TRUE CHAMPION
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
PAUL VELASCO
TRIBUTE TO A T T ogether with Doris Heasman we produced this ebook tribute to Wayne Heasman, honouring a man that was stolen from us far too soon. I felt it improtant, personally, to honour a great motorcycle racer who thrilled not only me, but countless fans during his illustrious years of burning rubber - from the early days at club circuits to the naional and international stage as a true hero of a generation of great riders. Wayne shone through during a glorious epoc of South African superbike riders, because that’s what they are even though their time was before Superbikes became a championship - we called them Production Motorcycles at the time. The Champ with the smiling eyes! Nevertheless, he rode against, and beat, the best of the best: Rod Gray, Robbie and Dave Petersen, Dave Hiscock, Jamie Thomas, John Clark, Jimmy Rodger. Mark Bellinger, Russell Wood, Dave Emond, Gavin Ramsey to name just a few of the boys from that golden era. For me, having photograohed him often in action, I will always remember his style which resembled that of Mick Doohan who came on the scene around then, He hugged the tank with his stomach with head cocked up high, glaring at the next apex. Unique and memorable was the way he rode that Suzuki GSX-R 750 that won him two titles. I also had the good fortune of working with Wayne during my stint running the Metzeler Media service with Joe Theron, he was always keen to help promoting the brand. We need to remember our legends and I sincerely hope that this goes some way to honour a great sportsman and all-around nice guy, Wayne Heasman - True Champion.
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
TRUE CHAMPION
B
ig thanks to the Heasman family and all those that took the time and showed the love by contributing to this Tribute, your input is cherished and appreciated. Hopefully others will follow your example and in a future edition get them all on these pages. Many of the pictures that make up this Tribute were purchased from Motorpics and include the work of the great Roger Swan and Colin Watling, as well as some from my own camera! Others were supplied by Doris from the family albums and archives. The presentation of the tribute is broken up into the written tributes, and is followed by a visual tribute made up of most the images we had available for this project. Thus some images used in the tribute section may also appear in the photo pages in the latter half of the book. The written tributes from family, freinds and rivals appear in no particular order on the following pages.Enjoy! Thank you - Paul Velasco
Produced for Doris Heasman and Family Editor: Paul Velasco Contact: paulvelasco@mac.com
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
Wayne Heasman’s South African National Championship Titles: • 1987 South African Champion 750 Production Motorcycles • 1988 South African Champion 750 Production Motorcycles • 2005 South African Drag Racing Champion Street Bikes • 2007 South African Drag Racing Champion Street Bikes
• 2007 South African Drag Racing Champion Street Bikes (+10 • 2008 South African Drag Racing Champion Street Bikes • 2010 South African Drag Racing Champion Street Bikes • 2013 Supersport Shootout Bikes Champion • 2014 Supersport Shootout Bikes Champion
000cc)
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DORIS HEASMAN
FIRST LOVE NEV F
irst of all I would like to thank Paul Velasco for helping me to make this Digi-book a reality, I don’t know how to put 36 years of loving my incredible Hubby into words as there are not enough words in this word to describe what we had together and shared Babe you were the best hubby anyone could wish for. You were one very humble man and the kindest man I shared my life with. We met at school in 1975 and from then on my life just changed for the better. A better father my children could never have wished for. You loved all of us with all your heart and soul and we loved you right back in the same way . Racing was a true passion for you and you achieved so much and gave it everything you had. We are so proud of all your achievements in your life. They say First Love never dies and the love between you and I will never ever go away as long as I breathe . I miss you so much my angel and what I wouldn’t give to have you back. You passed way too soon my precious . We went through some tough times together but you always had a backup plan and a solution for everything in our lives . I remember being 15 and whenever you came to visit me at my house my dearest dad would shout “here is Wayne on his Moped again.” LOL. It used to drive you crazy as you were so proud of your little 125 those days. My folks loved you and respected you so much although it took them a while to warm up to this mad biker. My babe you will always be with me till the day I see you again. Miss you like crazy. Love you forever.
