Classic Racer Sep-Oct 2014 by Mortons Media Group Ltd

September/October 2014

www.classicracer.com where legends live on...

169

• ROD SCIVYER – BRITISH RACING’S COLOURFUL CHARACTER •

FLYIN’ FRED MERKEL

No. 169 September/October 2014

UK£4.30

WSB MAESTRO

The

WORLD’S MOST

SUCCESSFUL TZ500 • CLASSIC RACER ONTHE ROAD • SPA BIKERS • ISLE OF MAN PRE TT CLASSIC • MALLORY FESTIVAL • • THE PAGEANT OF POWER • ANDALLTHE REGULARS •

WHAT’S INSIDE CLASSIC RACER REGULARS _006

Archive Shot

_006

Paddock Gossip

_016 _018

Roberts arrives

Packed with news

Readers Write Have your say

Get a better deal

CLASSIC RACER PEOPLE _022

Rod Scivyer

_046

Fred Merkel

_064

Bruce Cox

ROD O D R SCIVYER SC IIVY VY YE ER ER Connecting Connecting with with Rainbow Rainbow Rod Rod

n tthe Rod he llightweight ightweight cclasses. lasses. L ater, R od S civyer’s reputation reputation was was achieved achieved iinitially nitially iin Scivyer’s Later, he he b and o ces w ho h em oved u p the the ccapacity apacity ladder ladder and and was was one one o moved up off tthe band off aaces who the places hrough tthe he S eventies. W hen rregularly egularly secured secured the places in in short-circuit short-circuit rracing acing tthrough Seventies. When he is iinvolvement nvolvement w ith h e retired retired from from racing racing it it was was far far from from tthe he e nd o end off h his with motorcycles, m otorcycles, or or racing. racing. A lan Turner e xplains. AlanTurner explains. Words: Words: Alan Alan Turner Turner Photographs: Photographs: Rod Rod Scivyer Scivyer Collection Collection and and Mortons Mortons Media Media Archive Archive

ith motorcyclist father, father, Rod Rod ith a keen keen motorcyclist Scivyer no problems problems with with Scivyer had had no parental approval in in getting getting going going parental approval on 7, wheels. heels. W When hen h he ew was as 1 17, on two two w he he remembers remembers they they collected collected his his first first bike bike in in his his father’s father’s van. van. Somewhere Somewhere in in London, London, they they paid paid £20 £20 for for a road-going road-going Itom, Itom, in in several several cardboard cardboard boxes. boxes. The The bike bike was was assembled assembled and and provided provided Rod Rod with with a suitable suitable apprenticeship apprenticeship in in powered powered twotwowheelers. wheelers. Soon, Soon, he he sold sold the the Itom Itom and and stepped stepped up up to Ve elo-loving father Leader, while his to an an Ariel Ariel L eader, w hile h is Velo-loving father bought Sports Arrow. From bought a S ports A rrow. F rom home, home, near near Oxford, Oxford, they they aattended ttended race at most most of of the the race meetings meetings at circuits countr y. circuits in in the the south south of of the the country. It that Rod Rod wanted wanted to to It was was almost almost inevitable inevitable that have was still still at at a handy handy have a go go at at racing. racing. As As he he was jockey what purported purported to to be be jockey weight, weight, they they bought bought what

““IT IT W WAS AS AALMOST LMOST IINEVITABLE NEVITABLE TTHAT HAT RROD OD W WANTED ANTED TO TO HAVE HAVE A GO GO AT AT RACING. WAS STILL STILL AT AT A RACING. AS AS HE HE WAS HANDY HEY BBOUGHT HANDY JOCKEY JOCKEY WEIGHT, WEIGHT, TTHEY OUGHT WHAT WHAT PURPORTED ACING IITOM.” TOM.” PURPORTED TTOO BBEE A RRACING 2222 C ClassicRacer lassicRacer

If you want blood

ClassicRacer 23 C lassicRacer 23

Connections, connections

Bob Brown Ducati Yellow peril

a little colour to racing. _22 Bringing Rod Scivyer shares his experiences with Alan Turner.

CCLASSIC LASSIC RACER RACER MACHIINE MACHIINE

BOB BROWN

DUCATI F1 851 PANTAH Theultraunderdog

Any racebike which has had top people at both Honda and Ducati trying to ensure it disappeared from the racetrack has to be pretty special. Alan Cathcart tells the story of the legendary Bob Brown Ducati F1.

