50th anniversary of Laverda’s first IOM TT

Andy J

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Isle of Man
Friday 3rd June 2022 will mark 50 years to the day that a competitor first set off in a race down Bray Hill on a Laverda. The race was the 1972 Production Race, which was the first race of the week, and the rider was Jeff Wade on Roger Slater’s 750 SFC. The race commenced at 5pm and Jeff set off a few moments later as he had start number 3.
Road closures permitting, I intend to help celebrate this milestone in Laverda racing history by setting off from the grandstand shortly after 5pm on Friday to complete a lap of the world famous mountain course, hopefully in the company of at least a couple of other Laverda riders.
 
Jeff also raced at the TT with start number 30 that year, black numbers on a white plate. Did he race in two classes that year?

Marnix
 
Well Clem and I did our best to celebrate the event, despite a change to the race schedule due to the weather, and as planned crossed the start line at approx 5pm even though we knew a full lap wouldn't be possible as the mountain would be closed by the time we got to Ramsey. Therefore, Clem pulled over at Sulby cross roads to watch the delayed races from there and I carried on with my RE escort to Ramsey, with a plan to complete the lap today, Mad Sunday.
As intended, I and my mate on his RE, set off on Sunday afternoon with the best of intentions, having checked the road was open when we left. However, by the time we reached Ramsey, judging by the amount of traffic we started to meet, the signs weren't too promising and as anticipated we met a queue of traffic as we approached the one way system below the hairpin. Clearly the road had been shut in the previous few minutes.
To then add insult to injury as I went to select neutral there was an ominous click from beneath me and the bike cut out dead and refused to restart.
Thus the celebratory lap ended in much the same way as Jeff's race all those years ago - in the back of a van!
Not to be to be put off, I will be back at the MGP in September to try and complete the job!
 

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Took the '78 F500/Monty and '59 100 Sport to Jurby for the 'Tynwald Day' VMCC 'Test Day'. It's not 'racing' say the organisers, but get a few racers together on the track and it's not far short at times. Had, among others, a good dice on the 500 with classic racer Rob Dowty who was testing a '67 250 Suzuki.
Unfortunately, the 100 Sport didn't want to play. I haven't had much opportunity to ride it since I acquired it during covid restrictions, so I thought this would be as good an opportunity as any to try it out. It starts okay but just won't rev out, so just two very slow laps were completed. Hardly the Milan-Taranto performance I was hoping for.... It's due to have a couple of other issues looked at by the former owner when they visit for the MGP, so that issue will be added to the list.
The next opportunity to celebrate the anniversary in the IOM will be at the MGP, when hopefully I will be leading a cavalcade of Laverdas around the course (on open roads) and hopefully competing at Jurby in the proposed VMCC/ARA 'post MGP' joint test and race day on the Tuesday of what would have been race week in previous years.
 

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If anybody happens to be at the MGP later this month I am looking at running a couple of events to celebrate the anniversary. The first will be on Sunday 28 August, and the second at Jurby motodrome on Tuesday 30 August. Further details to follow, but if you will be in the IOM, with or without your Laverda, I’ll be pleased to see you.
 
All loaded and ready for Jurby tomorrow. Running the 750S Formula in the post classic class and for a bit of fun a 350 in the lightweight class - potentially up against moto3 bikes depending on who turns up! Last time I raced a 350 Laverda was back in about 1985/6 at Donington Park and I got lapped twice by British Champion, Steve Hislop in the 350 race (he was on a full-blown TZ350). However, I did a lot better in the open fourstroke class and beat a few bikes of twice or more capacity.
 
Pretty full on day at Jurby even though the races were transposed into timed 'track day' sessions owing to lack of medical cover. Managed to complete two sessions on the big and little twins, and as a realignment of the gear shift on the 750 Formula cured the gear shift issue, I finally managed to ride the bike at speed. It certainly shifts for a 20 odd year old bike.
Dave Watling was also out in the VMCC 'parade laps' running in his RGS special. Sounded really nice with the 3-4 exhaust. He is still in two minds whether to race it or not, but whatever he decides he still intends to give it a good blast from time-to-time.
 

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