Under the Chequered Flag
One of Victoria’s most enduring motor sport personalities, RAY KELLY, passed away in June after a long battle with cancer. During the 1950s, Ray acted as passenger for Bernie Mack, the pair becoming one of the most successful sidecar combinations in the country. When Mack retired from racing, Kelly acted as passenger for Lindsay Urquhart and eventually began riding himself, with Alan Jamieson as passenger. Ray built several outfits including a Hillman Imp-engined version, which is currently undergoing restoration. He also raced Formula Vee and Formula Ford cars and was a successful race horse owner and entrant. A motor mechanic by trade, Ray became a successful businessman as a director of Southern Plant Hire and later as a major distributor of bus chassis. In latter years Ray was a strong supporter of historic racing and the HMRAV’s annual Sidecar Handicap Trophy is named in his honour. Ray’s funeral took place in Melbourne on June 23rd, attended by a large contingent from the motorcycling community, and with one of his racing outfits on display.
Twice winner of the European 250cc Motocross Championship (forerunner of the World Championship) on a works Greeves, DAVE BICKERS was a household name in Britain and helped to make Greeves a highly successful marque around the world. Later Bickers switched to CZ and won the prestigious BBC Grandstand MX Trophy on five occasions. He competed in New Zealand during 1970 and conducted a number of training schools for local talent while there. In 1976, he started a company providing stunt riding services to film and television, and he went on to ‘double’ for Roger Moore in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. The company continues under the management of Dave’s son Paul. Dave Bickers passed away in England on July 5th after a stroke, aged 77.