Motorcycles, Motorcycles and more
Motorcycles !
As you will see, our personal racing exploits have so far been in the world
of motorcycles
Stan (Dad) Although
now past his retirement age, Stan has only recently retired from racing. He
retired as the reigning Southern Centre Vintage Champion, a title he has
retained for many years, against some fierce competition. He still keeps very
busy however, tuning and rebuilding JAP engines for vintage speedway and Coopers
etc. Many of FVR's tuning "secrets" have been passed on by Stan, whose
expertise has been the result of many years of experimental and development
work. Pushing engines to their limits in pursuit of their "reliable"
maximum.
At speed at
Ashton
Fastest time of the day
Dirt track greats - The Ashton team,
including world speedway champion Freddie Williams and Stan, second from right
Terry A former
technical advisor to Classic Cars magazine and Lecturer in charge of vehicle
restoration at Southampton City College. Terry is also the author of
"Engine performance analysis", a computer programme used to speed up
engine testing. His white metaling and engine
skills are always in demand.
Left - Terry inside Lew Coffin
Right - Winning the Fred Wright Memorial Trophy (nice hair in 1974!)
On the superb ace of aces track
Ross A
"natural"
rider.
Everyone who saw Ross race during the 70's and 80's admired his natural
ability to move around the bike at speed, searching for grip - a
spectacular style that brought many successes. Ross's natural abilities also
extend to engineering where his fabrication skills have been described as an art
form by some delighted customers
Left
- 1976 was a hot dusty year Right - A few hard won
trophies from the same meeting - Stan and Babs proudly lend a hand
Leading the pack again
Stan
has finally decided to hang up his leathers and retire from racing. The
following is an article from the May 2002 edition of "Wheelspin",
(the Southern Centre Grass Track Riders Association, newsletter)
Until just recently long time SCGTRA
Chairman, Stan has been involved with the SCGTRA since the late 1960’s. He
didn’t join, he says he was pushed in by Betty Albury following a club race
meeting.
A long time resident of South Hampshire, his grass track
career started in 1947 when he entered his AJS in a meeting at the Ashton
Circuit, Bishops Waltham. Stan quickly progressed to a faster and more
competitive Martin / JAP, and at the age of
just 18 won the Ashton Championship (The equivalent of todays Wimbourne
Whoppa). A significant achievement taking into account professional Speedway
Riders dominated the Grass track scene in early Post War years, and entries of
over 100 riders for every meeting were commonplace.
Grass track successes continued, and in the Team races held at most
meetings in those days Stans usual partner was Freddie Williams, the future
world speedway champion. This inevitably led to an invitation to try Speedway at
Southampton. Family pressure helped Stan to decide to stay in grass track
leaving Speedway to the likes of Jack Vallis and Buzz Terry.
In Stans words “grass track went
dead” in the 1950’s but revived significantly in the 1960’s where he
enjoyed continuing success in both Centre and National events always aboard a
very rapid JAP. He remembers the excellent Club Dinner/ Dances held at
the Red Lion in Salisbury during the 60’s and 70’, and the children’s
Christmas parties. Grass Track racing in this period was a well-supported family
sport.
The introduction of Stans sons Ross
and Terry to grass track racing in the 1970’s heralded a change of class to
vintage / post vintage racing. An offer from Betty Albury to ride one of Tom
Albury’s old bikes in the vintage class provided an escape route, as Stan
wisely decided that he did not want to compete with Terry or Ross on a 500. In
his own words “I was never sure who would shut the throttle first at the first
corner”.
Being trained as an engineer,
and in the early days short of money, (only the wealthy speedway riders could
afford the cost of an Erskine rebuild). Stan decided early on that he would
maintain and build his own bikes. Winning races brought enquiries of “who
tunes your motors?” resulting in Stan developing a tuning business alongside
his daytime job. This progressed to the building, modification and preparation
of complete solo bikes for himself, his sons and other customers as Stan used
his prolific engineering skills to develop winning FRM bikes.
By continuing his winning ways in the Vintage
/ Post Vintage classes Stans collection of trophies grew ever larger,
until he decided at the end of 2001 to
retire from racing after 50 plus years in the sport. That this coincided with
the Clubs departure from Bryces Farm, Sherfleld English is significant. As it
was due almost solely to Stans long association with the Jewell Brothers that
use of the land continued for as long as it did.
During the financial crisis, which
the SCGTRA experienced in the late 1980’s, Stan was one of the small group who
put their hands in their pockets and used their own money to finance the Race
meetings which allowed the club to recover. He is generous in his praise for
Chris Norris who took over as Treasurer during the crisis, and successfully
steered the SCGTRA towards a sound financial recovery, which continues today.
He acknowledges also the outstanding
contributions made by Denny Phillips, Rob Wright and Malcolm Terry in the set up
and ‘organisation of the race meetings at Sherfield English.
What of the future, well Stan is enjoying his retirement,
and will continue to rebuild and tune JAP.
Jawa and Godden engines. His biggest recent challenge was to rebuild some 500cc
JAP racing car engines. which in his own words were totally worn out. Many parts
being unobtainable had to be re-manufactured. He will continue to attend the
race meetings and hopes to remain in the start line crew, also visit the
occasional SCGTRA committee meeting.
Stan we wish you well. Ed.
The Last word from Gran!
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