Doris Heasman
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
VER DIES
DONALD STRACHAN
IT WAS AN HONOUR KNOWING YOU
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DONALD STRACHAN
W
ayne started working for me in 1977 at Suzuki Roodepoort (the ex-Tommy Crawford shop). Wayne, nice guy, said he would like to race motor bikes and had a 125cc ASI Yamaha at home so I said bring in and we can see what we can do. So we did what we could and off we went to Swartkops with R30, the Saturday morning’s takings. He won a race that day and the game was on, I promised to buy him S/H leathers – that was hard in those days but I did. Luckily we knew Rodger The Wilson at Tiger Yamaha (Tiger Wheels) and he was able to get parts for the ASI and keep us going. Racing between Jimmy Rodgers and Wayne was fantastic. Raced at all the short circuits in Natal – great racing. Only big circuit was Roy Hesketh. Was nice to take on guys like Steve Thompson and beat them at their home circuit. Won the 125cc championship in 1978 – 1979 – wonderful days. Asked Suzuki SA (Steve Swanepoel) for a ride and they helped us with a 450cc Suzuki to race at the nationals. Was a good year – beat the RD400 of Frans Maritz at the last race and won the championship 450cc class for 1980. Suzuki saw the talent and gave Wayne a GSX750cc for the 1982 season. Wayne had to build some muscle to handle the 750cc and learn all the national circuits but did well for a first year on 750cc. 1983 much improved. Katana were out so was up there with the best including Hiscock, Gray, Peterson brothers, Eastment, Clark. It was a good year. All top riders. 1984 started off slow and then the GSX 750R came in and Wayne was gone. Finished second – only just missed the championship. 1985 was Wayne’s year – won that championship which was nice as the racing was very competitive. Wayne won at Killarney Cape Town for two years and never lost a race in Cape Town. Helped Wayne with drag racing much later on – 2005 – 2010 and watch him win many classes and championships. In drag racing his time has still not been beaten. My hero in bike racing and a fantastic friend - 40 years was an honour knowing him may you RIP my friend,
Donald Strachan
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ROBBIE PETERSEN
A GOOD AND HUMBLE GUY
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ROBBIE PETERSEN
W
hen I arrived in South Africa from Zim early in 1981, to fulfill my lifelong dream of racing in the big leagues. Roadracing had been big in Rhodesia until the late seventies. I was the ultimate fan. Names like Bossie, Keith Zeeman, Les van Breda, the Ekerold’s, Alan North, Kork Ballington, were just a few of the riders I idolized. Following my family of cousin Ophie Howard, with brothers Keith and Dave into the sport seemed the only thing to do. Arriving wide-eyed for that first race at Kyalami, I met the new breed of riders emerging as the stars in South Africa. These were guys I could identify with, being only a few years older than me. The cool gang in my eyes was Wayne Heasman, John Sneesby and Jimmy Rodger. Wayne had been the star of the 450 class the previous season and I was riding the same Suzuki GS450 he had set the standard on. Wayne Heasman became my gauge during the early part of 1981. Anytime I could match his times, it was an achievement. All the while, I envied that cool gang. Wayne, John and Jimmy just had that aura about them. They worked hard and had a reputation for playing even harder. There was always a story in the pits – “hey, did you hear what Wayne and John did etc etc” seemed to follow them around.
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ROBBIE PETERSEN
As I progressed through the ranks, it became inevitable that I would have to compete with Wayne, John and Jimmy. My first couple of seasons on the 750 weren’t bad and I was happy to be mixing it with them. By the time Wayne was on the GSXR, he had become the dominant rider in that class and my admiration had turned into resentment. I still treated him with respect, but I just did not want to like him anymore. We tried to find all kind of reasons why he was beating us so often. His bike must be better – he must be getting better tyres and so on. Truth is, he was just magical on the GSXR’s. Silky smooth and bloody fast. As dominant as Wayne was, he never lost his humility. I didn’t want to like a guy who was whipping my ass every weekend, but how could you not like Wayne Heasman. Plainly put, Wayne was just a good guy. He wasn’t looking for fame or glory. Just someone who loved racing motorcycles and made the sport better for it. I lost contact with Wayne due to my travels, but cherish the moments we spent in 2014 reminiscing and catching up. Bossie, Keith Zeeman, Les van Breda, the Ekerolds, Alan North, Kork Ballington – and Wayne Heasman. Sounds right!
