Part 2
Continental
Circus
Before elaborating on specific events
during and between races, it might be useful to describe the life of Mr
Average "Continental Circus" rider and some of the conditions
under which he was working and living in the 60's. Numbering between 30
to 40 regular 'privateers', who were the very heart of the 'Circus',
they came into racing from many diverse walks of life and from various
countries. Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa and Rhodesia regularly supplied a new crop of young (or not so
young)! talented riders each year. In my own case, born in London, I was
first and foremost a tool maker before being labelled an automotive
engineer.
With
start money at around £50 for the lightweights, rising to £70 or £100
per start for the 350 and 500cc classes, the name of the game for the
'privateers' was to get as many starts as possible, within the
constraints of the number of miles they had to travel between races, at
times travelling over 1000 miles between meetings and crossing many
country borders. This was not always easy in the 60s.
Manx Nortons, 7R AJS and G50 Matchless
were the first choice of the 'privateers' in the 350 and 500cc classes.
There were more makes to choose from in the lightweight classes
including Moto Guzzi, Morini, Mondial, Ducati, MV, Aermacchi, Benelli,
N.S.U and Bultaco and even MZ, Jawa and CZ but these were
difficult for 'privateers' to get their hands on being from behind the Iron
Curtain. Many of these bikes were ex-works machines and some quite long
in the tooth. Most of the established Works Riders were joining the
Japanese Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki teams and, not surprisingly, beginning
to take all the top prizes and the World Championship points in the lightweight
classes.
Most
'privateers' travelled with wives, girl friends or mechanics and, without
doubt, the most used transporter was the very reliable Ford Thames van.
Some were modified to take Ford Zephyr 6 engines, these raised a
few eyebrows as they motored across the autobahns of Europe at over 80
MPH, this was a high speed for any van in the 60s! The vans were not only the
'privateers' means of transport but were their homes for much of the time
when the riders were on the road — no luxurious motor homes in these times!
— not even for the Works Riders! who were referred to as 'The Raiders'.
The works riders gained the title of
"Raiders" as a
result of their habit of only entering the World Championships &
selecting other International meetings where high prize money could be
gained. They would then shuttle back to their own countries to race in
their National Championships leaving the "Circus Privateers"
to support the not so well paid remaining European meetings!
One of the biggest problems for the
"privateers" was getting entries, and when they did, getting
confirmations back to them (no internet then). This was particularly
difficult for riders trying to race in East Germany, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia or Yugoslavia as visas were required to enter these
countries and could not be obtained until a rider was in possession of
a written invitation from the race organiser. Even after getting the
requisite invitation the lucky, or not so lucky, riders had to camp
sometimes for days, at the Austrian International camp site in Vienna, waiting for
the respective countries Embassy to issue visas. Somehow, in the end, we all seemed to
manage one way or another!
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