CLASSIC RACER EVENTS _054

Pre TT Classic

_062

Pageant of Power

_068

Mallory Bonanza

_072

Bikers’ Classics

Words: Alan Cathcart Photography: Stephen Piper

t was on this motorcycle that future 500GPYamaha and Suzuki rider Kevin Magee made a name for himself, with countless wins in localThunderbike and Formula European events, and even more so when he beat, the factory-built Honda VFR750 and Suzuki GSX1100 Superbikes in the Australian Superbike Series in 1984/85. After being beaten by it, the Honda Australia team protested the Ducati’s eligibility for Superbike racing stating that not enough street versions had been registered in Australia with its Verlicchi frame.The bike had been in production for two years in Italy, at a time when Ducati’s annual production had shrunk to a mere 3000 bikes.This gained Brown and Magee instant celebrity worldwide, but even more support from fans in Australia. It was an affection strengthened, after Magee moved to theYamaha DealerTeam to be replaced for the 1986 season by young Kiwi Aaron Slight, who repeated his success in winning races against the faster and more powerful Japanese fours. It was a down under preview to the standoff between twins and fours in World Superbike.

Real road racing

Racing round the rockery History revisited Ardennes feast

CLASSIC RACER SPORT _077 _078 _079 _080 _082 _086 _088

a racing Itom, only only to to find find the the bike bike was was actually actually racing Itom, the bike he he had had sold sold some some time time before! before! By By the road road bike now been converted converted with with the the race race kit kit that that now itit had had been could bought at at reasonable reasonable cost cost from from the the could be be bought concessionaire, Tooleys, in concessionaire, Tooleys, in south-east south-east London. London. Rod’s first race race was was at at Snetterton, Snetterton, where where he he Rod’s first remembers, “It was was a long long way way down down the the remembers, “It Norwich Nor wich Straight. Straight.” A 17th 17th place place (out (out of of a field field of of 40) was 40) w as a promising promising start start to to his his race race career. career. He He became enthusiastic member member of of the the 50 50 Racing Racing became an an enthusiastic Club Club and and soon soon got got to to know know rregular egular ttiddler iddler specialists specialists such such as as Jim Jim Pink, Pink, Phil Phil Horsham Horsham and and Charlie Charlie Mates. Mates. Dave Dave Simmonds Simmonds was was indisputably indisputably the 50 the 5 0 ace, ace, but but Rod Rod managed managed a second second to to him him on on one one occasion, occasion, riding riding George George Ashton’s Ashton’s Honda Honda CR110 CR110 after after George George was was injured injured and and had had lent lent Rod Rod tthe he bike. bike.

Adding some colour

CLASSIC RACER MACHINES _030

CCLASSIC LASSIC RACER RACER PEOPLE PEOPLE

Bob Mac Memorial Irish Classic Scene CRMC Anglesey BHR Mallory Park IHRO Spa ICGP Spa CRMC Brands

But that standoff when it came was between the Japanese bikes and a very different kind of desmo V-twin – the eightvalve fuel-injected 851 desmoquattro created by Ducati’s youthful new chief engineer Massimo Bordi, who had taken over technical direction from his legendary predecessor Fabio Taglioni, with the acquisition of Ducati in 1985 by Cagiva. It made its debut, in 748cc form, in the Bol d’Or 24 Hour race in September 1986, then with 851cc won the 1987 Daytona Battle of the Twins race in the hands of Marco Lucchinelli. The production version of the new Ducati 851 Superbike was unveiled at the Milan Show in October 1987; an 851 streetbike and limited edition 851S Kit, an homologation special for Superbike racing. By then I’d been racing Ducati for well over a decade, at a time when Italian bikes were so essentially unfashionable that those of us outside Italy who admired them were considered eccentric. My regular visits to the Bologna factory to source parts, and the success I had racing, earned me lots of brownie points with the management.

3300 C ClassicRacer lassicRacer

ClassicRacer 31 31 ClassicRacer

Cathcart gets all nostalgic reunited with the Bob Brown Ducati and _30 Alan puts it through its paces.

CCLASSIC LASSIC RACER RACER PEOPLE PEOPLE

GETTING FRAMED

JackMiddelburg’s historic 1980DutchTTvictory Words: Frank Weeink Photography: Henny B Stern

ON THE COVER Jack Middelburg Yamaha, the world’s most successful TZ500.

3388 C ClassicRacer lassicRacer

C lassicRacer 3399 ClassicRacer

One of a kind. Frank Weeink tells the story of the world’s most successful _38 TZ500 Yamaha.