Robbie Petersen
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DUDLEY CRAMOND
THE FASTEST MOTORCYCLE RACER I KNOW
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DUDLEY CRAMOND
A
tribute to my dear friend Wayne, in memory of a gentle and kind guy that could ride a motorcycle faster than any motorcycle racer that I know. Wayne and I went to the same high school in Krugersdorp and became firm friends. Wayne was a go getter and he was the only guy at school that I knew of that had his own car - a mini panelvan – which he acquired all by himself with no help from anyone. On weekends the mini would make its way down to the Drift Inn for a very good reason. Back in the day petrol was unavailable on weekends so he would buy some power paraffin. The Drift Inn was also our shebeen so he would get some beer while he was down there. Wayne would carry a container with some petrol in it as he needed to pour a little down the carb to get the mini started - once fired up off he went taking care not to load the motor too much as it would detonate from running on the power paraffin! Wayne came and worked with me at my family’s motorcycle shop in Krugersdorp. One day at the shop who should show up but the vice principle of Krugersdorp High School - he was there to ask Wayne to come back to school and finish his last year of school or at least come and write the final exams. Some nights we would work a little late and needed some fun in our lives so we would take a couple of 50cc bikes and off we would go to the go-cart track where we would go and do some night racing - we had loads of fun! I would like to say I am blessed to have known Wayne and share a lot of good times with him. I will forever remember and cherish all the fun and joy shared with the kind and gentle guy that was part of my joyful life. Rest in peace my friend and thank you for all the good times.
Dudley Cramond
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ANDREA HEASMAN
MY DAD MY HERO
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ANDREA HEASMAN
T
he legend Wayne Heasman, my hero, my dad! I not only idolised him as daughter would their father, but I was truly his biggest fan.
I spend my childhood at the race tracks watching the concentration in his face and the determination before a race. I have never met a man more dedicated to his sport! My bedroom wall was plastered with his posters and “Wayne Heasman Racing” and Metzeler stickers of my dad. When winning a race we were watching on TV (my sister and I his little girls), he would always wave, those waves were always meant for me and my sister. He still use to wave at me when we watched him at Tarlton, he knew where me and his grandkids were standing on the grandstand and WAVE!!!! I will forever miss the look on his face through the helmet, the smell of his leathers, and the hugs on race days. My dad was the one and only person I could go too no matter what the problem, no matter what the crime, he was the one that would ensure we learned from our mistakes and at the same time, he would ensure the problem was solved. He was protective, kind, loving, caring, the hardest working man I know, he was my dad, he was my children’s Grampy. We miss him, and it hurts every second of every day. That was harder to write than I thought!
Andrea Heasman
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
GERRIE PIETERSE
THIS MAN LOVED THE SPORT
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
GERRIE PIETERSE
T
he first time I saw Wayne on the race track was the year of the silver Katana that I saw Wayne on the racetrack. Being from the ‘platteland’ we did not have much opportunity to witness proper racing at proper racetracks, but being in my twenties and like most youngsters, a bit of a ‘windgat’ we had to go to Kyalami and see what’s happening. Of course the camera followed everywhere and thus Wayne futured midturn in Crowthorne. Not long after this I mentioned my love of motorsport to my girlfriend at the time who immediately recognised this rising star as her soon to be brother in law. That same day I met Wayne for the first time. Since that day I soaked up all his tales of travelling the country in a converted VW Combi whilst competing in the nationals. His stories of fighting for places and setting the track alight after being passed on the PE track in mid-corner with the strong wind catching him out, causing his crash and the Suzuki catching fire. We used to visit the Boshoffs occasioanlly for a quick beer and a chat (Buks & his dad), all to do with racing. At the shop regular tales were swopped and advice given with lots of humor thrown in - this man loved the sport!
