Will Harding story from above
Here is a story of men and machines as I like them! In 1981, the journalist - pilot - tester Alan Cathcart, well known for his press articles and tests, hosted an American friend who was visiting Europe at his home in London. The man's name is Will Harding... Harding, a founding member of ARHMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association), raced successfully from the 1960s through the 1980s, earning a national number and winning in AMA national road races in the Superbike category. He ranked in the AMA's top 10 in the 70s and 80s, winning 14 national championships in the vintage series. Current in the AMA Pro series, Harding had to compete in various disciplines (bonhams.com) Will then explains to Cathcart that he would love to participate in the Tourist Trophy… A few days later, the two men meet Maurice Ogier at the Tourist Trophy and Will explains to them while he would really like to participate in the TT the following year... Maurice Ogier, Mo for his friends, lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He is a gifted and reputable auto mechanic who earns his living by servicing high-end vehicles. In his spare time, in addition to amassing an impressive collection of historic 125cc Grand Prix racing motorcycles, Mo was for many years a successful car racer specializing in hill racing and sand racing, although he also raced on the circuit with single-seaters and sports cars. An avid motorcyclist since his late teens, he also took up racing on two wheels, competing in classic motorcycle events all over Europe on bikes ranging from a Yamaha TZ700 to a 125cc MV Agusta. He is a man whose versatility equals his ingenuity. Harding's idea appeals to him. The latter therefore committed as soon as he returned to the USA for the TT the following year and Ogier prepared a motorcycle for him. The one Mo has in mind for Harding is the 500 Laverda Montjuic. Indeed, amazed by the performance of the Laverda 500 at the 24 Hours of Barcelona the previous year which he attended (9th and 10th, ahead of others much more powerful), he had bought a new one. The public version of the Montjuic is certainly not sharpened like the prototypes he saw in Barcelona but it nevertheless works very well, behaves perfectly, its only fault being that it is hardly social by the noise it emits . Since its purchase, Mo has covered about 5000 miles and he then decides to transform it into a racer. It would be perfect for the TT Formula two class, a formula dedicated to 4-stroke motorcycles under 600 cc using the original engine casings of an homologated model and equipped with carburettors of the same size as this one. In addition to this category, the bike could also participate in the Battle of the Twins formula… A year later, as agreed, Will Harding therefore participated with this Laverda prepared by Maurice Ogier in the TT in 1982 in Formula Two. He finished 34th in the category in 1.55.20.4 (78.5 mph), the year Malcolm Wheeler completed the test on Laverda in the same category in 1.30.57.0 at an average of 99.56 mph (4th in the category). Missed by nothing for the “tone”! (photo ttracepics.com) Much later, Will Harding will retire to Gainesville (Florida). Sportsman at heart, passionate about triathlon (he participated in his first Iron Man in 1987), he trained the young members of the Tri-Gators triathlon club as a volunteer swimming coach.
Here is a story of men and machines as I like them! In 1981, the journalist - pilot - tester Alan Cathcart, well known for his press articles and tests, hosted an American friend who was visiting Europe at his home in London. The man's name is Will Harding... Harding, a founding member of ARHMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association), raced successfully from the 1960s through the 1980s, earning a national number and winning in AMA national road races in the Superbike category. He ranked in the AMA's top 10 in the 70s and 80s, winning 14 national championships in the vintage series. Current in the AMA Pro series, Harding had to compete in various disciplines (bonhams.com) Will then explains to Cathcart that he would love to participate in the Tourist Trophy… A few days later, the two men meet Maurice Ogier at the Tourist Trophy and Will explains to them while he would really like to participate in the TT the following year... Maurice Ogier, Mo for his friends, lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He is a gifted and reputable auto mechanic who earns his living by servicing high-end vehicles. In his spare time, in addition to amassing an impressive collection of historic 125cc Grand Prix racing motorcycles, Mo was for many years a successful car racer specializing in hill racing and sand racing, although he also raced on the circuit with single-seaters and sports cars. An avid motorcyclist since his late teens, he also took up racing on two wheels, competing in classic motorcycle events all over Europe on bikes ranging from a Yamaha TZ700 to a 125cc MV Agusta. He is a man whose versatility equals his ingenuity. Harding's idea appeals to him. The latter therefore committed as soon as he returned to the USA for the TT the following year and Ogier prepared a motorcycle for him. The one Mo has in mind for Harding is the 500 Laverda Montjuic. Indeed, amazed by the performance of the Laverda 500 at the 24 Hours of Barcelona the previous year which he attended (9th and 10th, ahead of others much more powerful), he had bought a new one. The public version of the Montjuic is certainly not sharpened like the prototypes he saw in Barcelona but it nevertheless works very well, behaves perfectly, its only fault being that it is hardly social by the noise it emits . Since its purchase, Mo has covered about 5000 miles and he then decides to transform it into a racer. It would be perfect for the TT Formula two class, a formula dedicated to 4-stroke motorcycles under 600 cc using the original engine casings of an homologated model and equipped with carburettors of the same size as this one. In addition to this category, the bike could also participate in the Battle of the Twins formula… A year later, as agreed, Will Harding therefore participated with this Laverda prepared by Maurice Ogier in the TT in 1982 in Formula Two. He finished 34th in the category in 1.55.20.4 (78.5 mph), the year Malcolm Wheeler completed the test on Laverda in the same category in 1.30.57.0 at an average of 99.56 mph (4th in the category). Missed by nothing for the “tone”! (photo ttracepics.com) Much later, Will Harding will retire to Gainesville (Florida). Sportsman at heart, passionate about triathlon (he participated in his first Iron Man in 1987), he trained the young members of the Tri-Gators triathlon club as a volunteer swimming coach.
