Friday, June 19, 2009
I'm fortunate to have some of the personal racing photographs of riders from the special era from 1950's through the 1960's...I've mentioned Allen Burt before in this blog...a friend who I was involved in his care in the last years of his life to earlier this year when he passed away. I mentioned he was a bachelor, although I considered he was married to racing motorcycles!
I often took photos from his home to his nursing home residence and we'd discuss them and I'd pencil details on the back. Regretably I never did them all, but that isn't going to stop me showing you more... if fact you may be able to help with a possible place and date... fingers crossed...
Left click on images to enlarge...
I've published this before but is shows the two great mates, on the left on the P & R Williams supported ex works Velocette, Bob Brown and sitting on the other P & R's supported bike, an AJS 7R is Allen Burt. It's at the Mt.Druitt circuit, on the western outskirts of Sydney in 1953. Standing in the centre on the left is Les Slaughter a succesful rider in Australia, with Eric McPherson, another ex international from an earlier era.
Bob and Allen, members of the Western Suburbs MCC sailed to Europe in 1955 to collect new AJS and Matchless racers. Sadly Allen's crash during the TT practice of that year meant it wasn't until 1958 that he returned again to re-contest the GP's of Europe as a member of the Continental circus.
In the pits somewhere in Europe, Allen in dirty white overalls in front of the converted bus that he and Bob Brown used as transport, looks on as an unknown rider makes adjustments to his machine...any ideas who? Tommy Robb..?
During the Junior TT, 1958, Allen at speed on a 7R AJS down Bray Hill (G.V.Neale photograph)
At the bottom of Bray Hill... (G.V.Neale photograph)
Prior to the TT in June, riders often contested lesser known meetings in Europe to garner much needed start money and hopefully some place money to assist in funding their years racing. These several photos are at Laxenburg, Austria 27th April 1958. Allen is rider #78 on a 7R AJS and following could be Tommy Robb #30 by the large shamrock on his helmet...photo credit Artur Fenzlau, Vienna, Austria.
Since I made up this blog I've had an email from Abraham Rehorst who suggests the rider #30 behind Allen may be Ladi Richter who was the Austrian 350cc champion in 1959.
Thanks Abraham....
Allen at the same meeting and judging by the changed riding number, #81, is using his Matchless G45 in another event, likely the Senior race. The weather looks decidely unpleasant for racing.... Photo credit Artur Fenzlau, Vienna, Austria.
This shot is where ??? It is Allen Burt by his helmet...he's on his G45 Matchless....