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.
ARCHIVE With two-wheeled Grand Prix racing celebrating its 1000th event at Le Mans, here’s the first winner of the 500cc world crown. He was the first of a string of British champions, a remarkable man called Robert Leslie Graham, known as Les… Les Graham’s two-wheeled career started as many do – on the dirt. Born in 1911, in The Wirral, he first raced on Liverpool’s Stanley Speedway and later, 1929, at the Oswestry Park Hall circuit as he moved onto circuit racing. By the mid-1930s he was racing at major events such as the North West 200 and the Ulster Grand Prix, and by 1938 he had taken part in the Isle of Man TT races and was signed up by Jock West to ride a Velocette in 1940, but…
ARCHIVE Renzo Pasolini was always going to gravitate towards two wheels as his father was already a motorcyclist and Renzo himself was born and raised in Rimini, a part of Italy steeped in motorcycling and motorcycle racing… The young Pasolini showed a sporting bent, being interested in many sports, including football and boxing. However, with backing from his father, he soon was riding motorcycles off-road and entered into competitive racing in motocross before moving on to Tarmac road-racing. By the time Paso was in his 20s, he had committed to road-racing and – in 1962 – had taken two wins ahead of Giacomo Agostini, while riding his Aermacchi 175 in the national championship. Renzo’s career would be entwined with other great names, such as Tarquinio Provini, whom he finished 2nd…
ARCHIVE Scott Russell was the perfect foil for our own Carl Fogarty back in the early 1990s… Brash, loud, funny, and straight-talking, it’s almost as if both were cut from the same cloth… Of course Foggy was from Blackburn and Scott from East Point, Georgia in the USA – but both were talented on two wheels and neither liked being in second place. While Carl would eventually become the most successful World Superbike rider until recently eclipsed by Jonathan Rea, Russell also holds a number of significant firsts, at least one of which will probably never be beaten. If you’re an American, you’ll know Russell as ‘Mr Daytona’ as he won the once prestigious Daytona 200 event no less than five times, being matched only by Canadian Miguel Duhamel. He…
WIN WEISE REDWOOD SHIRT £139.99! Put your racing knowledge to the test and complete the puzzle to be in with a chance of winning this great prize. Good luck! 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 the shoulder, elbow and back and is rated AA for safety. Find out more at: www.weiseclothing.com Across 1 & 5 Across: Team that helped Steve Hislop towards his second BSB title. (7,3,6)8: Son of racer George... and somewhat more successful. (4)9: Term for great acceleration that could soon become quite literal. (8)11: This flag means go! (5)12: The last Italian premier class GP World Champion before Rossi (6)13: See 23 Across.16: Alessandro, 125cc World Champion in the…
Classic Racer, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR. CRletters@mortons.co.uk facebook.com/ClassicRacerMag/ Star letter HEROIC HIZZY! Dear CR Just wanted to say what a great feature on Steve Hislop in the last issue, and can’t wait for the next. I was lucky enough to follow Steve’s career over on the Island when I was out there as a fan, and later back in the UK in the British Superbike paddock. I know that many Brit bike racers are selfish and have to maintain an air of superiority when they are racing and that many racers in general find it hard to be complimentary about their big rivals. What got me was that – since his passing – those I’ve spoken to about Steve talk about what a…
HELP Classic Racer AND WIN THESE GLOVES! Here at Classic Racer we need your help. We want to learn more about our readers so we can ensure not only the magazine and its features and content are exactly what you want, but also that the advertisements which appear in it, are as relevant to your needs as they can be. We’ve created a survey, with a link located on our website www. classicracer.com, or you can scan the QR code to go to the survey. By way of thanks for completing the survey all those who take part will be entered into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to be in with a chance of winning a pair of Held Gore-Tex Twin II four season motorcycle gloves worth £190. It will only…
