Readers Write

Several weeks have passed since last we met on the pages here. And there’s so much to say!

Dear CR Brilliant features in issue #191. I especially liked the story on the Beebee brothers. I spent many happy moments cheering the team on at the TT against the foreign opposition. One thing puzzled me though, I thought Hartley Kerner joined the team in the later days, but as there was no mention of him the old memory must be letting me down. It’s definitely the memory. Just watched the latest episode of the motorbike show with Henry Coles and learned that Trevor Nation won a TT for Norton in the Eighties. I could have sworn it was Steve Hislop in 1992. Ah well. Paul Mellor Gwynedd Wales

Hi Paul Glad you enjoyed the Beebee piece as much as I enjoyed writing it. Four real characters and all unsung heroes in my book. Hartley Kerner and a memory lapse? Well, yes and no. Having checked back, Hartley didn’t actually ride for Beebees, but it’s an easy mistake to make. He was out on triples around the same time, but Alistair recollects it was on Tony Miles Tridents. Tony having taken over the construction of Rob North frames sometime in the late 1970s I believe. But if you’re interested in Beebee riders, I failed to mention, how about a certain Malcolm Wheeler? I’ll leave him to give his own account of that one! Keep the letters coming. Pete Crawford