READERS WRITE
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Dear CR
As an avid enthusiast and collector of John Player Norton race bikes I was deeply saddened at the passing of Peter Williams late last year.
I knew Peter for some 35 years and spent many hours with him talking about his racing fortom Arter and his development of the Arter 7R and G50 engine machines, plus his programme of building and racing the 750cc John Player Commando-engine race bikes. We all appreciate what a fine rider Peter was, together with his very fertile mind often thinking well outside the box.
When assessing the JPN racing period from 1971-75, with what was a small budget compared to overseas rivals, in my opinion the team achieved a great deal. In reality the team was actually quite small, starting with Frank Perris as team manager and riders Peter Williams, Phil Read andtony Rutter, later joined by John Cooper and Dave ‘the Rave’ Croxford.
I personally think the manufacturing side of the team should have the recognition they deserve. Sadly, the surviving team members have diminished with the passing of John Mclaren, (a gifted fabrication mechanic), Reg Raynter (engine builder, fabricator, mechanic) Peter Pyket (frame building, mechanic), Dave Ludwell (engine builder), Robin Clist (fabricator, welder) andtony Wood (Peter’s friend, racing partner and unofficial mechanic.)
These greats are survived by Mike Imberdavis (mechanic), Norman White (mechanic, who is still building JPNS), Mike Guildford mechanic and engine builder), and the east well known is Basil White. I believe Basil deserves a great deal of credit for
the production and design of the many, very special parts that could be seen on the JPN race bike, plus many internal parts that the public and press did not see. Peter Williams was a very gifted man but, without a Basil Knight there to produce the thousands of drawings, details, general arrangements and calculations, plus items like cast mag wheels, leading axel fork legs, outrigger transmission and external clutch, the process may never have happened in the timeframe available. Well deserved credit should be given to those not always in the limelight.
The Editor says: “Here, here!”