IT’SITS... ANDAND... WITHWITH...

Dear CR Yet another great mag (#198 July/august) and the where and when picture did indeed get me thinking, so many cross issues to note. To start, the two Nortons made me think 1973 but then Ago is on a Yamaha so it has to be 1974 (and Sheene without his number 7!), but when in the season? Well, Peter Williams had his big accident at Oulton Park on the August bank holiday, so it has to be earlier than that. Paul Smart, number three, had his big crash in the race of the year meeting in September, so ditto. Also 1974 was Percy’s last year on the Triumph Three before his Yamaha move. Is that the Lincoln Imp Steve Machin (22) sitting behind Peter Williams? Steve was killed in the accident at Cadwell in 1974, so to make a stab at it, I would say the year is 1974. The track: well a mixed race like that, Mallory Park.the meeting: the Post TT. Looking through the field, apart from the big stars: Ago, Read, Smart, Sheene, Croxford, Williams, “Tempi”. Moving back: Pat Mahoney, Percy Tait, Steve Machin (?), a young John Newbold,tony Rutter in the Castrol leathers, Phil Carpenter and Charlie Williams, both having wontts this year, not sure on the number 28 but is it John France? Looking to the crowd, just behind Sheene’s helmet, is that a fresh-faced Mick Grant? And is the official looking down at number 28 the late Colin Armes? These pictures bring back many memories of a golden time in racing for so many people and great events too: Post TT, King of Brands, Race of Aces and Oulton Gold Cup. All with world stars there competing. How racing has changed! We do though, have Classic Racer to bring back to us the stories and memories of the golden period, so to all the team keep up the work on a great magazine. Adrian Pallett Nuneaton Thank you for the kind words Adrian, and bravo on the complete (and how!) listing of faces in the image. I’m unsure about Granty in the crowd – it certainly could be him. Does anyone out there know if it is? Tony