CCLASSIC LASSIC RACER RACER PEOPLE PEOPLE

FR FRED FRE RED RE ED

September/October 2014 Issue 169

ME MERKEL RK E EL L SSuperbike Su Sup upperbike cchampion hampion atat home hommee aandnd aabroad broad

EDITOR

T hree-time AMA AMA Superbike Superbike champion champion Fred Fred Merkel Merkel was was another another C alifornian tthat hat b urst u pon tthe he iinternational nternational rracing acing scene scene Three-time Californian burst upon d uring the the 1980s. 1980s. He He then then won won the the first first two two W orld S uperbike ttitles. itles. N orm D eWitttt ccharts harts h is ccareer. areer. during World Superbike Norm DeWitt his

Malc Wheeler mwheeler@mortons.co.uk Dan Savage dsavage@mortons.co.uk

PUBLISHER

uperbikes and and Norm Norm D eWitt Words: Norm DeWitt Photography: Challinor, Merkel Collection, World Superbikes DeWitt W ords: N orm D eWitt P hotography: Clive Clive C hallinor, M erkel C ollection, W orld S

“M

yd ad, JJerry err y M erkel, was dad, Merkel, was a p rofessional dirt dirt ttrack rack racer, professional racer,” Fred Fred e xplains, “and “and that that got me got m explains, e interested. B ut b efore we interested. But before got we g ot into m otorcycling, we we were were into into archery. archer y. Next Next door into motorcycling, door to to the archery archer y shop shop was was a motorcycle motorcycle shop shop for for Bultaco, Bultaco, the and Ossa Ossa called called McGill’s. McGill’s. Yamaha, Yamaha, and became friends friends with with the the “Dad became “Dad son and and became became a mechanic mechanic owner’s son owner’s He had had his his own own Bultaco Bultaco dirt dirt for him. him. He for and started started doing doing enduro enduro riding, riding, bike, and bike, led tto o motocross motocross and and then then dirt dirt which led which The w hole family family g ot into into it, it, track. The whole got track. mum rode, rode, my my sister sister rode, rode, and and itit my mum my from there. there. Through Through the the progressed from progressed and early early 70s 70s flat flat track track late 1960s 1960s and late was h uge. You You w racing was ould get get 4 00racing huge. would 400600 rriders iders for for a F riday n ight race race and and 600 Friday night you could could race race four four n ights a week. week. nights you “I was was five five or or six six years years o ld, g uys “I old, guys like Rice Rice aand nd R omero w ere The The like Romero were Monsters. All with their their All the the racers racers brought brought their their sons sons with Monsters. mini-bikes and around the the and we we would would cause cause havoc havoc riding riding around mini-bikes pits. D n tthe he uring tthe he iintermissions ntermissions tthey hey w ould put put u pits. During would uss o on track aand elice, Randy Randy nd h ave kkids’ ids’ rraces aces w ith m e, JJimmy immy F have with me, Felice, track Mamola, D ow tthe he oug C handler, aand nd JJeff eff H aney. T hat’s h Mamola, Doug Chandler, Haney. That’s how mini series series started started iin n Northern Northern California. California. mini 60 MiniMinioon as as I w as old old enough enough I got got a Yamaha was “ As ssoon Yamaha 60 “As Enduro aand When I w as 12 12 and and 13, 13, I w as black black was off. was was nd I w as o Enduro ff. When plate #1 #1 winning winning the the championship championship in in 80 80 and and 1 00cc. We We plate 100cc. against some some of of the the best best guys guys from from the the east raced raced against east coast coast when they they came came over over we we just just stomped stomped them. and when them. and quit racing racing in in 1974-75, 1974-75, and and I graduated graduated into “Dad “Dad quit into then rode rode tthe he 2 50 C an-Am iin n7 6-77, w 125 250 Can-Am 76-77, with 125 and and then ith a dirt bike Champion frame. frame. A 250 250 d irt track track b ike back back then then was was Champion

