Sid Gatesman on his race bike around 50s help identify track and bike please

[EdGatesman]

My Dad Sydney Alfred Gatesman has recently passed away and this is one of the few pics i have of him on his race bike. The photo was taken by Len Thorpe so it says on the back. He told me just a few weeks ago about it being the only photo he bought. I think he used to go to the races with his friend Dave Hedges as privateers i think anyway. Trying to piece together as much as i can even though ha probably told me several times. as time goes by i will post pics of his other bikes like the one he had in north Africa what he had shipped over. Any help would be fantastic thanks.

[33d6]

The bike is easy enough, its a 7R AJS. Sorry I can't help with more.
Cheers,

[EdGatesman]

Thanks, I remember him saying about his 7r. That's one part cleared up. I googled 7r's but they all looked like the exhaust came behind the front of the frame and the one in his pic was different i asume it was a race pipe or something. Much appreciated.

[33d6]

The 7R was only ever a pure road racing bike. It was only built for one purpose and that is what your father is doing with it in the photo. It was a single overhead camshaft, single cylinder road race bike of 350cc and its common nickname was "Boy Racer". As everyone would carry out little 'tweaks' to get a fraction more power I'm not surprised the exhaust pipe isn't exactly as the bike came from the factory. Both the factory and owners were constantly updating and improving things so don't ever expect to see a standard catalogue 7R on the race track.
Cheers,

[EdGatesman]

Thanks for the information and yes he was an engineer and i can remember him telling me about making parts for it from scratch as you couldn't buy the parts or they were too expensive. mallory park, Silverstone and brands hatch were the tracks i can remember he liked but i think the pic might of been mallory park. I think the 7r was his last race bike and prior too it i think he used road bikes that he tweeked and improved for the track. I do remember how much he liked his 7r and said in the past he wished he still had it. Thanks agin for your help.