Continental Report
CONTINENTAL REPORT
B. R. NICHOLLS
PROTESTS
Phil Read is double world champion. Victory in the 250 race at Monza gave him the title to add to that of the 125 class he already had won. However, the feud with Bill Ivy was joined to the bitter end, and may continue. In FIM rules, there is a minimum weight for riders. To meet this requirement, it is reported, Ivy had lead added to his machine at Monza for the first time this season. Therefore, if Ivy had won, Read could not protest about his being under weight. But Read won, so Ivy tried to invoke another FIM regulation about front number plate sizes. His protest was thrown out on grounds that it should have been made before the race. Had it succeeded, then both Read and Ivy would have been disqualified, as their machines are identical. The title would have gone to Ivy on the basis of results before Monza. This was “gamesmanship,” and it has left no doubt about the determination of Ivy to win a title. In the long run, this may do him more harm than good.
YAMAHA, 1969?
What will Yamaha do about 1969? Both Read and Ivy have been instructed to return their machines to Japan. Ivy fears that will be the last to be seen of them. Everything points to Yamaha’s retirement from racing, as the firm would not have left those complex Fours to be maintained by two British mechanics if Yamaha intends to race in 1969. Neither would Yamaha allow photos to be taken of them, a thing that was frowned upon last year.
So, with no Japanese works machinery around next year, it will be left to the Italians to provide the main interest in grand prix racing with MV
and Benelli. Mike Hailwood was offered MV machinery for Monza, but refused to race to orders, so changed at the last moment to Benelli, and after only four practice laps, was getting around 2 sec. quicker than Agostini. Then, in the early stages of the race, Hailwood hit a puddle on the wet track, and machine and rider slid into wet sand, which ended hope of a restart.
AT MALLORY, AND MORE
During the practice session the day before the recent race at Mallory, Hailwood was asked if he would race for MV next year. With a grin he said, “The Count wouldn’t have me now.” He agreed that Benelli is the best bet for 1969, but he was neither bothered nor cared about anything beyond “tomorrow.”
From that moment it was obvious that Agostini did not have a chance in the $2500 large displacement Mallory race. And he didn’t. There was a heavy shower of rain just as the race started. Away went Mike to lead at the end of Lap 1. He was never headed. Bill Ivy, on the 250 Yamaha, held 2nd place until, with 10 of 30 laps remaining, he slid off without injury, to let the Italian into a secure 2nd place ahead of Barry Randle (Norton), with Alan Barnett (Kirby Métissé) 4th and Percy Tait 5th on a new 749-cc Triumph Twin, built by works development engineer Doug Hele. It is obviously a force to be reckoned with.
Much of the interest in the major race at Mallory was spoiled by its running as the final solo event of the day and basing it on riders’ previous performance for the day. This excluded Ray Pickreil (Dunstall Dominator) as he fell in a previous race. Though unhurt, he was classed a nonqualifier. Phil Read’s 125 Yamaha seized solid and put him out of action for the big race. John Cooper also was sidelined because of injury in a fall in the 350 final.
He was riding a very interesting new 350 Seeley. Specially designed as a 350 frame and not intended for use with the 500 engine, the immediate and obvious difference is that there is no downtube at the front. The engine is suspended by rubber bushed lugs and given support by plates from the main tubes. Tubing is 17 gauge Reynolds 531. The new layout so far has saved 25 lb. Colin Seeley has plans during the winter to work on the engine unit to rid it of another 10 lb.
Total weight of the machine, with 5 pt. of oil and fairing, is 258.5 lb. The weight reduction has led the builder to fit 2.75-18 tires to the prototype machine. The new 350 Seeley is fractionally lower than the standard model. John Cooper is enthusiastic about the handling of this bike.
Mike Hailwood, in addition to winning the big race, also won the 350, using his 297 Honda Six on both occasions. Agostini had the 350-1000-cc race all to himself, with Barnett 2nd after Tait (Triumph) retired, and Ivy won the 125 from Stuart Graham (Suzuki) who, like Ivy, wonders whether he will still have his machine for 1969.
Chris Vincent, Peter Brown and Norman Hanks finished in that order in the sidecar event, after one of the finest scraps seen in this class at Mallory. All rode 654-cc BSA outfits.
Hailwood had his 500-cc Honda powered HRS at Mallory, but two practice laps convinced him it was unsuitable for the 1.3-mile circuit. It seems the only way for that engine to win a title is to put it in a sidecar outfit and break the BMW monopoly.
Hailwood’s last 500-cc ride in England must have seemed a very leisurely stroll by comparison. At the Oulton Park holiday meeting he raced and won on the Seeley. Phil Read was also in the same race on an ex-Kirby Matchless lent to him for the occasion by present owner Christian Godetz. In the early stages of the race Hailwood and Read both diced with John Cooper (Seeley), showing it is ability that counts. Then, four laps from the end, Read ran out of fuel, so Tait (Triumph) took 3rd. The Oulton meeting was certainly one for the enthusiast and full of nostalgia, as Stuart Graham won the 125 race on the Suzuki Twin over the five-cylinder Honda of Ralph Bryans, who took another 2nd place in the250 on the Honda Six behind Bill Ivy (Yamaha Four), with Hailwood taking the 350 on his 297 Honda Six. Will such noises ever again be heard at one meeting? Chances are slim, indeed, but the complete retirement of the Japanese can be compared with the Italian withdrawal in 1957, except that there will still be some exciting machines about. MV has a six-cylinder 350 to combat the Benelli menace, and may well need a better 5 00. Benelli has the eightcylinder 250, and Jawa the fourcylinder two-stroke for both 350 and 500 classes. Thus, international grand prix racing may well be much more exciting in 1969 than of late, for, whatever is thought of the personal Read-Ivy battle, it was the only thing that livened the second half of the 1968 season.
