When did Geoff Duke retire?
Being an Italian motorcycle nut, I've been reading about the Geoff Duke-managed Gilera team of 1963 when the six and sevenyear-old machines still gave a good account of themselves. I don't think Duke raced in 1963, so when did he retire? And what was the emblem on his helmet? Looks like a rose tome.
Jack Salmon, email, UK.
Famously,for the 'Green 'un; Geoff announced his retirement to Bob Holliday of Motor Cycling at Heathrow Airport on his return from Japan in May 1960. The trip was in part promotional and fact-finding and later a feature detailing his visit was published in the magazine.
During his career, Geoff won five IoM
TTs (four on Norton, one Gilera), 11 350cc and 22 500cc GPs, though was first an accomplished trials rider - includingfor the Norton works team - before joining their racing team and won two 350cc (Norton) plus four 500cc (one Norton, three Gilera) riders world championships titles.
And as you surmised, Jack, the emblem on his helmet was a rose, in fact the red rose of Lancashire, his birth county, his date of birth being March 29, 1923, in the town of St Helens. Among his many accomplishments, he was the first rider to adopt tight-fitting, one-piece racing leathers. Geoff Duke died on May 1, 2015, in the Isle of Man.