Saturday, November 27, 2010
Some more photos from the late Allen Burt's collection.........
0 comments Posted by car 2011 at 3:41 PMAllen Burt was a racing acquaintance of mine over many years and in the latter part of his life , when I became involved with his day to day care, I'd like to think we became good friends....
I've featured him in my blog before and a search under his name in the search facility on the RHS of this blog will take you to some of them.
A lifelong bachelor and motorcycle racer and enthusiast he also made the trip to Europe to participate in the "Continental Circus"...that happy band of motorcycle racers that followed the Grands Prix circuit and often as well rode in many of the smaller motorcycle race meetings in Europe, camping and eking out an existence on start money and hopefully finishing money, plus the money they had squirreled away working several jobs over the racing off season.
Lets look at some more of Allen's photos....
Many people have commented to me how much they enjoy looking at these photos from the riders I've featured....I guess for that short moment in time we are taken back to being with them and the pondering of "what if I had gone too"...
Left click on the images to enlarge...
I found this little pic in AB's stuff...it is Cruikshank's corner and the comment that the fence after it was repaired following his crash into it....guess he took it later in the year, as he convalesced for the rest of the year.
Below is his 7R AJS, mournfully awaiting repair outside the competition shop of AJS at Plumstead, London.
Jack Saunders #53 rode in Europe in 1960's ,AB #5.
Monday, July 5, 2010
A privateer's photos.....Allen Burt on his 1955 and 1958 European tour......
0 comments Posted by car 2011 at 6:29 AMIn earlier Blogs I've featured photos from the late Allen Burt's collection, which is in my custody.....
Left click on the images to enlarge...
This presentation is in no special order, but going though the large folder I have of the prints and miscellanea these come out as evocative of the young aspiring privateer to the "Continental Circus" of motorcycle racing.
Coming from Australia meant a 4-5 week ship voyage...in 1955 on the P & O Arcadia....
In London, they made for Associated Motorcycles in Plumstead where use was made of the office to assist with entry requests to various race meetings...
Race transport outside London "digs"....
Douglas promenade, IOM TT 1955. Bob Brown and Allen Burt to the RHS.
AB collects from the photography shop, photos taken during voyage to TT and there, 1955, processed by S.R.Keig in Douglas.
Letter from NW200 detailing AB's winnings for that meeting in June 1958 on his second foray into European racing...
As you'll see by the comment below kindly left by H.Schubert, the NSU is Eric Hinton's bike at the North West 200 in 1956.
Eric is a friend of mine and I need to have a chat again with him, chase up some photos and feature him on this blog.
The Hinton family were a dynasty in motorcycle racing...younger brother Robert still rides here in Australia in Classic racing events on early Yamahas.
Eric and Robert's father Harry, affectionately known a "chisel" was racing from before WW2.
Eric's son Peter is a successful motorcycle racer.
In fact I need to do a blog on the Hinton family.....
And finally, this photo, given to him and it pictures riders during TT week 1953, they are Aussies, as the central rider is Keith Bryen, and next to him on the left in the pic is Tony McAlpine and it's outside "Rose Villa" the accomodation haunt for the Commonwealth riders....
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Another look at some pics from the Late Allen Burt's archive.....
0 comments Posted by car 2011 at 2:57 AMIt's time I re-visited some more of the late Allen Burt's photos....I've his motorcycling archive,and you may recall his sudden death on 25th January this year and my featuring a selection of items from his life......
If you've not, I urge you to click on "the death of a motorcycling friend" on the right column of this blog. I still find it very moving....
Left click on the images to enlarge.....
Likely one of Allen's last rides at Bathurst, Easter 1992, 1961 G50 Matchless.
P & R Williams salesman ( unknown) astride an ex works KTT sent out by Veloce..likely either KTT1030 or KTT1031.
Outside "Rose Villa" on the promenade at Douglas, IOM June 1955...a favourite accomodation spot for the Commonwealth riders...L to R..John Hempleman (NZ), G.Roberts ( Canada) and Maurie Quincey (Australia).
Allen's racing MAC, outside Bain and Kessing's shop, Liverpool Road, Enfield,NSW, 1948.
Probably on the start line at Bathurst,NSW for the 1957 Easter races,the Bathurst Junior TT, #10 Allen Burt, #5 John Shanks, #51 L.Deaton, #69 Keo Madden.
Allen with his MAC Velocette racer, likely in late 1940s.
August 1973, Veterans race at Oran Park, south of Sydney, this is the old ex Tommy Jemison 250cc MOV racer, restored by Allen after he found it in poor condition in the back yard of the Jemison's house. The bike held the Australian 250cc land speed record at 101.5mph, set prewar. Not broken until 1974 by Bryan Hindle on a Yamaha.
