Lyle Govan- Does anyone know how to contact him?

M

MicktheStick

New member
Location
St. Petersburg Florida USA
Greetings, I am new to the forum. I found the forum when searching for my friend Lyle Govan. There are a number of mentions of him here. I worked with Lyle from 1987 to about 1996. Lyle had come to the states to become an Airplane Technician. He had a large collection of motorcycles. At the time we were developing a Formula 500 race car in the SCCA. Lyle had related many stories regarding his racing exploits. Bench Racing, alcohol was involved. Truly a phenomenal fabricator and technician. Around 1996 he and Delores (Burkenheimer) moved back to the UK. I believe they returned to Harrogate. I will upload some photos of him when I find them. Regards to all.
Mike
 
Hello Mike,
I raced Lyle's/Jim Burhenheimer's Egli SFC for a number of years, here's a pic of it in action at Spa, I believe that's Lyle in the hot seat. I sold the bike a good few years back but sadly it seems to have disappeared off the scene. I'm sure I spoke to Lyle when researching some history about the bike but having trawled through my old emails I'm afraid I can't find any contact details for him. If I turn them up I'll let you know.
Bob
the bikeEgli SFC belgium.jpg
 
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I really loved that Egli. Strange to tell, prior to me buying it, it sat in Slaters showroom for almost a year and nobody wanted it which just goes to show how different the market is nowadays. We're not talking very much money...
Quite possibly the loudest motorcycle I've ever owned, it would never pass scrutineering nowadays.
 

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BobD said:
I really loved that Egli. Strange to tell, prior to me buying it, it sat in Slaters showroom for almost a year and nobody wanted it which just goes to show how different the market is nowadays. We're not talking very much money...
Quite possibly the loudest motorcycle I've ever owned, it would never pass scrutineering nowadays.
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That's the one you bought from François, the Binion Egli?
It didn't seem reasonable for me to buy it at the time. I can be reasonable.
I bought the Geminiani TT2 from Phil Todd a little later.
Remember that one Bob? I think we were the only two bidders on E bay.
Paul
 
It sat unwanted for quite a while about 4 years ago. I kept taking a look at it and, typically, once I finally decided to make enquiries about it, I was told it had been sold the week before.
It then had what I considered to be an unsympathetic ’restoration’ before being bought by Colin.
 
Paul Marx said:
That's the one you bought from François, the Binion Egli?
It didn't seem reasonable for me to buy it at the time. I can be reasonable.
I bought the Geminiani TT2 from Phil Todd a little later.
Remember that one Bob? I think we were the only two bidders on E bay.
Paul
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Hey Paul,
It is a Binnion Egli but I didn't buy it off Francois, I suspect that might be a different bike, this one came via Slaters and belonged to a very nice bloke who lived in the Southern Hemisphere and kept the bike in the UK for when he was over here.
I remember the TT2 well, fabulous little bike and a very shrewd purchase.
Bob
 
With in a few hours of my post I received some information and an address. I found Lyle's land line and called him straight away. He answered the phone right away. Its been 27 years. It was great to catch up with him. I could tell he was delighted to speak with me. Unfortunately he is in poor health. He let me know that Dolores passed a few years ago. Lyle ability as a fabricator and mechanic are quit amazing. I will go through my photos and post a few.
Regards to all
Mike
BobD said:
Hello Mike,
I raced Lyle's/Jim Burhenheimer's Egli SFC for a number of years, here's a pic of it in action at Spa, I believe that's Lyle in the hot seat. I sold the bike a good few years back but sadly it seems to have disappeared off the scene. I'm sure I spoke to Lyle when researching some history about the bike but having trawled through my old emails I'm afraid I can't find any contact details for him. If I turn them up I'll let you know.
Bob
the bikeView attachment 86599
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I forwarded this photo to Lyle Govan, this was his reply:

"Hi Mike
This photo is at Spa Belgium, This is our bike,no 39, BR-AM racing,but the rider with the dark screen is Peter Bates better known as master bates. I was the other w—-ker.
There’s two riders per team , for 24 hour racing, wee used to change rider every tank
full of. petrol , Spa was such a fast circuit we used a fare bit of fuel Spa was nearly 9 miles around this was proper road racing, they used to close the roads , when it was
wet we used to avoid the white lines as much as possible. anyway I’ll sign off now
Lyle"
 
'they used to close the roads' - I'd fukn hope so!!! :eek:

What an awesome experience that must have been - I've done two 4-hour proddy races in full daylight - multiply that x 6 and throw in the dark of night!
 
piranha-bro2 said:
'they used to close the roads' - I'd fukn hope so!!! :eek:

What an awesome experience that must have been - I've done two 4-hour proddy races in full daylight - multiply that x 6 and throw in the dark of night!
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In the early days of the TT they didn’t close the roads for ‘practice’. That was only introduced after a rider was killed when he was collected by, if I remember correctly, a milk lorry. Even now, we sometimes get the brain dead driving onto the course during road closures.
I also think there is some sort of Mexican road race where it’s not guaranteed when you leave the start line that you wont meet someone on the course coming the other way. 😱
 
Don`t know if this is correct or not , but I think I heard a story about the first time the TT was held over the Mountain Course ( 1911 ? ) ....... A Royal Enfield ( I think ) rider came off his bike and was killed just a matter of yards before the finishing line ........

However , his dead body continued rolling down the road , and crossed the finishing line , so he was awarded third place in the official results ........

A little bit like Jochen Rindt becoming Formula One champion in 1970 , although he too , was already dead .......
 
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rocketonarail said:
Don`t know if this is correct or not , but I think I heard a story about the first time the TT was held over the Mountain Course ( 1911 ? ) ....... A Royal Enfield ( I think ) rider came off his bike and was killed just a matter of yards before the finishing line ........

However , his dead body continued rolling down the road , and crossed the finishing line , so he was awarded third place in the official results ........

A little bit like Jochen Rindt becoming Formula One champion in 1970 , although he too , was already dead .......
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Nearly right Tony.
In 1914, F J Walker, riding a Royal Enfield, fatally crashed into barriers, placed in the road to mark the stopping point at the end of the race, having crossed the finishing line in third place. Bike and machine have to cross the line together in order to be credited with completing a lap/race otherwise everyone who runs out of petrol/blows up before the end of the lap would just abandon their machine and run/walk/crawl to the line.
 
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