ready to to graduate graduate into into $4000. $4000. We We were were getting getting ready ational sstuff tuff o n tthe he H arleys big Grand National on Harleys tthe he b ig ttime, ime, tthe he G rand N professional. and tturn urn p rofessional. and school I’m I’m mowing mowing the the lawn lawn and an d “One “One day day after after school here ccomes omes d ad iin n tthe he p ick-up ttruck ruck w ith tthis his little little here dad pick-up with he b ack. H ed ecided tto o ssell ell h is white m otorcycle iin n tthe motorcycle back. He decided his white 1300 ffor or tthis his rroad oad rrace a ce H onda, iitt 250 Husky paid $1300 Honda, 250 H usky aand nd p ai d $ was a 1977, 1977, tthe he first first year year ffor or was the M T125. He He ssaid aid ‘we’re ‘we’re MT125. the going to to Sears Sears Point Point this this going weekend and and try tr y road road rracing. acing.’ weekend So, I said, said, ‘‘give give iitt a g o’. go’. So, “It was was tthe he A FM sseries, eries, AFM “It which was was h uge. I w as o ut which huge. was out there and and was was lost lost with with there about 50 50 other other 125s 125s out out about there. For For my my first first race race I was was there. in my my dirt dirt track track leathers leathers and and in orr four b oots. I crashed crashed three three o four boots. people p eople aand nd tthey hey wanted wanted to to ban me off races b an m e for for a couple couple o races ffor or rriding iding too too rrough. ough. “ We d id the the w hole fall nd “We did whole fall sseries eries aand nd I finished finished ffifth ifth aand d ecided tto o switch switch tto o tthe he 250 250 G P cclass lass ffor or 1 981 as as a Pro Pro decided GP 1981 N ovice. My My ffirst irst National National race, race, at at L aguna S eca, iin n1 981 Laguna Seca, 1981 Novice. was in in front front of of 80,000 80,000 people. people. All All tthe he best best amateurs amateurs in in was the county county were were there there aand nd I q ualified on on the the ffront ront row. row. I the qualified w as scared scared ss**tless, **tless, all all I rremember emember is is seeing seeing the the g reen green was fflag, lag, aand nd tthen hen I rremember emember tthe he cchequered. hequered. I tthink hink I w on won tthe he rrace ace b alf a llap! a p! byy h half ever ybody, I w ent tto o “So, went “ So, ssince ince II’d ’d ssmoked moked everybody, nd ttook ook o n tthe he b est o n tthe he e ast Pennsylvania on best on east P ocono, P ennsylvania aand Pocono, ame ss**t… **t… ttwo wo Nationals, Nationals, ttwo wo And was ccoast. oast. A nd iitt w as tthe he ssame ee yyaa later, later, bye. bye. T hat w as wins… holeshot, That was w ins… ffront ront rrow, ow, h oleshot, ssee off iit. tthe he sstart tart o t.

CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE Jan Burgers, Alan Cathcart, Barry Clay, Hamish Cooper, Bruce Cox, Norm DeWitt, Joe Dick, Len Hartley, Graham Lawlor, Russ Lee, Mark McCloskey, Alan Turner, John Watterson, Frank Weeink, Julie Wheeler and MikeYiend

“ALL “ALL THE THE RACERS RACERS BBROUGHT ROUGHT THEIR THEIR SONS SONS WITH W ITH TTHEIR HEIR MINI-BIKES MINI-BIKES WEE W WOULD AAND ND W OULD CCAUSE AUSE AVOC RRIDING HHAVOC IDING AAROUND ROUND THE THE PITS.” PITS.”

DESIGNER REPROGRAPHICS GROUP PRODUCTION EDITOR

46 ClassicRacer 46 ClassicRacer

If you want blood you’ve got it! _46 Norm DeWitt tracks down another fast American, Fred Merkel.

CCLASSIC LAASSIC RACER RAACER EEVENTS VENTS

Pre-TT Pre-TT Classic Classic

BBiillllown lloow own

M AY

2 4 - 2 7

Holly Munro Simon Duncan

Serviceserviceshe Blackford Blackford Financial Financial S he ass tthe he ttitle itle ssponsored ponsored Pre-TT, Pre-TT, a has become he rregular egular ssuggests, uggests, h as b ecome tthe curtain raiser raiser to to the the greatest greatest road road curtain race festival festi val in in the the world world – n ot to to b e race not be confused with with tthe he Classic Classic T T tthat hat w as confused TT was launched in in ffine ine sstyle tyle llast ast y ear iin n tthe he launched year presence of of d o ze n s o ormer world world presence dozens off fformer inner s. cchampions hampions a nd fformer ormer T Tw and TT winners. T he P re-TT e vent h as a h eel tto o iitt w ith Pre-TT event has homely with omely ffeel The ttraditional raditional v alues u nder tthe he tteam eam tthat hat a lso values under also organises the the S outhern 1 00 o ver the the same same Southern 100 over organises referred tto 4 .25-mile ccourse ourse e ach J uly – o each July often o ften referred 4.25-mile else would would a the ‘friendly’ ‘friendly’ meeting. meeting. W Where here else ass the he o ldest you get oldest you g et a rrace ace tthat hat rreserves eserves tthe number his age? ccompetitor ompetitor a race race n umber rreplicating eplicating h is a ge? old Duke This year, year, tthe he grand grand o ld D This uke ofYork,Ted of York, Ted did not have best off lluck with his F enwick, d id n ot h ave tthe he b uck w ith h is Fenwick, est o Ducati on number 86, but he will no 2 50 D ucati o n start start n umber 8 6, b ut h ew ill n 250 o be back again next year gunning d oubt b eb ack a gain n ext y e ar g unning ffor or doubt on ffurther urther podium podium finishes finishes o n bike number 87. bike number 87..

