Also please visit my Dave
Tooley's Scooter Racing Links Page
After a successful run of races on a variety of solo machines
during the '71, '72 and into the '73 season, I had decided to rest up my leathers
for a while before the 1973 Isle of Man Scooter Week because of financial commitments.
I was saving hard to try and buy a home of my own, and continual expensive weekend
trips away were not compatible with my empty wallet. I lent my 158cc Wildcat
machine to another Hampshire Union club rider for the week. (Incidentally, I
never saw it again. I wonder where it went? Would be worth a small fortune now)
However, shortly after the I.O.M. event, my Hampshire Union colleague Tony Wilcocks
desperately needed a passenger for his sidecar since his existing passenger
had decided to retire at the last minute.
Never having passengered before, I thought I'd give it a go just for a new experience.
To my surprise, I loved every moment of it. Thus developed the partnership that
carried us through to the '74 season.
Les Rafferty had decided to build a conventional (for him) 200cc Wildcat engine
for us, since the 225's were so damn unreliable and prone to seizure. This turned
out to be the best thing he'd ever done. That engine never once missed a beat
for us in the whole season of races. I'm sure if he'd concentrated on the 200cc's
several years earlier, then the existing 200cc class leaders may have been given
something to think about.
The only thing changed after each race was the piston and rings, leaving everything
else exactly as it was.
Although it wasn't always the fastest outfit on the track in terms of top speed,
we were always the first away due to its enormous acceleration. This gave us
a huge advantage, as we were nearly always leading out of the first bend. Ok,
one or two of the larger engined outfits might sail by on the next straight,
but almost invariably they would disappear in a cloud of smoke and seized piston
rings by the end of the second lap.
We got quite used to leading races, and by the end of the season had accumulated
enough points to walk away with the British Sidecar Championship.
The only possible fly in the ointment occurring when I fell off the chair during
practise at Llandow raceway in Wales, breaking my wrist. I was in plaster for
nearly 16 weeks with that injury. Every time I turned up at scrutineering, I
had to make sure my leathers were pulled well down over the plaster, since I'd
been told in no uncertain terms that if the Insurers of the event saw an injured
rider competing, they'd pull the plug on the event.
It was a hollow victory though, since all the big names from the sidecar field,
such as Nev Frost…Pete Hockley… Alan Crickmore…Alan Green…etc…etc
had by now retired.
To be continued…when I get time to write some more
Return to A History of Rafferty Newman 'Wildcats' (Part 1)
Return to A History of Rafferty Newman 'Wildcats' (Part 2)
Return to A History of Rafferty Newman 'Wildcats' (Part 3)
Send me an email about Rafferty Newman Wildcats