However, the sidecar class has still to be resolved, though Helmut Fath (URS) has been showing that he will be a hard man to beat. He has beaten his two rivals easily in British races.
At the Snetterton meet he broke the lap record when winning, as did Phil Read (Yamaha) in the 125 race. Phil also won the 250 and Hailwood won the 350 with a lap record, and also took the Race of the Aces on the 297 model before giving the crowd and himself some great excitement by racing the 500 HRS to victory in the 500 class, complete with lap record. Alan Barnett (Kirby Metisse), in 2nd place, just beat Dave Croxford (Seeley) to the flag. Mike’s 500 lap record was made at 93.81 mph, but he set the absolute record on the 297 at 95.65 mph in the Race of the Aces when he beat Read (250 Yamaha), with Ray Pickrell (745 Dunstall) 3rd ahead of Tait (649 Triumph).
Tait had his best ride of the weekend the next day at Oulton in the Les Graham Trophy race when he got the best of a four-cornered scrap that involved Peter Williams (Arter Matchless), John Cooper (Seeley) and Rob Fitton (Norton). The handling of the 500 Triumph, which he was using at Oulton, has been improved by the rigidity of tubes that run from the top frame member to the rear of the engine mounting.
The other big international of the weekend was at Scarborough, where Sweden’s Kent Andersson won the 250 race on his Yamaha from Jim Curry (Aermacchi), who in turn went on to win the 350 class from Billie Nelson (Norton), who won the 500 class, again Norton mounted.
Title contender Georg Auerbacher (BMW) won the sidecar race with his fellow countryman Siegfried Schauzu (BMW) 3rd, having lost second gear.
The entire meeting, however, was marred by the accident in which John Hartle lost his life. —►
MANX GRAND PRIX
The annual Manx Grand Prix races this year produced a first class performance by Scottish rider John Findlay, who, on a pair of Nortons owned and maintained by himself, won both junior and senior races. The 250 class went to Frank Whiteway (Suzuki), who won at a record speed of 88.52 mph. The lap record was set by Stanley Woods (Yamaha), who was a strong contender for the lead until ignition trouble dropped him down the field. This young man has all the makings of a champion, though he may well find it would have been easier to make his own name than live in the shadow of that created by THE Stanley Woods.
CASTROL CARRUTHERS
As a result of his 4th place in the 350 race at Mallory Park. Australian Kel Carruthers has won the 1st prize of $1200 in the Castrol Challenge, and Hailwood has a secure 2nd place, but the 3rd spot will not be known until after the final round at Brands Hatch. At this writing there are a dozen possibles.
GROVEWOOD AWARDS
The Grovewood awards recipients also have been nominated, and Carruthers again qualifies for some gold with 2nd place, and $360 behind winner Alan Barnett who gets $600, with Rod Gould 3rd with a $240 prize. This year the awards were made to “the three non-works UK or Commonwealth riders competing at UK circuits who have shown the greatest improvement in their performances during the season.” Barnett was virtually the automatic winner, but it is a surprise that the sidecar team of Norman Hanks and Rose Arnold was overlooked by the selectors. Malcolm Uphill is another greatly improved soloist, but he may well get his reward for consistency with the final round of the Players championship, which will be reported next month.
THE PROUD SWEDES
Five wins on the trot is the Swedish motocross team’s proud record in the 250-cc Trophée des Nations event. The Swedes have won again in 1968 at Payerne, Switzerland. With two qualifying heats, Sweden was the only country to place all five riders into the allimportant final. Then the Swedes proved their team strength by winning after Torsten Hallman had dropped out with a broken chain. The race was won by Joel Robert (CZ) for Belgium, with team mate Roger DeCoster in 5th spot, but the Swedes packed their Husqvarna mounted trio of Aberg, Hammargren and Bonn into the first six to insure victory from Belgium, with Holland 3rd. Then came Finland, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy, with France and Great Britain non-finishers.
500 FARCE
For pure farce, the 500-cc counterpart Motocross des Nations will take some beating. With teams from Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Denmark not taking part, Russia staged this year’s event on home ground at Kishinev and won from East Germany, whose Paul Friedrichs, with wins in both races, was the only rider to stand between the Russians and a clean sweep. Behind these two teams came France, Romania, Finland and Switzerland. Will the FIM congress ratify the result, in view of the poor quality of the entry?
EASTWOOD WINS
In England, Vic Eastwood (Husqvarna), whose 2nd place in Trophée des Nations race was the only redeeming feature of the poor British showing, was the overall winner of three races at the Thirsk international event. He had a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd to take the prize from Jeff Smith (BSA). The previous week, Eastwood had won at Newbury, and in the holiday weekend meeting the day after the Trophée des Nations he was top two-stroke rider, but failed in the big race, which was won by Jeff Smith. Although Smith has retired from world title racing, he remains a top runner and crowd puller at British meetings.
SWEDES IN ISDT
The Swedish team will, after all, compete in the ISDT because the Russians have announced that they will not be there. On this news Sweden confirmed an entry.
HAGON HITS 206
Alt Hagon strikes again! In a tremendous display of skill and courage he hurtled his 1260-cc supercharged JAP machine down a runway to be measured over a short distance at 206.50 mph with no more than a nosecone for streamlining. This made him the first man in Britain ever to top the double ton, and he makes it clear that he could well break the world record for absolute speed on two wheels. [Ö]
