classic motorcycle forum
Motorcycle Discussions => British Bikes => Topic started by: Brillpaul on August 24, 2008, 07:31:55 PM
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Can anyone help in identifying any of the riders or machines from a race meeting in the 1930's.
The link to the top photo and instructions follow:-
[url http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/lost_photos_individuals.htm]
Any help however slight would be appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
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Judging by the presence of BMW twins, DKW split singles and Nortons with the pre-war tele fork I would say this is 1939. Sorry can't tell faces from the photos.
Regards,
Martin
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The pictures do look to be from 1939. Is there any chance of posting the photos individually as the detail is a bit difficult.
Bottom left with the Norton looks like Freddie Frith and he rode No. 17 in the 1939 Senior TT.
The figure in leathers behind Norton 51 could be Harold Daniell and I think that the man in front of the bike is Stanley Woods.
I can't find a list of entries on line but if it is the TT then a TT results book with entry numbers would probably let you place most of the riders.
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The bloke sitting on BMW no.9 may be Georg Meier, the first foreigner riding a foreign bike to win the senior TT (in 1939 I believe), riding a supercharged BMW. There is an article in the current issue of Classic Bike (I think it is Classic Bike) on these pre-war supercharged racing BMW's.
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i think the pix is W Rusk the D K W could be Kluge in the first set of pictures geoff
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Brillpaul says:
Thahks for all the details supplied - very helpful. sorry for the delay but I had to replace my computer.
The attached photos may be clearer to view.
Thanks,
Paul
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second picture...
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I'm sure that pic. 1 is Walter Rusk. He used a Velo in the 1939 'Junior'.
Paul, are you related to Walter Rusk ? I 'm aware that he died flying during the war. Do you know the circumstances ?
The DKWs were entered in the 'Junior' and the BMWs the 'Senior' so the pictures must relate to both races (or practice) but I can see no pictures of Walter on the V4 AJS that he rode to 12th in the 'Senior'
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Thanks for solving that puzzle RichP. I saw a photo of Walter in the 1939 Senior but it wasn't the No.50 in the photo. I believe it was on the AJS V4 he was first to lap a British Road Circuit at 100mph - the Ulster Grand Prix.
My father told me that Walter was his cousin. Walter became 966122 Aircraftman and trained at No7 Flying Training School, Peterborough. In 1940, aged 28,he and his instructor were on a training flight and Walter was killed in a crash at Tilton-on-the-Hill in Leicestershire.
Paul
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Cheers Paul, that's very interesting - and thanks for sharing the pictures. Did they come to you through the family ?
If you're looking for more detail, I'm sure that the Vintage Motorcycle Club Librarian would be happy to look up entry numbers for you, either in period publications or subsequent books.
I don't know where you're based but assume you know that the Sammy Miller museum has a V4 Ajay ?
Just being nosey, do you know what he was flying at the time of his death ?
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I stmbled across the photos on the link in my first post - aparently found in an envelope from an auction.
The magazine Classic Motorcycling Legends NO14 had a good article which inclded a photo of Walter at Kate's on the AJS in the 1939 Senior on a No9 plate.
I believe Sammy has the bike in his museum. I would love to visit it sometime - I live at Greyabbey in Co.Down, N.Ireland so may nip across the pond sometime with my camera or maybe sammy would have some interesting photos! ;D
Paul
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I stmbled across the photos on the link in my first post - aparently found in an envelope from an auction.
The magazine Classic Motorcycling Legends NO14 had a good article which inclded a photo of Walter at Kate's on the AJS in the 1939 Senior on a No9 plate.
I believe Sammy has the bike in his museum. I would love to visit it sometime - I live at Greyabbey in Co.Down, N.Ireland so may nip across the pond sometime with my camera or maybe sammy would have some interesting photos! ;D
Paul
Hope you can come over sometime in the future you will find it very rewarding. I have attached a picture taken by me at New Milton of a speedway bike like my father rode in 1930.
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I posted this page on the TT Website forums, which i occassionally go on.
http://www.ttwebsite.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=7347
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Nice one Goldie - thanks a bunch.Here's hoping for more results.
Paul :)
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Cheers Paul, that's very interesting - and thanks for sharing the pictures. Did they come to you through the family ?
If you're looking for more detail, I'm sure that the Vintage Motorcycle Club Librarian would be happy to look up entry numbers for you, either in period publications or subsequent books.
I don't know where you're based but assume you know that the Sammy Miller museum has a V4 Ajay ?
Just being nosey, do you know what he was flying at the time of his death ?
PS Walter was fling a HAWKER HART SPECIAL.
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Nice one Goldie - thanks a bunch.Here's hoping for more results.
Paul :)
I think they are on the case
http://www.ttwebsite.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=7347
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Starting from top left of TT39 1:
Walter Rusk 350 Velocette 1939 Senior TT
Sigfried (Siggi) Wunsche 250 DKW 1938 Lightweight TT
Walter Rusk & Stanley Woods 1939 TT
Ted Mellors with his 350 Velocette 1939 Junior TT with Freddy Frith
Georg Meier with his 500 BMW 1939 Senior TT
Harold Daniell with his 350 Norton 1939 Junior TT with Stanley Woods
Freddy Frith 500 Norton 1939 Senior TT
Ginger Wood 250 Excelsior 1938 Lightweight TT
Stanley Woods with an unknown, to me anyway!
TT39 2:
Ewald Kluge (I'm 90% certain) 1939 TT
Bob Foster and Walter Rusk behind Ewald Kluge's 350 DKW 1939 Junior TT
David Whitworth 350 Velocette No 2 1939 Senior TT
Siggi Wunsche's 350 DKW 1939 Junior TT
Georg Meier 500 BMW 1938 Senior TT
Ewald Kluge 250 DKW 1938 Lightweight TT
Jock West 500 BMW 1938 Senior TT
Jimmy Little, from Belfast, standing behind his 350 Velocette 1939 Senior TT
Bob Foster 350 AJS 1938 Junior TT
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Excellent.
Just goes to prove that there is a wealth of knowledge out there somewhere
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Yer dead right Goldie! Larry has more than answered my prayers - exceeded all my expectations.
Thanks again to Larry and all contibutions from members and not least the Webmaster for support and advice.
Paul
;D