,

Ramsgate records shaved

by

โ€“

Photographs: MORTONS ARCHIVE

George Brown and Reg Gilbert put up new times on the seafront.

Gunning the screaming Ariel off the line is George Brown.
Gunning the screaming Ariel off the line is George Brown.

Taking place at the end of September 1961, the Ramsgate sprint attracted most of the big names of British sprinting, with George Brown top of the bill, who had his 1000cc Vincent V-twin special and 250cc Ariel two-stroke twin both at his disposal.

Article continues below…
Advert

Enjoy more Classic MotorCycle reading in the monthly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.

Others in attendance included Basil Keys, with a 1000cc JAP powered V-twin and 350cc AJS, Neville Higgins and Pat Barrett (both Vincent V-twin) and Bill Bragg, with his 650cc Triumph, Yellow Peril.

Charlie Luck was there with his 715cc single cylinder cammy Norton-based machine โ€“ built in collaboration with engine wizard Bill Stuart โ€“ while Dr Joe Bayleyโ€™s famous Douglas sprinter (still used in anger today) was being ridden by Dr Roger Willoughby.

Read more in Octoberโ€™s edition of TCM

Article continues below…
Advert

Advert
Subscribe to The Classic MotorCycle Magazine Enjoy more The Classic MotorCycle reading in the monthly magazine. Click here to subscribe.

About the Author