“THIS YYEAR, EAR, TTHE HE GGRAND “THIS RAND OOLD LD DUKE DUKE OF OF YYORK, ORK, TTED ED AVE FFENWICK, ENWICK, DID DID NNOT OT HHAVE TTHE HE BBEST EST OF OF LLUCK UCK WITH WITH HIS 2250 50 DDUCATI UCATI OONN SSTART TART HIS NUMBER 86.” 86.” NUMBER

R ICHARDSON RICHARDSON W INS SINGLES SINGLES WINS The opening opening six-lap six-lap singles singles event, event, in in whichTed which Ted The has managed managed tto o win win the the 250cc 250cc class class no no fewer fewer has than four four times times since since turning turning 70, 70, saw saw a start-tostart-tothan finish victory victory for for Blackpool’s Blackpool’s Roy Roy Richardson Richardson on on finish Dick Linton’s Linton’s 350 350 Aermacchi. Aermacchi. Dick Longtime Isle Isle of of Man Man resident resident Rich Rich Hawkins Hawkins Longtime to a flying flying start with his his 350cc 350cc Ducati Ducati g ot off startt with off to got Mk.III, but but he he did not have have the the ultimate ultimate speed speed to to did not Mk.III, challenge Richardson Richardson who who crossed crossed the the finish finish challenge lline ine 32 32 seconds seconds clear clear of of Bill Bill Swallow Swallow on on the the ssecond econd o inton’s p ushrod Aermacchis. Aermacchis. off L Linton’s pushrod Swallow and and H awkins disputed disputed second second place place Swallow Hawkins virtually all all the the way way to to the the line. line. virtually brace of of 7R AJSs occupied occupied the the next next two two 7R AJSs A brace positions in in the the capable capable hands hands of of Mark Mark positions Meredydd Owen, Owen, with with Paul Paul Herberttson and and Meredydd Herbertson Bridge inYorkshire in Yorkshire the the first first Coward of of Hebden Hebden Bridge Coward the Pete Pete Berwick-tuned Berwick-tuned Greeves. Greeves. of the the 250s 250s on on the of of St St Helens Helens and and Bob Bob Millinship Millinship Keith S hannon of Shannon Keith second and and third third in in the the of Redditch Redditch were were second of class. quartter--litre class. quarter-litre Celebrating his his first first Pre-TT Pre-TT Classic Classic win win since since Celebrating 2011, 49-year-old 49-year--old Roy Roy Richardson Richardson admitted admitted that that 2011, well over-geared over-geared in tthe he bike bike had had been in practice practice been well on the the fast run into b ut tricky tricky to to handle fast run into Iron handle on Iron but sidewinds were were blowing blowing him him Gate where where strong strong sidewinds Gate into the the kerb. kerb. into that Dick Dick Linton’s Linton’s bike bike dmitted that B ill S wallow a Swallow admitted Bill which was was confirmed confirmed by by was a rocket rocket ship, ship, which was said that that once once he he pulled pulled his his 4343H awkins, who who said Hawkins, out of of the the slipstream slipstream of of the the Ducati out year--old Ducati year-old to go go backwards. backwards. A ermacchi it it appeared appeared to Aermacchi

his Paul Coward described H alf-centurion P aul C oward d escribed his Half-centurion nd win 2005 ass a absolutely and ffirst i r st w in ssince ince 2 0 05 a bsolutely ffantastic antastic a nh is o wn how nice was on his own ssaid aid h ow n ice iitt w as tto o cconcentrate oncentrate o ut the the again. Son Jamie was out rriding iding a gain. S on J amie w as ssitting itting o bike prang on on a modern modern bike meeting hefty m eeting after after a h efty prang couple of of weeks weeks earlier. earlier. “ id at Tandragee a couple atTandragee “II d did get a bit bit excited excited m ixed iin nw ith tthe he 3 50s, b ut a get mixed with 350s, but big thanks thanks to to Paul Paul Atkins Atkins for for loaning loaning m e the the big me bike. It It was was b rilliant,” h ea dded. brilliant, he added. bike.

