Edgar Jessop: The Maestro Remembered
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 1 – first published in 2006. Our more mature readers will be familiar with the exploits of Edgar Jessop, bon vivant, philanderer and the dashing leader of the […]
Riders
Gary Coleman: From racer to Rossi
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 75 – first published in 2018. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Michael Andrews, Rob Lewis, Coleman collection. In the annals of motorcycle Grand Prix racing, as well as […]
Keith Campbell: A candle in the wind
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 69 – first published in 2017. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Byron Gunther, Keith Bryen collection, Leigh Ward. August 9th, 2022 marks sixty-five years since Keith Campbell won the 1957 350cc […]
Geoff Taylor: Across the Great Divide
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 76 – first published in 2018. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Rob Lewis, Michael Andrews, Geoff Neild, Merv Whitelaw, Taylor archives. It’s not uncommon to graduate from motocross to road racing, but […]
John Surtees: Il grande John
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 65 – first published in 2017. Story: Jim Scaysbrook “Speed is not something you find, you’ve either got it or you haven’t.” – John Surtees The Italians called him “Il grande […]
Stuart Avant: So close to stardom
From our Old Bike Archives – Issue 64 – first published in 2017. Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Rob Lewis, Phil Hall, Stan Shephard. Christchurch-born Stu Avant had talent to burn, but having a good time was equally […]
Bert Flood: “Everything’s a fluke that happens to me”.
Story: Transcribed and edited from an interview with Peter Drakeford in 2007. Photos: Rob Lewis, Bob Cann, Flood archives, OBA archives. These days, monocularity (the state of having vision in only one eye) virtually debars anyone […]
Jack Findlay: Don’t call me Cyril
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Karel Zegers, OBA archives Mike Hailwood once told me that around the original 14 kilometre Spa Francorchamps circuit, there was no one better than Cyril John ‘Jack’ Findlay. That’s high praise […]
Tony McAlpine: The wild colonial boy
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Byron Gunther, Trevor Evans, Keith Bryen Wallace Anthony, or just plain ‘Tony’ McAlpine, died on the Queensland Gold Coast on September 26th 2005, aged 84. With his passing went perhaps […]
Tom Phillis: A bridge too far
Story: Jim Scaysbrook • Photos: Charles Rice, Keith Ward, Tom Perry The feeling of disbelief that followed the death of Tom Phillis on the Isle of Man in 1962 was palpable. How could Tom, fast […]