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
GERRIE PIETERSE
I recall seeing him after races at Kyalami all stoked with adrenaline still pumping, excitedly sharing overtaking manouvers and mistakes with his competitors. As casual as this might have seemed, he was serious when it got to competition. Wayne used to play motorcycle racing games at our home (which was just down the road from them) on computer and hated loosing (I was better after all with computer simulations) with “just one more” until late on some Friday nights. His wife hated watching live coverage on telly and were seldom at the track, but she couldn’t hide the pride when he got home with yet another good finish. Later years when he retired from track racing and joined the quarter-mile guys, things I’m sure got a bit easier for her. Being a Yamaha fan myself we bumped heads on a couple of occasions until his partner told me that he won his first race on a Suzuki badged Yamaha. Well that stopped most future would-be arguments. But that was not all he was serious about - his family was his whole life. With all the trials and tribulations and the inner battles and problems he faced, no-one dared critisize his family. Being family (well, sort of) has it’s advantages. You get to know the person, not the personality that everybody knows or wants to know. It puts you in touch with that person for what he is and who he is. There were no disadvantages, maybe some hairy moments but nothing more. He loved to party, he loved to joke, he loved riding his motorbikes - even when loosing against the RZ500s in the old 750 class. He lived for the sport in spite of various clashes with the organising body. This passion made him what he became, an icon in South Africas history.
Gerrie Pieterse
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
IAN BRANDON
HE SIMPLY RODE IT HARDER!
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
IAN BRANDON
D
uring the late 70s, Martin Wildeboer, Technical Manager of Suzuki SA, and also one of their selectors for their road race team called me, and invited me to accompany him to a local race meeting at Zwartkops Raceway. At the time, I was riding a Suzuki GS 550 for them, and Martin and myself had become really good friends. He had heard about a young rider, who worked at one of their dealers, and was a keen rider on a home built 125. This young man was due to race that day, and Martin was curious to see whether he had any potential. Suzuki were launching a twin cylinder four stroke, the GS 450, and were keen to enter one in the National road race series. Problem was, it would have to compete against the Yamaha RD400’s, which were not only proving to be virtually unbeatable in that class, but were also being ridden by established top class riders. Suzuki had made a few tentative approaches to get one of the “name” riders to ride the GS 450, but no one was interested. We arrived in time to see the 125 race, not sure which bike our guy was riding. We watched with great delight and amusement as these desperados diced madly with each other, outbraking each other (and themselves), running wide out of corners, generally cutting each other up, until one bike managed to break away from the rest and took the win. We wandered around the pits afterwards, looking for our guy, and discovered that he was in fact the young man who had just won the race. His name was Wayne Heaseman. As I recall, he won all his races that day, and Martin agreed that he would be perfect for the the new 450. The ride was offered to him, he accepted with great delight, and so started Wayne’s long and brilliant career with Suzuki. I accepted a deal to ride for Honda the following season on a 750, but followed Wayne’s progress on the Suzuki 450 in his first year of Nationals, and was delighted with his results, as he soon became a front runner on a bike that was not as good as most of its opposition. He simply rode it harder!
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
IAN BRANDON The following season, I rode for Kawasaki on their Z750, and Suzuki were so pleased with Wayne that they “promoted” him up to a GSX 750. I remember Wayne coming to chat with me after the first practice session of the new bikes at Kyalami. He was a bit overwhelmed with the difference in size and weight between the 750 and the smaller 450 he had ridden the previous year. “How do you ride these things so fast, it feels like a tank!?” he asked, with more than a little respect in his voice. I laughed and said “Oh, You’ll get used to it” condescendingly, little realizing at the time just how fast he would learn! I cannot remember every single race that year, but I remember him asking if he could follow me in practice at East London, as he had never ridden there before. That track has the scariest two high speed sweeps down the straight, and I prided myself as being pretty quick through them, so I agreed and with Wayne in tow, proceeded to ride those sweeps as fast as I could in an attempt to psyche Wayne out a bit. Afterwards he came and congratulated me admiringly, shaking his head, and I congratulated myself on an out-psyching job well done. In the race, on lap one, when we were all still bunched up after the start, he rode around the outside of me into the first sweep, and I never saw him again! So much for me out-psyching him! In another race at Killarney, we had an almighty dice for the entire first heat, and coming out of the last corner on the last lap we were literally side by side as we crossed the finish line, and were given identical race times. In heat two, I would only have to beat him by a fraction to win, a fact which I made sure he knew as we lined up on the grid. He got a better start than me, but by the second lap I had managed to catch him and got passed going into the hairpin (turn 2). After that there is a left kink that leads into a fast downhill right hander, and as I peeled in the front wheel twitched a little forcing me to pick up slightly, and Wayne took full advantage and put his front wheel on my inside. His front wheel rubbed against my right thigh, and it was like getting burnt with a blowtorch!