Ballabeg. L Left: eft: M Meredydd ere edydd O Owen wen rounds ro ounds Ballabeg. Above: E vergreen Ted F ave enwick didn’t didn’t h Above: EvergreenTed Fenwick have the best best of of luck. luck. the Below: Swallow Swallow a nd H awkins llocked ock and Hawkins Below: ke ed iin nb attle. battle.

Tim Hartley thartley@mortons.co.uk

David England DIVISIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER dengland@mortons.co.uk 01507 529438 Lee Buxton ADVERTISING lbuxton@mortons.co.uk 01507 529453 Paul Deacon SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER Steven O’Hara MARKETING MANAGER Charlotte Park PRODUCTION MANAGER Craig Lamb PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Nigel Hole ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Malc Wheeler EDITORIAL ADDRESS Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR UK WEBSITE www.classicracer.com GENERAL QUERIES AND BACK ISSUES 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Email: help@classicmagazines.co.uk Web: www.classicmagazines.co.uk ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Jane Skayman, 01507 529423 jskayman@mortons.co.uk SUBSCRIPTION Full subscription rates (but see page 18 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £25.80. Export rates are also available – see page 18 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value AddedTax. DISTRIBUTION COMAG,Tavistock Road,West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE Telephone 01895 433600

Alan Oversby and Roy Richardson double wins Pre-TT Classic over A lan O versby a nd R oy R ichardson rreached eached d ouble ffigures igures iin nw ins ffor or tthe he P re-TT C lassic o ver tthe he Billown year. Englishman, Mike Hose, one above as all edge Billown Course Course tthis his y ear. A tthird hird E nglishman, M ike H ose, sstayed tayed o ne rrung ung a bove tthem hem a s tthey hey a ll e dge Bob Heath on 15 and Bill Swallow’s unrivalled off 1 16 wins annual ccloser loser tto oB ob H eath o n1 5a nd B ill S wallow’ss u nrivalled ttally ally o 6w ins iin n tthe he a nnual rroad oad rrace ace event event 1988. John Watterson tthat hat sstarted tarted iin n1 988. J ohn W atterson ttells ells tthe he sstory. tory. Words: John John W Watterson atterson P Photography: hotography: J John ohn W Watterson atterson a and Dave ave K Kneen neen Words: nd D

54 54 ClassicRacer ClassicRacer

ClassicRacer ClassicRacer 5555

Real road racing Isle of Man style. John Watterson shares the high _54 and lows of the Pre-TT Classic.

CCLASSIC LAASSIC RACER RAACER EEVENT VENT

Suzuki&sidecars Su uzuki&side ecca ar rs tar at at s star

Printed by William Gibbons & Sons,Wolverhampton ISSN No 1470-4463

PA SPPA SSPA

© Mortons Motorcycle Media, a division of Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Top:The T op: The sstart tart o off the the dramatic dramatic and and challenging Hours off S Spa. challenging 4 H ours o pa. C entre lleft: eft: R oberto G allina ffixes ixe es tthe Centre Roberto Gallina he clutch clutch on Obsolete o n ttheTeam he Team O bsolete Benelli. Benelli.

Charge of the sidecars.The charioteers, led by Carl Parkinson and DarrenTritton, 31, on the Rothmans Biland LCR, Steve Abbott, 2, and Ralph Bonhorst and Peter Brown.

Once Francorchamps deep Ardennes, Once again again the the Bikers’ Bikers’ Classics Classics at at the the atmospheric atmospheric Spa Spa F rancorchamps ccircuit, ircuit, d eep iin n tthe he A rdennes, provided back golden era off m motorcycle provided a great great weekend’s weekend’s entertainment, entertainment, while racing. while winding winding tthe he clock clock b ack tto o tthe he g olden e ra o otorcycle racing. Malc Wheeler up atmosphere and experience. M alc W heeler ssoaked oaked u p tthe he a tmosphere a nd sshares hares tthe he e xperience. W Words: ords: Malc Malc Wheeler Wheeler P Photography: hotography: J Jan an B Burgers u rg e r s a and nd JJulie Wheeler ulie W heeler

iith th a g great reat mixture mixture o off cclassic lassic aand nd post gripping acing, a g ripping p ost cclassic lassic rracing, Hours off S Spa pa rrace, ace, rrun un iin n 4H ours o and onditions, a nd cchallenging hallenging cconditions, parades 40th anniversary off 0th a nniversary o p arades ccelebrating elebrating tthe he 4 Suzuki RG500 and greats off G Grand Prix he g reats o tthe he S uzuki R G500 a nd tthe rand P rix Bikers’ Classics delivered ssidecar idecar rracing, acing, tthe he B ike ers’ C lassics d elivered another action packed weekend. a nother a ction p acked w eekend. When atmosphere, ew tthings hi ngs W hen iitt ccomes omes tto oa tmosphere, ffew endurance on one off acing o no ne o ccome ome cclose lose tto oe ndurance rracing Europe’s greatest nd tthe he rrapidly apidly E urope’ss g reatest ccircuits ircuits aand growing endurance put on ircus p ut o na g rowing cclassic lassic e ndurance ccircus great enthusiastic rowd. g reat sshow how ffor or tthe he e nthusiastic ccrowd.

