An usual item came up for sale in a recent auction on the IOM, a painting by a well known Manx artist, Paul Parker, of James G Watt riding his Monty in the 1980 MGP Newcomers’ Race. Jamie has the honour of being, AFAIK, the first person to start a race at the MGP on a Laverda, although he wasn’t the first person to enter the races - that was Fred Curry in 1979 who was a non-starter in the Newcomers’ Race that year.
Unfortunately, Jamie also has the honour of being the first to record a DNF, although he put that right by finishing 55th in the MGP Senior Race the following year. He completed two further MGP races on the bike in 1982 and 1983.
Jamie died a few years ago, apparently he liked his drink a bit too much, and his widow passed away earlier this year, hence the auction. The picture is now in my archive.