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
IAN BRANDON I flinched enough to put me ever so slightly offline, culminating in my front wheel going off the edge of the track and digging into the sand. I was catapulted over the bars and fell quite heavily, and Wayne, as I recall, won. (He did come and apologize afterwards, but the grin from ear to ear as he did so tended to diminish the sincerity of his apology somewhat!) Shortly after this, we had a 100 lap endurance race at Hesketh, and I had to borrow leathers from one of my mates as I had destroyed mine at Killarney. The race started and immediately Wayne and I were at it again, riding as though it was a sprint race. After a couple of laps, I found that my borrowed leathers were a bit too tight on my forearms, restricting blood circulation. My hands were going numb, and I couldn’t feel the front brake lever. Bearing in mind that I had just had a big off at Killarney, discretion dictated that I back off, and Wayne and some of the other guys disappeared. In these long races you have to come in to refuel, and I when I pitted I asked the Kawasaki pit crew how I was doing, only to discover that all their attention was focused on their 1000 cc bikes, and they had no idea how us lesser mortals were doing on the 750s! I continued to circulate as fast as could, and eventually saw the last lap board as I passed the pits. Coming out of Beacon Hill for the last time, the marshals showed me a blue flag, and I took a quick peek and saw that the person behind me was Wayne, lapping me. Not wanting to hold him up unnecessarily, I sat up and waved him passed, then followed him over the finish line. We rode the slow down lap together, and I saw Wayne giving me puzzled looks. It turned out that, unbeknown to me, he had to make second stop for fuel a few laps from the end while I did not, and with that, I had in fact taken the lead in our class! He could not believe his luck when I simply waved him through into the lead with a quarter of a lap left to go! A short while later in the year, I had a massive collision pretty much flat out towards the end of the main straight at Kyalami with a novice rider, and never rode at National level again.
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
IAN BRANDON But I have one last story......... I had recovered from my physical injuries from the Kyalami incident, when one of my buddies, Ian Wesson, asked me to share a ride with him and another guy on his Kawasaki Z550 in a 6 hour endurance race at the now defunct Lichtenburg circuit. I was not keen, but Ian convinced me that it would be a low key, fun ride with no unrealistic expectations. He had never ridden there before, and although he had some racing experience on 125’s, had only just bought this 550. The other guy pulled out literally the night before the race, and feeling sorry for my mate, I agreed to partner him. Upon arriving at the track, I saw that Wayne was also there, sharing a converted single cylinder Suzuki scrambler with one of his friends. My mate rode the first practice session to familiarize himself with the track, and during this session the bike that Wayne was sharing suffered some sort of terminal mechanical failure, and he would now be a spectator for the day. When I heard this, I immediately invited him to ride with us. What was obviously a problem was that he was
a sponsored Suzuki rider, and our bike was a Kawasaki. Fortunately though, he was not wearing his proper Suzuki leathers, and his helmet was plain white, and at the end of the day, Wayne was a racer first and foremost and suddenly had no ride, so with a little persuasion and the promise of cold beers at the end, he agreed to ride with us. We all swore an oath that we would tell no one, ever. In official timed practice, he got his first feel of the bike, and set the fastest time of the three of us. In fact, he set the fastest time of the entire field, and put the bike on pole! At the first refuel, we were in the lead, and I convinced other Ian to take over from Wayne, thus absolving me of blame when we (inevitably) lost the lead. When Ian came in after his stint, we had dropped a few places, so I happily took over without the responsibility of leading. The bike would run about an hour between fuel stops, and towards the end of my stint, threatening clouds had started to form. The rain held off until just before the end of Wayne’s second stint, then it poured, and Wayne fell at the corner leading onto the pit straight, breaking off the front brake lever. He pitted, showed us the
,
d
