Memories of WF Guiver’s shop

I remember the WF Guiver shop in Rose Hill, Sutton, very well. In the early 1970s my brother and I were fortunate to be into junior grass track racing, I started at the age of 12 and my brother at 15. I started competing in the 150cc class and my ride was a 125 Hagon Suzuki while my brother began by riding a Triumph Tiger Cub in the 200cc class.

WF Guiver’s in Sutton was run by Vern Havers and at the time he was one of the best engine tuners around for British singles, from Triumph Terriers right up to BSA B50s. My brother’s Cub engine was prepared by Vern Havers and was outstanding. There were a few local lads in our village of Warlingham who were in the senior grasstrack scene and their B25s, C15s, etc, were also prepared by Vern Havers.

As the years passed by, I myself enrolled at Merton Technical College in 1978 and took a motorcycle technician’s course. This was round the corner from WF Guiver and I often used to call in to see Vern on my way home, and I would relay our conversations to my dad, Gordon Watson, who, during our early grasstrack days, became a good friend of Vern’s. While at Merton Tech one of my lecturers was Gordon Adsett, a very accomplished Husqvarna works motocross rider occasionally featured in the OBM.

I continued grasstrack racing until the age of 24. Many great memories and stories! Peter Watson