Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/385219
IN THE WIND P34 Helmut Dähne 12th on another pre-war factory BMW. Yet another multi-time TT-win- ner and World Endurance ace Charlie Williams had to swap bikes when his Vincent V-twin holed a piston in qualifying, but his replacement Rudge single shared with teammate Peter Crew had too small a fuel tank to complete either race on a full load of methanol, and with refuel- ing banned the pair ran out of fuel in both 16-lap/38-mile races. But the Aussie V-twin's victory was actually a pretty close call, although it had seemed a fore- gone conclusion after closest rival Jeremy McWilliams crashed on lap three of the first race when his replica long-stroke Manx Nor- ton's gearbox seized while he was chasing race leader Beau Beaton on the Vincent. Fortunately, the gritty Irishman was unscathed, and while the Aussie duo went on to win race one by 19 sec- onds from Plater/English, for the second race the following day as a crowd-pleasing spectacle, the race organizers allowed Mc- Williams and teammate Duncan Fitchett to take part with a short- stroke 1962 Norton Manx, com- plete with five-speed gearbox. With the more modern bike ineligible to be placed in the re- sults, this nevertheless resulted in a nail-bitingly close battle of wills and skills in which neither bike was more than two sec- onds ahead at any one time. After 16 close-fought laps, Mc- Williams led Beaton by just one bikelength exiting the chicane towards the checkered flag, with the Vincent rider pulling along- side on the run to the line – only for his bike itself to suffer a gear- box failure just as it crossed the line. The Aussie just managed to control the ensuing rear wheel lock-up and ensuring slide, which fortunately happened in a straight line, to take overall vic- tory while still upright. Robert Fawcett BAJA LEGEND RON BISHOP PASSES B aja 1000 legend Ron Bishop passed away over the week- end from what has initially been reported as natural causes. Bishop was 71. According to a release from the Trailblazers or- ganization, Bishop was found at home by friends. While Bishop raced many dif- ferent off-road disciplines, his greatest achievement was his 40-plus years of racing the Baja 1000. His best effort in the pres- tigious race came in 1972 as the overall runner-up with co-rider Don Bohannon. Bishop was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001 and has recently been elected to the 2015 Trailblazers Hall of Fame. "We are shocked and sad- dened to learn of Ron's pass- ing," Trailblazer president Don Emde said. "He had a great and full life in motorcycling. He was recently elected to the 2015 Trailblazers Hall of Fame and, speaking for the Board of Direc- tors, we want everyone to know that we are moving ahead full speed with his induction at the Carson Center on April 11th. We send our condolences to his family and friends. A great loss. Godspeed." Bishop was also a long time motorcycle dealer in Escondido, California (north of San Diego) and had created many useful motorcycle products through the years. Off-road racing legend Ron Bishop passed away last week at his home in Califorinia.