has all the qualifications to do the job well. •