Catalina capers

Regarding the article on Bill Horsman in OBA 65, I was a student at Macquarie University in 1969 and 1970. I was befriended by another (older) student whose name was Stewart Inglis. He had raced TSS Bultacos successfully, and had held a lap grade record at Surfers Paradise (I think). He also had a pinned femur as a result of a crash. From memory he was trying to make a comeback after the accident, and he had bought an ex-Bill Horsman Manx, and I went with him to practice up at Catalina Park in Katoomba, doing half a lap as a pillion (a bit of a tight squeeze). There were one or two race meetings at Catalina Park around that time.

I also briefly knew a sidecar racer at that time (I think his name was Gary), who was a hairdresser in the Mosman area. He raced a Triumph kneeler outfit, the sidecar platform being quite plushly upholstered. He also took part in the Catalina Park meeting at that time. He also rode a kneeler roadgoing Triumph outfit! I doubt if a machine like that would pass muster today, especially with the height of 4 wheel drives etc. You would feel extremely vulnerable I would imagine. David Lewis Via email