Classic Racer takes you so close you can actually smell the Castrol R. With the world's finest archive, and an editorial team who live and breathe the sport, the only way you'll get closer will be to put on your leathers.
By George! We’re not quite sure how to take this photo, taken during the 1978 Senior TT. Coming around Signpost Corner is hardened road racer George Fogarty being confronted by a man with a camera, sat on the actual pavement taking snaps… We understand that the whole ‘health and safety’ thing hadn’t really kicked off by the late-1970s, but, while most spectators for the race were amassed up on the banks as per usual, one intrepid (we’d take a guess at amateur) photographer wanted to get a shot from a different angle. George Fogarty of course, is famous for being father of TT winner and four-time World Superbike champion Carl, as well as being the man who (it could be argued) cost Barry Sheene the win at Silverstone in the…
Tony Rutter scooped his first of seven Isle of Man TT race wins 50 years ago. Tony – who passed away in March 2020 – enjoyed a long career: three decades riding a wide range of different machines. Many felt Rutter was one of the most underrated riders of his generation. Born in the West Midlands, Tony started racing aged just 20 and was soon heading to the Isle of Man TT in 1965 for the first time. The Island was to be the home of some of his biggest successes, the first coming with a podium alongside Giacomo Agostini in 1972 in the Junior TT. He would snatch his first win on the course in 1973 in the same class with an average speed of 101.99mph. He would take…
Phillip McCallen had an all-action style – even when racing on the dangerous road circuits of the Isle of Man, the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix. With nicknames like ‘SuperMac’ and ‘The Portadown Flyer’ you knew he was going to be quick, but his style was all hunched over the front of the bike, with elbows well and truly out. It’s not a surprise then that McCallen started out like many racers do – by going way too fast on the roads! He recalls: “It was 1984 when I realised I was doing some bloody stupid things on the road. Unfortunately that continued while I was racing: I hit a dry stone wall in a Ford Fiesta XR2 at 80mph and injured my leg!” McCallen would go…
Combining the comfort and style of a classic hoodie with the protection of a motorcycle jacket, the Weise Stealth is fitted with CE-armour at shoulder, elbow and back and is rated AA for safety. Find out more at: www.weiseclothing.com Across 1 & 4 Across & 14 Down: Title earned twice by Steve Hislop, both for Ducati. (7,9,8) 8: Darren, 1990s 125cc GP racer and multiple British Supercup Champion. (6) 9: Agreeable crash helmet brand. (3) 10: Device used for an old-fashioned way of firing a bike up. (9) 12: European country whose motorcycling heroes mainly race in circles without brakes! (6) 14 & 30 Down: Lightweight and super-expensive bodywork material. (6,5) 16: A manual control near a footpeg or on a handlebar. (5) 17 & 11 Down: Multiple small-bike World Champion who rode with a bright Kiwi…
Classic Racer, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR. CRletters@mortons.co.ukfacebook.com/ClassicRacerMag/ star letter I DISAGREE WITH RALPH! Dear CR I feel compelled to write after reading the letter by Ralph Crellin in the March/April edition of Classic Racer. Each to their own, but I basically completely disagree with his views on the magazine. To me, the content has always been excellent and continues to be so. I thoroughly enjoy the coverage of modern classic events such as the Goodwood Revival, and don’t believe CR should only include the days when the world was in black and white. ‘Back in the Day’ and ‘Show us Yours’ are great additions and missed in the latest issue. The perceived ‘poor quality pictures’ (and most aren’t anyway) add to the charm…
ROAD-RACING SAVED! Disconcerting news broke back in February, that many events in Northern Ireland would be cancelled for 2023, including short-circuit racing, trials and road-racing events. Cancelled events included the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100, Armoy Race of Legends, the Ulster Grand Prix and the Sunflower, held at Bishopscourt. Right from the start the organisers of the fantastically popular North West 200 race – held on the 8.9 mile course between ‘The Triangle’ of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine – were quick to say that they were ‘pursuing every avenue to make this year’s event happen…’ Fans and racers alike were crestfallen and it seemed as if it would be the passing of an era, not to be seen again. So why were they cancelled? Money: the cost of public liability insurance…
