Classic Racer

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.

Classic Racer

Sixties superstar!

V4 Victory!

Forza Ducati!

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Editor’s welcome

Paddock Gossip • Compiled by The Classic Racer team // Send your classic racing news to: editor@classicracer.co.uk

Whatever happened to? KEITH CAMPBELL

Championships and controversy • Extremely fast and – perhaps – somewhat misunderstood, by the mid-1960s Phil Read was at the height of his powers and at his most controversial. Bruce Cox brings us part two of the career of the ‘Prince of Speed.’

Smooth like Rutter • Ducati’s Pantah-based V-twins won four World Formula 2 titles in the 1980s. John Nutting tried out the works bikes raced by Tony Rutter in 1984 and charts how they were developed

ICONIC METAL 1980 BIMOTA YB3

1984 GALLINA SUZUKI TGA1 • Sometimes even the most accomplished engineer has an idea that proves to be a dud!

HIGH FLYING BIRDS! • Running some of the best riders in the world on some of the coolest-looking bikes ever created, the Heron Suzuki GB team ran for 15 years from 1975 until 1990. In the first of our three-part series, we look at the formation of the team between 1975 and 1977, and how it took Barry Sheene to two world titles.

All KNEEL! • Sidecar racing is in the blood, and few families have raced across four generations. But the Hanks family has, and Roy has raced across them all – they are, after all – sidecar/racing royalty!

Golden Holden! • A much-loved and talented racer, Rob Holden was also a keen mechanic and engineer. The Kiwi sadly died while racing at his beloved TT in 1996. Here’s part two of his story…

TOUGH COOKIE! • He’s a four-time British Superbike champion, a former 500cc Grand Prix rider, and winner of a World Superbike round as a wild card. The late, great Steve Hislop described John Reynolds as the toughest competitor he ever faced. In the first of our two-part series, we look back at the first half of JR’s illustrious career from 1987 to 1996.

BRANDS HATCH • In the third part of our series on classic British racing circuits, we look at how Brands Hatch was first established, and relate some of the dramatic moments it has witnessed, as well as hearing first-hand what it takes to lap it really fast.

Back Day • Welcome to ‘Back in the Day’ where we want to see all your old photographs from way back when. They could be of you racing, or perhaps you meeting your racing idol – or maybe just snaps you’ve taken at a race event from yesteryear: do be mindful of copyright! There’s a prize for the best! Send them to: BSimmonds@mortons.co.uk

Trailblazer! • A giant of a man in more ways than one: Mike Trimby, wife Irene, IRTA and his team, battled bureaucracy and greed to make the motorcycle race paddocks of the world a better place.