John Williams A Private Matter
Classic Racer|September/October 2019
Despite the interest fromYamaha and Honda, it was Suzuki who John lined up with in 1976 and it saw John and wife Margaret give up the life of the privateer, replacing it with the more luxurious comforts of a factory-backed rider. He also had an eye on his future though and included a gents’ boutique amongst his business interests.
Philip Wain
John Williams A Private Matter

Back to the racing and the season started in the worst possible fashion at the Daytona200, when a high-speed spill, due to a brake fault, left John with a fractured skull and injured ankle, forcing him to miss the opening round of the Formula 750cc world championship in Venezuela.

His toughness and determination meant he was back racing much quicker than the specialists and doctors thought though and by the French GP at Le Mans, late in April, he was back in the saddle and beginning to learn how to ride the new, four-cylinder 500cc Suzuki.

Having qualified in sixth, a great start saw John tuck into the second spot behind Johnny Cecotto, although he continued to suffer a problem with the location of the lower pair of exhaust pipes which were touching down on the tarmac when cornering. The problem reared its head again during the race and although he’d been able to sort things out the first time it happened, he got caught out on lap 15.

Sheene had taken the lead by then and John decided to go with him, overtaking Cecotto around the outside. However, the exhausts dug in again and down he went once more. It didn’t do his damaged ankle much good but worse than that was the blow to his confidence.

Luck deserted him again at the Austrian Grand Prix a week later when Bruno Kneubuhler crashed through the Esses which resulted in a number of straw bales being brought onto the circuit and on the racing line. With marshals also on the track, John’s concentration was disturbed and he crashed out of fourth place with another hospital visit revealing his ankle was broken. It was actually an old break but enough to warrant being put in plaster.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September/October 2019-Ausgabe von Classic Racer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September/October 2019-Ausgabe von Classic Racer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS CLASSIC RACERAlle anzeigen
Whatever Happened To? Michael O'rourke
Classic Racer

Whatever Happened To? Michael O'rourke

Michael was born on April 11, 1931, in Plumstead London and the family later moved to Camberwell.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Webster Stars At Stafford
Classic Racer

Webster Stars At Stafford

Steve Webster, the most successful sidecar racer of all time, will be guest of honor at the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show this October.

time-read
1 min  |
September/October 2019
The Early Years Of Fausto Gresini
Classic Racer

The Early Years Of Fausto Gresini

Before Gresini Racing became a world championship-winning team, Fausto Gresini was a fixture in the 125cc world championships as a rider. He won two 125cc world championships, finished runnerup three times, and third once, with 25 Grands Prix wins.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
September/October 2019
The Bob Mac
Classic Racer

The Bob Mac

The SCRMC recently served up a full card of classic racing at the East Fortune circuit, for the traditional Bob Mac meeting. Against the backdrop of the former First and Second World War airfield, there was some real-life flying action around Scotland’s fastest road race venue, which has been in existence since the very early Seventies.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Record Breaking Weekend Of Classic Action
Classic Racer

Record Breaking Weekend Of Classic Action

British Historic Racing’s third racing weekend of the year was held at the lovely one-mile-long Kent circuit of Lydden, just a few miles outside of Dover.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Specialist Spotlight Louigi Moto
Classic Racer

Specialist Spotlight Louigi Moto

We're shining a light on some of the biggest and best players In the Classic Racing world and this time we've been speaking to Louigi Moto's Richard Llewellin.

time-read
6 Minuten  |
September/October 2019
John Williams A Private Matter
Classic Racer

John Williams A Private Matter

Despite the interest fromYamaha and Honda, it was Suzuki who John lined up with in 1976 and it saw John and wife Margaret give up the life of the privateer, replacing it with the more luxurious comforts of a factory-backed rider. He also had an eye on his future though and included a gents’ boutique amongst his business interests.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Goodbye Gene
Classic Racer

Goodbye Gene

Gene Romero excelled in every aspect of motorcycle racing across a long and successful career. And he was known as ‘Burrito’.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Farewell Itoh-San
Classic Racer

Farewell Itoh-San

It is with great sadness that I write this tribute to a long-time Japanese Suzuki Team icon who was one of Suzuki’s flagship riders and my friend of 59 years.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September/October 2019
Boxing Clever
Classic Racer

Boxing Clever

Last September, after more than 10 years of trying, BMW finally scored a victory at the UK's annual Goodwood Revival. The top step of the podium came courtesy of double World Superbike champion Troy Corser and his Austrian teammate Herbert Schwab on a supercharged 1929 R57 Kompressor. Now the German manufacturer's BMW Group Classic historic vehicle division will be trying to make it two in a row in 2019, when the race reverts to its later format for bikes built before 1967 And they will be trying to do it on this — the RS500 OL Special.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
September/October 2019