The kicks off icks o ff with with tthe he ttraditional raditional T he rrace ace k Mans tart aatt 88pm LLe eM ans sstart pm aand nd rruns uns iinto nto tthe he night midnight. n ight tto o tthe he cchequered hequered fflag lag aatt m idnight. Racing dark Spa R acing iin n tthe he d ark aaround round S pa iiss but on wet cchallenging hallenging eenough, nough, b ut o n a ssoaking oaking w et which had been ttrack, rack, w hich h ad b een lliberally iberally ccoated oated iin n oil earlier day, was only o il e arlier iin n tthe he d ay, iitt w as o nly for for the the brave. And were none more brave nd tthere here w ere n one m ore b rave b rave. A Neate Racing. acing. tthan han N eate R very qualifying ery ffirst irst q ualifying ssession ession ffor or IIn n tthe he v Hour, when both off N Neate Racing’s hen b oth o eate R acing’s tthe he 4 H our, w bikes were on b ikes w ere o n ttrack rack ttogether ogether tthe he llead ead bike blew an engine and b ike b lew a ne ngine a nd ccrashed, rashed,

USA SUBSCRIPTIONS CLASSIC RACER (USPS:706-150) is published bi-monthly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $30 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC RACER, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com

very off S Spa Centre: C entre: A v wet 4 Hours Hours o pa ery wet ttook ook iits ts ttoll. oll. Neate battled back C entre rright:Team eate b Centre ight: Team N attled b ack to a worst ffrom rom the the w orstt possible possible practice practice to ffine ine ffourth place. ourth p lace. L eft: The b oss, S teve W heatman, ffires ires up up Left:The boss, Steve Wheatman, o ne o is ffleet leet o uzukis for for F reddie off h his off S Suzukis Freddie one S heene tto o parade. parade. Sheene B elow: P addock art. art. Paddock Below:

down bike with ttaking aking d own tthe he ffollowing ollowing b ike with Despite wrecked motorcycles, iit. t. D espite ttwo wo w recked m otorcycles, patched aand nd ttwo wo ssore ore rriders, iders, tthe he tteam eam patched back in tthe he eeverything verything b ack ttogether ogether aand nd in only missed ust m issed cchallenging hallenging cconditions onditions o nly jjust out on podium. o ut o nap odium. The experienced T he e xperienced Suzuki Suzuki mounted mounted duo off R Richard Hubin and Gregory Fastre d uo o ichard H ubin a nd G regory F astre out victors, but by only one ccame ame o ut v ictors, b ut b yo nly o ne minute 44 hours off our h m inute 4 4 sseconds econds after after ffour ours o Moto Guzzi off rracing acing from from the the thundering thundering M oto G uzzi o Team Moto Bel’s Christophe T eam M oto B el’s C hristophe Charles-Artigues and Laurent C harles-Artigues a nd L aurent Sleurs. Sleurs.

72 72 ClassicRacer ClassicRacer

Wheeler makes his annual pilgrimage to Spa Francorchamps _72 Malc and brings you all the action.

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CLASSIC RACER PEOPLE

ROD SCIVYER Connecting with Rainbow Rod

Rod Scivyer’s reputation was achieved initially in the lightweight classes. Later, he moved up the capacity ladder and was one of the band of aces who regularly secured the places in short-circuit racing through the Seventies. When he retired from racing it was far from the end of his involvement with motorcycles, or racing. AlanTurner explains. Words: Alan Turner Photographs: Rod Scivyer Collection and Mortons Media Archive

ith a keen motorcyclist father, Rod Scivyer had no problems with parental approval in getting going on two wheels. When he was 17, he remembers they collected his first bike in his father’s van. Somewhere in London, they paid £20 for a road-going Itom, in several cardboard boxes. The bike was assembled and provided Rod with a suitable apprenticeship in powered twowheelers. Soon, he sold the Itom and stepped up to an Ariel Leader, while his Velo-loving father bought a Sports Arrow. From home, near Oxford, they attended race meetings at most of the circuits in the south of the country. It was almost inevitable that Rod wanted to have a go at racing. As he was still at a handy jockey weight, they bought what purported to be

