LANCE REMEMBERED #1

Dear CR

A friend suggested I should pick up a copy or three of the current Classic Racer magazine to read the ‘Whatever happened to?’ Lance Weil feature.

I found it an informative piece on Lance

– a tribute, even – to an underestimated American rider. Lance was, in effect, blazing a trail for those Americans who followed in his footsteps. His fourth place at the Inaugural 750 Production TT in 1967 was a stunning achievement. It was, I believe, Lance’s first time on the Island, so apart from practice laps, he was off! A clutch issue prevented clean gear changes just a few miles from the finish, allowing Tony Smith on the works BSA to snatch third place from Lance by three seconds at the flag. That year, 1967, saw Lance become the second highest placed American finisher at a TT Race.

My interest in all this: I own MAC 234E, the Triumph 650 Bonneville production road race bike Lance rode in 1967 and 1968 for ELITE Motors, Tooting. My Bonnie is one of the four works bikes built in early 1967 by Triumph to go production racing. All four machines, MAC 231-4 E, were registered to Triumph Motorcycles at Meriden, Coventry. Mine will be back on the Island for the Manx Classic TT Event this year. It is road legal, ridden, enjoyed often, and not a museum piece. If you have a camera or a scribe on the Island for the Manx this year, I’m sure a quick ride on my bike could be arranged.

Martyn Ashwood, who rode four of the six hours at the 1968 500 Mile Grand Prix d’endurance on MAC 234E with Lance (third in the 750 Formula, 11th overall), said my Bonnie was the best-handling production motorcycle he rode on a track. That’s a real compliment for Doug Hele, Les Williams, and Arthur Jakeman, who built and modified the Thruxton Bonnevilles at Meriden. Thank you for a great article on Lance.

Bernard Kuropka

The Editor says: “Glad you liked the article, Bernard.”