The appeal of the 1953 ACU Jubilee Races, which took place in late August, suffered a major blow when many of the big stars were eliminated from the running owing to injury, illness or schedule conflicts. The event went on regardless, and it was those spectators who decided not to attend that missed out on some great racing.
Percy Tait (AJS) streaks round a right-hand corner.
It came as an unwelcome surprise to some road race fans when it was revealed that a sizeable bunch of top riders including Maurice Cann, Bob Keeler, Derek Farrant and the young John Surtees would not be making an appearance at the Crystal Palace circuit for the ACU Jubilee Races in August 1953.
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Thankfully the entry list was still suitably replete with short-circuit aces from across the country (with youthful Percy Tait and charioteer Bill Boddice among the most notable) and the event managed to accrue a good-sized crowd, which was treated to some ding-dong battles across the four scheduled races.
Read more in July’s edition of TCM
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