Tommy Robb

TOMMY ROBB

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B. R. Nicholls

THEY USED TO call the last flight of the day from London to Belfast the “Ulster Flyer,” but to the motorcycle enthusiast that name now means one man and he is Tommy Robb. Leaving aside boundaries between north and south Ireland, for there are none as far as motorcycle sport is concerned, Ireland has a habit of producing one great all-rounder after another, so Tommy is just one of a line of Irish aces. But the basis of a real champion is all-around ability and that is usually based on a steady rise to fame. So it was with Tommy Robb for he started off his life of speed on grass track racing and proved an ace at this as well as sand racing.

His job of draftsman and his own ability to tune a motor stood him in good stead when he joined the hurly-burly of road racing in 1957, a diminutive figure a little over sixty-six inches tall and wearing a helmet with the distinctive white shamrock design on a black background. Looking a little lost on bigger machines, which he rode for three seasons, his real chance came when he was offered a contract with Honda in 1962. He was an ideal choice for a team man, prepared to ride to orders, shadowing Taveri and Redman in their title chases.

Everything comes to him who waits and in last year’s Ulster Grand Prix Tommy’s chance came on his own doorstep in the 250cc race when first Taveri and then Redman struck trouble. He streaked home to win on the four-cylinder Honda, having previously finished third in the 350 race, also on a Honda four. He lost second place on the last lap when an oil leak smothered the rear of the machine. He went on to finish runner-up in the 350 world championship and then scored a 50cc and 125cc double at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. To keep himself out of mischief between road race meetings he has just bought a 196cc Bultaco — to ride at grass track meetings back home in Ireland. •