Winter Mag 2013
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Editor’s Line Officials Contents Patron: Pauline Hailwood President: Charlie Williams 2. Editor’s Line. Hopefully there will be something for everyone in this, the latest issue of the TT Sup- 4. Antonio Maeso: the Spanish son shines porters’ Club Magazine…sidecars, both past and present, with welcome contributions Chairman: Roy Hanks in the IoM. from Nan Burton, Helen Barron and Chris Founds…Yoshi Matushita and Antonio Maeso 50 Lyndhurst Road, Birmingham, B24 8QS. Tel: 8. The Clerk of the Course... Gary Thomp- provide an international flavour… Gary Thompson talks frankly about his first TT experi- 0121 6863799. son BEM MBE. ence as Clerk of the Course …‘soloists’, Ian Mackman and Eric Wilson review their 2012 Vice Chairman: Phil Harvey 13. Chairman and Secretary Report. exploits around the Mountain Course and regular ‘columnist‘, Ivan Lintin, tells us whether 2 Oak Villas, Rawcliffe Bridge, Nr Goole, East Registrars’ Report. or not he achieved the goals he set himself this year…there might even be some points Yorks, DN14 8NU. Tel: 01405 831070. 15. Susan Jenness Trophy. of controversy, so read carefully. [email protected] 16. Team Oscar Racing has a motto: Live the Paul Phillips, TT & Motorsport Development Manager, has agreed to continue with Treasurer: Vera Dollery dream, whatever your dream may be... his normal slot in the up-and-coming summer issue – so, feel free to e-mail any questions 69 Sutton Oak Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Mid- 21. Italians at TT2012. you’d like me to put to him [see page 3 for contact details] lands, B73 6TQ. Tel: 0121 353 8134. 22. The Frame man - Ken Sprayson. We welcome Gert Meulman ‘on board’ as our new Rep for the Netherlands; it is great Quartermasters: Paul & Julie Hanks-Elliot 23. A French Newcomer on the Starting to see the Club so active on the continent. Gert’s contact details can be found on age 51 44 Lyndhurst Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 Grid. as can those for Myles Lally, from the Republic of Ireland, who has changed his address. 8QS. Tel: 0121 373 1035, or 0121 6862390 24. No Hollywood Ending for Eric Wilson. The Club is seriously on the lookout for more Regional Reps in the UK – if you have some after 6pm. 28. Lowry Burton Remembered. time to spare and would be prepared to assist, please contact any member of the Execu- General Secretary: Rose Hanks 29. What can you remember about TT 2012? tive Committee – again see page 3. 50 Lyndhurst Road, Birmingham, B24 8QS. 30. Tales from the Original Sidecar Paddock. Enjoy the Magazine; copy date for the Summer 2013 issue is 10th March 2013. Tel: 0121 6863799. Chapter 2. Graham Bean Membership Registrars: 35. News from the Netherlands. Viv & Pete Oulton 36. TT Digest. 13 Avondale Road, Buckley, Flintshire, 38. Three silvers and top ten finishes at CH7 3BW. Tel: 01244 548584 [email protected] 120mph... Ivan Lintin’s 2012 TT. 41. The Joey Dunlop Lodge. Magazine Editor: Graham Bean 42. Yoshinari Matsushita. Flat 10, Regency Court, 119 Cheadle Rd, Cheadle 46. Ian Mackman. Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 5DQ. Tel: 0161 486 6197. 51. Regional Representatives. [email protected] Assistant Editor/Advertising/ Minutes Sec.: Cover: Dramatic action with Ian Lougher. Michael Hammonds Photo courtesy Glynne Lewis. Creg Ny Baa, 9 Clipper Close, Warsash, Southamp- ton, SO31 9BJ. Tel: 01489 570 295. The views expressed in this magazine are [email protected] those of contributors and not necessarily those of the TT Supporter’s Club. Web site Coordinator: Peter Oulton e-mail: [email protected] National Raffle Coordinator: John Newton. 21 Portman Rise, Guisborough, Cleveland, TS14 7LW. Tel: 01287 636914. [email protected] 2. 3. Gary Johnson. Photo courtesy Glynne Lewis. Photo courtesy Mike Hammonds. experience. A problem…? No, as Anto- Antonio returned from the Cente- nio, now 33, had 22 years of short circuit nary meeting to his busy life in Spain to racing behind him, having twice won the consider his TT future; as well as being Yamaha R1 Cup and seven times being a chief engineer for the dynamometer com- regional champion – in Andalucía, Murcia pany he founded himself after finishing and Castilla la Mancha in 50, 80, 125ccs, his degree some 12 years ago, he’s a test Superstock and SBK. He raced in the rider for motorcycle mags, fuel mappings 250 European Championship and the tuner, special alloys welder, and, after com- GSXR750 Cup as well. pleting his second university degree, has Antonio had also ridden small just become a primary school teacher. “I bikes in a few street