Geoff Duke. R.I.P.

[Pickles2]

Geoff Duke has passed away aged 92.
Six times World Motor Cycle Champion.
Growing up as a boy in the U.K. there was no-one who hadn't heard of Geoff Duke,..He was every boy's hero on his Norton.
R.I.P. Pickles.

[Redback]

A legend of the sport in my eyes, along with Surtess, Hailwood, Read, and Sheen.

Geoff Duke
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/1340.jpg
Career
500cc/MotoGP world championships: 4 ? 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1955.

500cc/MotoGP race wins: 22

Arguably the first two-wheeled superstar, Geoff Duke reached the newly founded 500cc World Championship in only its second season of existence (1950), arriving with Norton ? and winning first time out at the season-opening Isle of Man TT.

Duke may well have gone on to win the world title that year, but two non-scores due to mechanical problems at the next two rounds cost him dearly and - despite ending the six race season with two wins - in a situation where the best four results counted, Geoff lost the title by just 1 point to Gilera's Umberto Masetti.

Duke was also runner-up in the 350cc World Championship that year, but the following season would see the Briton's obvious potential recognised as he wrapped up both the 500cc and 350cc championship, with 4 and 5 wins respectively.

However, hopes of back-to-back 500cc world titles were ended by injuries sustained in a non-championship race midway through 1952, but he still had enough of a lead to defend his 350cc crown successfully.

The 1953 season saw Duke make what was then a controversial switch from the British made Norton to ride the technically superior Gilera against which he'd battled in previous seasons. It would prove a clever decision and he prompt won his second 500cc world title by 14-points.

The next season saw Duke and Gilera dominate the premier-class further - the Englishman doubling the points score of nest nearest rival Ray Amm - but 1955 would offer a stiff challenge from fellow Gilera rider Ray Armstrong.

Duke won by 6-points for what would be hid fourth and final 500cc title, but was banned from the opening two GPs of 1956 for supporting a riders? strike over better pay for privateers. In his absence, John Surtees and MV Agusta took victory, and then claimed a further triumph when Duke retired from the lead of his comeback race.

Geoff's bad luck continued and, although Surtees would subsequently break his arm, Duke couldn't catch his countryman and finished the year with only eight points after winning the season ending Italian GP.

As was the case the previous year, Duke's 1957 season would be effectively over before it began - this time through injury in non-championship race - which forced him to sit out four of the six rounds. He would salvage a third and a second in the final two races to the season fourth in the points.

The withdraw of Gilera saw Duke make an ill-fated switch to BMW for the 1958 500cc World Championship and back to Norton for the 350cc series, but neither machine was a match for the now dominating MV Agustas and Duke finished third, top non-MV, in both championships after dropping his BMW for a Norton midway through the premier-class season.

After only reasonable results during 1959, in which he finished fourth and fifth on Nortons in the 500 and 350cc championships respectively - and with MV Augusta still totally dominating both classes - Duke decided he had little left to prove and called time on his glorious ten-year GP career at the end of season.

[jimr1]

Geoff Duke has passed away aged 92.
Six times World Motor Cycle Champion.
Growing up as a boy in the U.K. there was no-one who hadn't heard of Geoff Duke,..He was every boy's hero on his Norton.
R.I.P. Pickles.
One of the all time greats , 6 world championships , plus a great ambassador to motorbike sport . He was a hero to a whole generation of young boy's . P.I.P. Jim..

[JayBoRover]

Another legendary motorcycle racer has gone. RIP Geoff Duke.

[Jeff]

He was one of my father's heroes and he would often talk of crowding around a wireless listening to broadcasts from tracks far away. If not for Duke Marketing, (actually set up by his son Peter) I would never have discovered the Isle of Man.

A nice tribute, and some lovely sounding bikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBZTuQ3ZOfQ&feature=youtu.be

Jeff

:rocket:

[olbod]

I had the pleasure of watching Geoff race on his Norton at Mt Druitt, forget the exact year but it must have been about 1953-4 ?


In one race Art Senior blew him away on his Red Hunter Ariel for a lap and a half until the thing blew up.


Geoff said after the race that he could not believe it when this old bike with girder forks raced past him.


He will be remembered.


Another fine gentleman and Australian Motorcycle racer died a couple of days ago ( I got an email tonight ).
Eric Debenham RIP


A sad news day all round.

[Redback]

I have a feeling I have met Eric, could have been at Oran Park or even Amaroo Park at an historic meeting, I raced a H1 500 Kawasaki in Post Classic in the 80s, don't think he was racing then though.

Here you go Robert, Eric at Amaroo
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/1279.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/05/1280.jpg

[olbod]

Thanks.

Those pictures are great.

I shall keep them in my old Mate folder and also pass them onto the bloke who notified me.

I raced against Eric years ago.

He was a good bloke.

A pic below of olbod when he first started racing and about the time I first met Eric.

The old BSA reached 110 mph down Conrod.

Brakes were non existant.

[Redback]

Thanks.

Those pictures are great.

I shall keep them in my old Mate folder and also pass them onto the bloke who notified me.

I raced against Eric years ago.

He was a good bloke.

A pic below of olbod when he first started racing and about the time I first met Eric.

The old BSA reached 110 mph down Conrod.

Brakes were non existant.

Thanks Robert, the photos are not mine, found them on the web, I did used to go to races in the 70s, lots of standing up at Bitupave at 6 hours at Amaroo.

Me at Amaroo on my 500 Kwaka, I'm only a young fella Robert(60;))

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/Bike%20Photos/Scan007.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bazzar/media/Bike%20Photos/Scan007.jpg.html)

Baz.

[Pickles2]

I remember those Kwacka 500s, they were a 3 cylinder 2 stoke weren't they,...massively fast as a road bike for their day.
I've not ridden on many bikes, but a work mate had one of these, took me for a ride, I remember the acceleration, I nearly slid off the back of the pillion.
They came out in a 750 too didn't they?
Pickles.

[Redback]

I remember those Kwacka 500s, they were a 3 cylinder 2 stoke weren't they,...massively fast as a road bike for their day.
I've not ridden on many bikes, but a work mate had one of these, took me for a ride, I remember the acceleration, I nearly slid off the back of the pillion.
They came out in a 750 too didn't they?
Pickles.

Yes they did, I still have my 750 H2A at home in the garage, I'm about 2/3s through a resto, released in 1972 as the H2A, mine is a 1973 H2A 750, in 74 they lengthened the frame on the 500 and the 750 to help stop wheel stands, re-named KH500 and KH750 or H2B.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/Bike%20Photos/2__Nov_03_008.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bazzar/media/Bike%20Photos/2__Nov_03_008.jpg.html)

The one in the first photo is a 1972 H1 500 Triple 2 stroke, first model with a disc brake front, keeping the front wheel on the ground and stopping them was the hardest part of riding them.

Lots of fun to ride:D

Baz.