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE problem, and we sent him back out while we frantically sourced a spare lever. It was towards the end of his stint, and we found a lever which we replaced during the fuel stop. Other Ian had convinced me that it would be better if I took over from Wayne due to his inexperience in the wet, so I set out very gingerly on the slippery track, managing to stay upright, and praying for my stint to end. Eventually the bike went onto reserve, and I signaled that I would be coming in the next lap, much to my relief. When I pulled in to the pits next lap, I was greeted by the sight of both Wayne and Ian cheerfully clutching
beers, neither of them were in their leathers, and they drunkenly informed me that they had decided between them to let me finish the race because I was riding so well in the wet! I had no option but to keep going, cursing them soundly every time I passed the pits! Although I didn’t realize it at the time, this was the last time I ever raced, and to end my career sharing a ride with a rider who transpired to be one of the greatest riders this country has ever had, well, my cup overflows with joy. Wayne, I loved every minute that we rode against each other, R.I.P. my buddy. Ian Brandon
STEVE THERON
A TRUE LEGEND AND A HUMBLE CHAMPION
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
STEVE THERON
I
had the pleasure of sponsoring & working with many talented South African Riders and future Champions. Motor Racing is a very expensive and as a sponsor it is difficult to measure your return on investment. Many times you are ripped off in various ways by either a rider or organization. You are always searching for that rider/person with true honesty and integrity. Besides Wayne’s immense talent as a rider, he was truly honest and had great integrity. I believe that 50% of what a rider does is on track, the other 50% is what he does off the bike. Wayne never spoke ill of his sponsors, if there was an issue with the product, it was quietly discussed and resolved. He always spoke good of Metzeler and promoted the brand wherever possible. He was always available for product launches and promotions. Wayne won Four National Road race titles on Metzeler and helped establish the brand in South Africa. A great return on investment. Years later(in 2013 to be exact) I got involved with the distribution of a lubricant that was well known In the automotive industry but not in motorcycles. Who did I look to, to help me launch this product. Wayne Heasman of course. And we won championships again, although in Drag racing this time. Wayne always had time for his sponsor, fellow competitors, customers & friends. We became good friends over the years (as did my wife Gail & Doris) A great Champion. It was an absolute pleasure and honour to have been involved from the early 80’s in Road Racing till recently in Drag Racing. Wayne Heasman. Four National Road Race titles and six National Drag race titles. A true legend and a humble Champion who will be sorely missed. R.I.P.
Steve Theron
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
MONIKA PIETERSE
LOVE YOU STUKKEND!
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
MONIKA PIETERSE
O
ur family immigrated to South Africa in 1972 and we, my sister Doris and I started school at Krugersdorp High in 1973. There she met Wayne for the first time. Well it was love at first sight for both of them, and they started seeing each other from there on. After many years living in South Africa, our Dad send Doris back to Germany (she had NO choice in the matter) and it broke her heart, she did not want to go!!!!! Wayne and Doris ran away, but because they ran out of petrol and did not have much money, they had no choice but to return Home. She returned to Germany, got married etc., eventually I did not see much of Wayne cause both of our lives were busy. Then one year I got the call, Sister I am coming back to South Africa !!!!! WoW what wonderful News that was. Doris and Andrea arrived in SA when Andrea was still little. From there on out, it was Doris and Wayne together again!!! Their love never died for each other. Throughout all the time that I have knows Wayne, I can honestly say he was the kindest, most compassionate person I have ever met. He was always ‘the one’ to say “Can I help you’, let me work something out for you, give me some time. The family always had great times, great Party’s, a lot of fun and laughter together!!! Although a lot of heartache, that would and has destroyed families, Doris and Wayne were always there for each other, laughed, cried, celebrated and stood by each other through all the years. Wayne was the most awesome Brother-by-the-Law (as he always use to call it) I could of ever wished for. A gentle person, a heart of Gold and always there when you needed to vent, talk your frustrations out etc. Wayne, thank you for what you did for my Dad when he passed away!! Thank you for your advise, help, and a ready ear. I miss your a.m. calls, your laughter, your presence!!!!! I could never of asked for a better Brotherby-the- Law, You are and will always be very special to all of us. May you R.I.P. Love you stukkend !!!!
