Tiger tales

As a follow on to the story of Cyril Jack ‘Tiger’ Findlay (OBA 61), I was at the T.T. in the Isle of Man in 1967; the first time I had seen him since he left Australia in 1958. Tiger and Bernie Coleman had been the two mates who introduced me to motorcycles in our teenage years. After his accident on the Bultaco in the 250 TT, he asked me to drive his van – while I was helping Kel Carruthers – until he was fit enough to ride again (I had by this time become a Marine Engineer and was working for the Blue Star Line in London on the Brazil Star and was on leave). I drove him and Nanou to the Dutch TT and then to Spa Francorchamps and he decided to race (he was still on crutches) in the 500 GP, so with a bit of help he cut the plaster off his foot and cut his left boot enough to get it on his foot and tied it up with tape, After getting the OK from officials, he practiced and they said he could start, but changed their mind and said he had to start from the back of the grid with no pusher. Luckily it was a downhill start. He had to sit on the Matchless, clutch in with 1st gear engaged, push with his right foot and drop the clutch. He was last away, rode like a demon and finished 4th behind Ago, Mike Hailwood and Fred Stephens on the Paton. After the race Peter Williams told us he had never seen anyone ride so well around Spa. He drove himself from there and I went with Kel, Jan and the kids for the rest of the season. This is just a little story about ‘Tiger’, how determined he was, and what a great rider as well. Patrick Bruce Bittern, Vic.