a racing Itom, only to find the bike was actually the road bike he had sold some time before! By now it had been converted with the race kit that could be bought at reasonable cost from the concessionaire, Tooleys, in south-east London. Rod’s first race was at Snetterton, where he remembers, “It was a long way down the Norwich Straight.” A 17th place (out of a field of 40) was a promising start to his race career. He became an enthusiastic member of the 50 Racing Club and soon got to know regular tiddler specialists such as Jim Pink, Phil Horsham and Charlie Mates. Dave Simmonds was indisputably the 50 ace, but Rod managed a second to him on one occasion, riding George Ashton’s Honda CR110 after George was injured and had lent Rod the bike.

“IT WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT ROD WANTED TO HAVE A GO AT RACING. AS HE WAS STILL AT A HANDY JOCKEY WEIGHT, THEY BOUGHT WHAT PURPORTED TO BE A RACING ITOM.” 22 ClassicRacer

Rod leads Derek Chatterton, 19, and Ron Pladdys, 127,out of Mallory Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hairpin.

ClassicRacer 23

CLASSIC RACER PEOPLE

BoB Brown

DucatI F1 851 Pantah Theultraunderdog

30 ClassicRacer

ClassicRacer 31

CLASSIC RACER PEOPLE

FRED

MERKEL Superbike champion at home and abroad Three-time AMA Superbike champion Fred Merkel was another Californian that burst upon the international racing scene during the 1980s. He then won the first two World Superbike titles. Norm DeWitt charts his career. Words: Norm DeWitt Photography: Clive Challinor, Merkel Collection, World Superbikes and Norm DeWitt

“M

y dad, Jerry Merkel, was a professional dirt track racer,” Fred explains, “and that got me interested. But before we got into motorcycling, we were into archery. Next door to the archery shop was a motorcycle shop for Bultaco, Yamaha, and Ossa called McGill’s. “Dad became friends with the owner’s son and became a mechanic for him. He had his own Bultaco dirt bike, and started doing enduro riding, which led to motocross and then dirt track. The whole family got into it, my mum rode, my sister rode, and it progressed from there. Through the late 1960s and early 70s flat track racing was huge. You would get 400600 riders for a Friday night race and you could race four nights a week. “I was five or six years old, guys like Rice and Romero were The Monsters. All the racers brought their sons with their mini-bikes and we would cause havoc riding around the pits. During the intermissions they would put us on the track and have kids’ races with me, Jimmy Felice, Randy Mamola, Doug Chandler, and Jeff Haney. That’s how the mini series started in Northern California. “As soon as I was old enough I got a Yamaha 60 MiniEnduro and I was off. When I was 12 and 13, I was black plate #1 winning the championship in 80 and 100cc. We raced against some of the best guys from the east coast and when they came over we just stomped them. “Dad quit racing in 1974-75, and I graduated into 125 and then rode the 250 Can-Am in 76-77, with a Champion frame. A 250 dirt track bike back then was

$4000. We were getting ready to graduate into the big time, the Grand National stuff on the Harleys and turn professional. “One day after school I’m mowing the lawn and here comes dad in the pick-up truck with this little white motorcycle in the back. He decided to sell his 250 Husky and paid $1300 for this road race Honda, it was a 1977, the first year for the MT125. He said ‘we’re going to Sears Point this weekend and try road racing.’ So, I said, ‘give it a go’. “It was the AFM series, which was huge. I was out there and was lost with about 50 other 125s out there. For my first race I was in my dirt track leathers and boots. I crashed three or four people and they wanted to ban me for a couple of races for riding too rough. “We did the whole fall series and I finished fifth and decided to switch to the 250 GP class for 1981 as a Pro Novice. My first National race, at Laguna Seca, in 1981 was in front of 80,000 people. All the best amateurs in the county were there and I qualified on the front row. I was scared s**tless, all I remember is seeing the green flag, and then I remember the chequered. I think I won the race by half a lap! “So, since I’d smoked everybody, I went to Pocono, Pennsylvania and took on the best on the east coast. And it was the same s**t… two Nationals, two wins… front row, holeshot, see ya later, bye. That was the start of it.

“ALL THE RACERS BROUGHT THEIR SONS WITH THEIR MINI-BIKES AND WE WOULD CAUSE HAVOC RIDING AROUND THE PITS.”

46 ClassicRacer

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