Monika Pieterse
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SHARIEF REYNOLDS
I BELIEVED UNCLE WAYNE AND BECAME CHAMPION
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SHARIEF REYNOLDS
I
came to know Wayne through my racing. I have competed since the age of 13 in many forms of motorcycle racing and won many regional titles but then decided to go national with my drag racing. This is where I began to develope a special kind of friendship with Wayne. He was in his own way a Hero to many of us and happened to be an avid Suzuki man I have tagged him for many years from his circuit racing till he started drag racing. Wayne was my go to guy, when I was in JHB in 2012 as a newcomer to the national scene I relied heavily on Wayne’s help both on and off the track. Wayne tuned my bike and gave me some tips when at the track and it just so happens that I won the national championship title in my first year of attempting this challenge. At the last meeting of the year, as I was loading my bike to make that long haul back to Cape Town, Wayne walked over to me and said “old Capie” as he would call me, he said “let me tell you something I tuned your bike all year long and I knew it made less power than most of your competitors but that was the best I could get out of that bike. You rode it like a true champ. At that point i didnt realize that I won the championship until Wayne told me and said “you didn’t just win the championship but won it with 20 points more than the guy in second place” but what he said next really stuck with me. He said, “If I told you from the start that your bike was underpowered you would not have won this championship, it is because you believed that your bike was the best out there that is why you won.” So the moral of the story is I believed Uncle Wayne knowing he was the best out there and I wasn’t wrong. How I miss that guy. Always in my prayers Uncle Wayne... PS he hated it when called him Uncle Wayne!
Sharief Reynolds
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
JIMMY RODGER
THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
JIMMY RODGER
I
started racing with Wayne in 1977 on the short circuit scene. Wayne rode a Yamaha AS1 125cc with Suzuki branding on the petrol tank sponsored by Don Strachen of Suzuki Roodepoort and I was on a similar machine sponsored and prepared by Cliff Hall of Paunch Racing. I have many great memories of us traveling around the country together to circuits like Roy Hesketh and Lichtenburg competing closely at the head of the field in the short circuit and later the 6 hour endurance series. In 1980 we moved onto the National series with Wayne landing Suzuki Shell sponsorship on a GS450 and I was sponsored by Primrose Motorcycles on a RD400 and we often traveled in convoy to all the national events with Hugh Mckenzie (Linex Yamaha) and John Sneezby. One particular trip we drove around to Suzuki Roodepoort to meet up with Wayne, Hugh and John and after a few beers we departed. In the early hours of the morning in the middle of nowhere we noticed smoke coming from the right hand wheel of Wayne’s trailer and after signaling to the driver of Wayne’s bakkie to pull over we woke Wayne up who was sleeping in the back under the canopy next to the toolbox and spares and told him that the wheel was about to fall off. Without opening his eyes he mumbled “put the spare wheel on” not realizing the wheel was about to fall off. Needless to say we left them on the side of the road and went in search for new wheel bearings for the trailer and eventually sorted the trailer out. We continued our rivalry in the following years in the 750cc and 1000cc classes until I retired at the end of 1984 and we had many good times on and off the track. Wayne was an extremely competitive rider and his motorcycles were always well prepared and the results speak for themselves.
