A SAD END
The 1982 season started badly with the news that Dennis Trollope was facing a massive cutback to his racing budget. He would probably only be able to run Jock in the UK. In the end the money came in and Dennis carried on tuning the motors with Fowlers of Bristol the main sponsor. First race was the Austrian GP, where Biland was the winner and Jock fourth. The 1982 TT was one of mixed fortunes, starting as favourites; they hit major problems on the opening lap of race one, eventually finishing down in 18th place. Jock and Benga made up for their disappointment in the second race by taking the chequered flag ahead of husband and wife team Dennis and Julia Bingham, setting a new lap record at 108.29mph in the process. Biland won at the Dutch TT with Jock and Benga sixth over the line. At Spa, using the new Windle outfit, they were third home, with Biland again the winner. They had to retire with engine problems at Silverstone, where Dutchman Egbert Streuer was the winner. The team finished second to Biland at Anderstorp. After five rounds, with four to go, they were now joint third on 33 points. Biland led on 60, with Schwarzel second on 52. Jock Taylor lost his life in the Finnish GP on August 15. He was dicing for third place in the very wet conditions with Biland and Waltisperg on the fourth lap. In deep lying water the outfit spun and smashed into a trackside telegraph pole.
THEN JAMES BROKE HIS WRIST AT BRANDS HATCH ON GOOD FRIDAY AFTER JOCK SPUN THE NEW £8500 SEYMAZ.
Benga was thrown clear and uninjured, but while the marshals and first aid workers tried to give assistance to Jock and release him from the mangled outfit, three laps later Finn, Pentti Niinivaara and fellow countryman, Vesa Bienek, also span and ploughed into the wreckage. Jock was rushed to hospital at nearby Lappeenranta with head injuries, suspected broken legs and internal injuries. He died at 7.30pm that evening. Jock, who was the sidecar class representative at the time, had rejected appeals by both Rolf Biland and Werner Schwarzel, asking for the race to be called off. Jock and Alain Michel were both happy to race, despite the torrential rain which turned the track into a river. After the race Benga was deeply shocked and upset and unsure of what he should do in the future. He had offers from both Biland and Michel to become their passenger. He considered both requests, but realised he had had a very lucky escape and it was time to quit. He travelled to Donington Park, where the team had been based and started working for the circuit.