Ulster Grand Prix

ULSTER GRAND PRIX

B. R. NICHOLLS

AFTER the two practice periods for the races had been held in pouring rain everyone hoped that race day would dawn bright and clear, but early risers found grey skies and rain scudding across the circuit. The more optimistic took heart from an old proverb "rain before seven, dry by eleven" and were duly rewarded for their happy outlook on life. As the flag fell to mark the start of the first race at ten a.m. the sun was making an appearance and a strong wind was drying the roads. Few then realized it was to be a great day for the Irish, in the person of Tommy Robb, that fortunes would see-saw in a remarkable fashion, that two world titles would be decided and that a brand new 340cc Honda four would put another nail in the 35cc M.V. Agusta coffin. 125cc

We have become accustomed to Honda supremacy in the two lightweight classes so Derek Minier, riding the British E.M.C. water cooled two-stroke, caused quite a stir when at the end of the first lap he was right with the Honda team men Taveri and Redman, but the excitement was short lived for on the second lap M inter hit a patch of water and crashed. Luckily his injuries were not too serious, a broken finger and some stitches in his head which had been saved by a crash helmet that was a complete write-off. Less fortunate was Ernst Degner who took a toss from his Suzuki and damaged a knee that had been the subject of an old injury.

With Minier out it was Honda all the way with Taveri, Robb and Redman finishing in that order but throughout the race they gave the crowd a great thrill swapping positions almost as often as they changed gear. Tanaka rode another Honda into fourth spot and then came New Zealander Hugh Anderson on a works Suzuki separated from his teammate Frank Perris in seventh position by Paddy Driver riding an E.M.C.

350cc

Redman was on the line again for the second race of the day and Robb was there too. They both had brand new 340cc Honda fours to match against the M.V. ridden by Mike Hailwood. At the fall of the flag Redman rocketed away with Hailwood hell for leather after him — Robb made it twelve cylinders in the first three — Todd A-O in sound! But for a long time the M.V. has been an aging old lady and after five laps she went sick, but not before Hailwood had set fastest lap of the race at 95.08 mph.

This left Redman in a very safe first place but after nine of the fourteen laps Robb's machine started to smoke badly. The new Hondas have an oil radiator cooling system in front of the crankcase and it looked as if a gasket had gone. The oil was getting onto the exhaust system and sending off clouds of blue smoke; even worse, it was getting onto the rear tire, making cornering a hazardous venture. Pit signals told third place man Franta Stastny, on the works Jawa, of Robb's plight and the Czech relentlessly set about catching him. They started the last lap together but such was the Honda rider's difficulty that Stastny took second place with over twelve seconds to spare. Alan Shepherd, A.J.S., was fourth whilst Stastny's teammate Gustav Havel was fifth.

But the dice of the day was for sixth place between Hugh Anderson and Canadian Mike Duff, both A.J.S. mounted. Earlier Tony Godfrey was around on his Norton but had to retire. Hugh and Mike were at it lap after lap with Mike getting the verdict, though the timekeepers could not separate them and they were given the same time and speed.

250cc

Eight finishers tells its own story and that is how many there were at the end of the 250cc race with only four riders completing the full distance of fourteen laps. And yet with only the works Suzukis in opposition, the Honda boys Taveri, Robb and Redman had trouble a plenty. Not from the Suzukis for Anderson and Perris went out inside one lap with carburetion trouble. Taveri lost a minute when his machine would not start, Robb lost time taking a slip road when he missed a gear and then, just when it looked as if Redman had the race and his World Championship in the bag, the four called it a day on two cylinders with over a lap to go.

This let in the crowd's local hero, Tommy Robb, to win his first-ever Grand Prix right on his own doorstep, and how

that crowd cheered him on over the last lap, Taveri, aware of Redman's trouble, held back to ensure that Jim got the second place that would give him his world championship title — in the 125cc race Luigi Taveri had gained Iiis world crown. Fourth man home was veteran Arthur Wheeler riding the Guzzi that had taken him to the same placing in the Isle of Man 250cc T.T. Fifth was another local lad, Campbell Donaghy (Ducati), who had a fair lead over Stuart Graham (Aermacchi), son of the late World Champion and M.V. ace Les Graham.

500cc

Hailwood, Hailwood all the way. A new lap record at 99.99 mph, a race record despite a strong wind and a short rain squall during the race, and the fact that he lapped all but the second and third men home made it without doubt Hailwood's race. Riding the big M.V. "fire engine" with superb skill he won by over three minutes from Alan Shepherd (Matchless) and Phil Read (Norton).

There was an interesting scrap for fourth place between Ron Langston (Norton) and Franta Stastny (385cc Jawa) which ended on the last lap when the luckless Czech had a piston seize. •