I was brought up with the motorcycle legends of this era. Freddy Frith, who came to our house regularly, Bob McIntyre, Gary Hocking, Geoff Duke.... My godfather and uncle was a great man called Phil Heath, a pro who raced on the European road racing circuit and married a wonderful Belgian journalist, Annette Heath. He wrote for Motorcycle News. Does anyone out there have memories of him?
I rode a few long distance trials with Phil in the 1970s, he was a good campaigner in VMCC events. He also wrote articles for Motorcycle Sport magazine. There are photos of Phil from his TT and Ulster Grand Prix rides on TTracepics.com.
@@billsnelling3285 Oh, thanks so much for your amazingly fast reply. He was a great friend of my father and mother and after my father died he proved a tower of strength to us until she too died. I well remember being taken by him to sprint meetings at RAF Podington and other airfields, trials at Tilton on the Hill in Leicestershire, Launde Abbey, etc. He gave me a JAP engine to dismantle and play with, we entertained Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, the whole 9 yards. I rode trials, sat in his chair but took to cycle racing...... and at 70 am still at it.
I have quite a few pics of Phil, I also competed with him the the MCC long-distance trails. I remember following him on his acetylene-lit bike somewhere around Beggars Roost, and was astounded by the quality of the light it gave. There are 8 pics of Phil on www.ttracepics.com website
As someone has pointed out here my Grandfather, Basil Keys, did win the lightweight clubmans and not finish 2nd. The other machine was found to be overbored and therefore illegal. Basil was declared the winner and presented with the trophy.
Lovely film. Thought I should point out though that Basil Keys won the lightweight Clubmans and not finished 2nd. The other guy was caught cheating with an oversized engine and so disqualified.
Thank you Bill you bought back great memories for an old guy 85 and still revving.
Wonderful film with amazing full rider and machine details, great that it is now on digital record.
Thanks for that, I hope to produce a few more programmes like this later this year.
. . . great stuff from a guy who really knows the history of bikes !
Fascinating and excellent thank you Bill from Alf Justin
Hi Alf. Good to make contact! My email is amulree022@gmail.com
I just love your video knew many of these Men in person Thank you for the Memories and God bless your number two Grip,haha.
Open exhausts, black or brown 2piece leathers, body belts and the smell of castrol R. Thanks for posting this.
Pity we don't have smaellavision, for the Castrol R!
Awsome work. Thank you very much for uploading !
Great, thanks for uploading these videos I love them.
Very interesting video's. thanks.
I was brought up with the motorcycle legends of this era.
Freddy Frith, who came to our house regularly, Bob McIntyre, Gary Hocking, Geoff Duke....
My godfather and uncle was a great man called Phil Heath, a pro who raced on the European road racing circuit and married a wonderful Belgian journalist, Annette Heath.
He wrote for Motorcycle News.
Does anyone out there have memories of him?
I rode a few long distance trials with Phil in the 1970s, he was a good campaigner in VMCC events. He also wrote articles for Motorcycle Sport magazine. There are photos of Phil from his TT and Ulster Grand Prix rides on TTracepics.com.
@@billsnelling3285 Oh, thanks so much for your amazingly fast reply.
He was a great friend of my father and mother and after my father died he proved a tower of strength to us until she too died.
I well remember being taken by him to sprint meetings at RAF Podington and other airfields, trials at Tilton on the Hill in Leicestershire, Launde Abbey, etc.
He gave me a JAP engine to dismantle and play with, we entertained Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, the whole 9 yards.
I rode trials, sat in his chair but took to cycle racing...... and at 70 am still at it.
I have quite a few pics of Phil, I also competed with him the the MCC long-distance trails. I remember following him on his acetylene-lit bike somewhere around Beggars Roost, and was astounded by the quality of the light it gave. There are 8 pics of Phil on www.ttracepics.com website
I'm just amazed that you can recall so much detail about each TT. How on earth do you remember so much?!
I was only born that year, put the Blue 'On and the Green 'Un (The Motor Cycle and Motorcycling) plus the archives of the Manx Museum help!
Bill Snelling ahh well that helps explain it. Regardless it's fantastic to listen to your retelling of the races along with the stunning photos.
Excellent, really informative, many thanks.
Top!
Good quality photos considering it was before digital cameras. Developing tanks and dishes in darkrooms then.
Thanks Robert; some pics are better than others, I hope to complete more TT revisited in the next few months.
Do you have any information on Charles Henry Francis (Harry Francis) ?
Greetings. There was no biography of C H Francis in the TT Specials, drop me a line at amulree022@gmail.com I will see if we can find anything more,
As someone has pointed out here my Grandfather, Basil Keys, did win the lightweight clubmans and not finish 2nd. The other machine was found to be overbored and therefore illegal. Basil was declared the winner and presented with the trophy.
Lovely film. Thought I should point out though that Basil Keys won the lightweight Clubmans and not finished 2nd. The other guy was caught cheating with an oversized engine and so disqualified.
Mum’s cousin Ben Drinkwater (at c12 m 12 sec) was killed at Milestone 11 in 1949
Yes, very sad. Within FoTTofinders we have a few Ben Drinkwater pics, but none from that fateful race,