Jimmy Rodger
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
MORE TRIBUTES
A BIG MAN OF OUR SPORT
W
ayne’s love for motorb age of 11 or 12 when w Eikenhof. Where after farm workers little kids to push h sand road on a motorbike witho faster, faster. This is where his l bikes came from. Wow who thought I would have to precious brother miss you so mu be a business man, I remember y coke bottles and loading them int trolley and selling them back to th Wayne’s love for motorbikes start 12 when we lived on a farm in Eik school he would make us run hom after getting off the bus so he cou little kids to push him up and dow motorbike without an engine, sho This is where his love and pass from and grew into an awesome all you remained so humble. Yo be a legend.- Avril Wallace, sist
W
ayne was a big man o went around saying ho he was far better than Motor cycle racing is an individu rest on one man’s shoulders, th hear the other gentleman say I forgive them because it is an ind I am so proud to have met Way gentleman with a great big smile than most of those you know. -
bikes started at the we lived on a farm in school he paid the him up and down the out an engine, shouting love and passion for
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
W
ayne Heasman: My Hero Inspiration and Champ. I watched you race when I was 9 years old for the first time an was blown away by your talent. I promised myself that one day I want to be just like you. I was so blessed that when I started my drag racing career an took the national racing seriously you o do a tribute to you my took me under your wings literally and became my uch, you were born to father figure on the race track. you collecting the empty I was amazed at your kindness compassion and to your home made humbleness towards me an others. I am forever he shops at the age of 8. greatful for all that you thought me. You thought me rted at the age of 11 or what is a true champ. To stay humbled !!!! kenhof. Where after I miss you tremendously. me on the sand road If I had one wish it’s to race one more time with you it uld pay the farm workers used to be epic! I feel your presence everytime I’m on wn the sand road on a a start line at a race trek. Every race I do is in Honour outing faster, faster. and dedicated to you. I carry you in my heart always. sion for bikes came You where one of a kind I promise to honour your e career, yet through it name all of my racing career and to keep your racing ou are and always will legacy alive. ter Keep the tyres smoking on heaven’s treck. Till we meet again ride on ride on. Uncle Wayne.... Heads of our sport, he never upu! Wayne Heasman Racing lives on. Love. - Zafar ow good he was, and Hoosen almost all of them. ual sport where results he rider, so when you beat this guy etc, I always say if you ride a Suzuki and you don’t know dividual sport. Uncle Wayne you don’t know any thing about yne, a charming Suzuki........ A true champion of note e. He was far better RIP Uncle Wayne. - Keith Moonsamy - Andrew Buys
I
MORE TRIBUTES
WAYNE MADE THE HEASMAN FAMILY PROUD
Y
ou were I will ne person! during the tim I always think and dad would you stayed be hand them in The day dad t birthday for m around the co two years you were there. W your racing tri passed away. I was there to see you becom places and sp remember Ma got to see Cap and Kyalami. I also got to m Rodgers, Dav the Ramseys. with you Don and friend Dav Wayne you m you Wayne RI
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
e the brother any brother could wish for. ever forget you. You were a great hearted ! You always took time to listen to me me we were at school. of our days in Vierfontein when mom d treat us to the movies on Fridays and ehind to collect the cool drink bottles and the next day for money. took me to the Swan Hotel on my 18th my first legal beer, guess who was sitting orner drinking Black Label, and you were unger than me, I never did tell dad you Wayne thank you for taking me with on ips for two years just after John Sneesby . see you become a champion and to me a Springbok. We got to see great pent good times together. I will always atjiesfontein for our first beer at 10am. I pe Town, Port Elizabeth, East London
meet great riders of your time, Jimmy ve Hiscock, Rod Gray, The Piersens and . Then thanks to our friends on our trips Wallace, Alan Barker and your partner vid. made our Heasman family proud!!!! Love IP - Barry Heasman.
early
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
years
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS WINNER
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
EARLY YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
superbik
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ke years
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
SUPERBIKE YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DRAG RACING YEARS
drag raci
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
ing years
DRAG RACING YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DRAG RACING YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DRAG RACING YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
DRAG RACING YEARS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
FAMILY
fam
mily
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
FAMILY
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
PRESS
pre
ess
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE
PRESS
WAYNE HEASMAN TRIBUTE