races, but did that always knew that it was going to be very help? No, but more of that later…firstly, difficult to make a living from racing, so I permission had to obtained from the Span- have prepared myself for the future.” ish motorcycle authorities to take part in the Despite being fully occupied, he TT. According to Antonio, “it was impossi- wasn’t giving up on the TT, returning every ble, but thanks to Jim Parker, the Spanish year since, except for 2011 “when finan- authorities let me apply for an ACU licence, cial restrictions meant I couldn’t afford the which I have raced under ever since.” machinery I felt I needed after I’d com- So, how did he prepare – did he pleted my ‘Mountain Course apprentice- Antonio Maeso visit the island before the TT, watch videos, ship’ during the years since my debut. I etc? “I tried them all, but none of them feel my approach to the TT has improved ...the Spanish son shines in the IoM worked. Everything looked so different to massively; I´ve been learning the course Apparently, early in the 1970 GP ing more aware of real road racing, the TT me first time down Bray Hill. I went for the and improving year by year.” This is cer- season, Santiago Herrero said to Phil in particular.” Press Presentation in January, did a few tainly the case as the result sheets of 2010 Read “you can win the 250 World Cham- Taking part in the TT probably laps in a van, and then watched videos as testify – five finishes, the best, 20th in the pionship, but I’m going to win the TT”. wasn’t on Antonio’s racing agenda, but much as I could. I kept myself saying ‘I can Senior with lap speeds now well into the Sadly, as we all know, Herrero succumbed the thought of doing so was lurking some- go faster than them, they don´t slide what- 120mphs, although the highlight of his TT to his injuries after an incident at the 13th where in his head …“one day I, along with soever so they don´t seem to go fast, I´ll career has to be the 17th in the Senior of Milestone during that very race, the upshot Steve Plater, was instructing at a Jerez succeed there’. I was obviously wrong, but being that Spanish racers have been racing clinic when I saw a few bikes with at that time, I didn´t know what it takes to Antonio with TTSC Spanish Rep, Peter Flores. actively discouraged, if not forbidden by IoM registration plates, so I decided to ask be fast on the roads, which is something their national motorcycling body, to race in the riders about the TT. really different to a short circuit approach. the TT. That is, of course, until the cente- There were three Manxmen, one of An average race speed in excess nary event when Antonio Maeso made his whom was the great David Madsen-Myg- of 108mph, two finishes – both 55th, did debut, becoming one of the most popular dal. I told them about my dream to race our Spanish friend consider his first TT riders in the Glencrutchery Road paddock, there one day and they reacted by offering successful? “Not at all. I managed to qual- gradually increasing his speeds year on their help for me to make a go of it. I ended ify and race, but my best ‘results’ were just year. up that year racing my first ever TT – the finishing. I thought that it was going to be Antonio is quite realistic about Centenary.” easier, but it was hard…mentally hard. The events…”as time passed since Santiago’s The days of holiday or casual speeds were the difference. I didn´t know death fewer and fewer Spaniards knew of racers at the TT are long gone, so the anything about riding at those speeds or the TT, with youngsters of the early 2000s Organisers have to be sure that any com- setting the bike up for the roads. Despite knowing nothing at all, but thanks to my petitor from outside the UK who they know feeling like a duck in the desert, I did my involvement, people in Spain are becom- little about has the right pedigree and best to finish and learn the course.” 4. 5. Stylish as ever, Simon aboard his 600 Yamaha at Creg ny Baa. Courtesy Mike Hammonds. averages in excess of 116mph. I was pleased to get the KTM racing ride, so fin- ishing 39th in a TT race, the first ever finish for the manufacturer, was a bonus. Finally, there was the Lightweight race in which I finished last [41st] with the slowest bike by far out there.” Presumably, Antonio was happy with four bronzes, good finishing posi- tions, particularly 23rd in the Superbike, at an average of 117.99mph? “Well, yes, but unfortunately, none of the bikes were good enough to improve my R1´s performances of previous years, which is the main reason why I would return to the TT in the future… to improve on my earlier performances.