Continental Circus - part 4: The late 1950-ies

We've now reached the end of the 1950-ies. In 1957, Gilera, Moto Guzzi, and Mondial withdrew from GP racing, leaving several riders facing a completely different situation at the start of the 1958 season. Some former factory riders decided to retire, but there were also a few who returned to racing as privateers.

Amongst them were for instance ex-champions Geoff Duke and Keith Campbell, along with Dicky Dale, who also risked their reputations by this. From then on, they had to compete with the other privateer riders on equal material. This resulted in some exciting battles that the public lapped up, and it ultimately proved to be the savior of the two most important GP classes in the years that followed.

Due to the shortage of (ex-)factory motorcycles, English machines such as the Manx Norton, 7R AJS and Matchless G50 once again became the backbone of the 350 and 500 cc classes in the late 1950–ies and early 1960–ies.

Although Norton and AMC had officially withdrawn from GP racing, the development of production racers continued. For example, Norton developed short-stroke engines, and Matchless began production of the G50 in 1959. The machines developed at that time, with a bore of 80mm (350cc) and 90mm (500cc), are still successful in classic racing today, albeit with the use of more modern and better materials.

Around that time, a new generation of riders from the Commonwealth also arrived in Europe. Among them were Gary Hocking (Rhodesia), Jim Redman (Rhodesia), Paddy Driver (South Africa), Tom Phillis (Australia), and John Hempleman (New Zealand). Besides the well-known Australian riders, the field was supplemented by British riders like Bob Anderson and Frank Perris, and Irish riders like Bob Matthews and Austin Carson. Unfortunately, due to numerous crashes, several of them met their untimely deaths, not least due to the lack of safety measures at various circuits.

In 1959, the most successful rider was Gary Hocking. He achieved double victories (350 & 500cc) at St. Wendel, Zandvoort, Gellerasloppet, and at the Nürburgring.

Later that year he also started riding MZ in the 125 and 250cc classes, making life difficult for Carlo Ubbiali on MV Agusta.

With MZ he won the 250cc race in Sweden and the GP of East Germany at the Sachsenring, that was not part of the World Championship series.

(To be continued)

Hans Baartman

Top   -   Back to former page   -   Home