I started racing at the age of 18 with his Vincent Rapide in some club races and sprint racing ¼ mile – what we now call Drag racing. Of course, I had to buy leathers, so off I went to Luis Leathers in Portland St, London. They cost me 18 pounds so I had to pay them off at 10 shilling a week I only earnt 1 pound two shilling a week, and after giving 10 shilling of that to my Mum it was a bit hard. Later when I joined Fritz Egli in Switzerland I did try to race in hill climes but that was just too dangerous. I was much more at home with the race bike preparation.
Coming to Australia and forming my company Classic Motor Bikes, I sponsored racing Vincent’s in sidecar and solo. Not until I was in my 60’s did I go back to racing, mainly to prove the modifications I was making to the Vincent. I was helping a friend with parts for his land speed race bike when I decided to have a go myself; first at Lake Gairdner in South Australia. My first run I had a new sidecar record, much to my surprise! I went on to better that record and then getting a world record in my class when I was 70 at Bonneville USA. I thought, “That is enough for me,” but it did not stop me racing. A very good friend, Dave MacLauchlan (Bones), now has the sidecar and solo vintage records. We are still racing with a new project hoping to take it to Bonneville this year (2019).
