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Hand-me-down Leathers Worn By Stars


TonyMac

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In a future issue of Backtrack, we'll be running a feature on riders who wore distinctive leathers they had acquired from some of the sport's star names. In many cases they were hand-me-downs to juniors who couldn't afford the most expensive designs but wanted to look the part.

 

A number of riders wore leathers that once belonged to Ivan Mauger, including Taffy Owen, Geoff Ambrose and Dean Zaman. There must have been others...

 

Former Castleford prospect Kevin Clapham has sent us a pic of him wearing a pair of Billy Sanders' (1976-ish) leathers.

 

Bernie Collier wore the red-white-green (Castrol-sponsored) set Peter Collins shone so brightly in throughout 1977. "PC wanted to buy them back from me years later," said Bernie.

 

Think I'm right in saying King's Lynn junior Chris Cole inherited the black leathers (with green/yellow flashes) that Michael Lee wore for the 1980 World Final.

 

Do you know of any other riders from the 1970-90 period (the Backtrack years) who raced in leathers that had previously been worn by 'bigger' names?

 

Be delighted to hear from you. Thanks.

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In a future issue of Backtrack, we'll be running a feature on riders who wore distinctive leathers they had acquired from some of the sport's star names. In many cases they were hand-me-downs to juniors who couldn't afford the most expensive designs but wanted to look the part.

 

A number of riders wore leathers that once belonged to Ivan Mauger, including Taffy Owen, Geoff Ambrose and Dean Zaman. There must have been others...

 

Former Castleford prospect Kevin Clapham has sent us a pic of him wearing a pair of Billy Sanders' (1976-ish) leathers.

 

Bernie Collier wore the red-white-green (Castrol-sponsored) set Peter Collins shone so brightly in throughout 1977. "PC wanted to buy them back from me years later," said Bernie.

 

Think I'm right in saying King's Lynn junior Chris Cole inherited the black leathers (with green/yellow flashes) that Michael Lee wore for the 1980 World Final.

 

Do you know of any other riders from the 1970-90 period (the Backtrack years) who raced in leathers that had previously been worn by 'bigger' names?

 

Be delighted to hear from you. Thanks.

Tom Godel rode in a pair of Dag Lovaas's leathers.

 

Oxford junior Phil Roberts - Hans Nielsen.

 

Paul Bosley - Gordon Kennett (Gulf/Weslake Sponsored Leathers)

 

Mick Fletcher - Dave Jessup (Ditto)

 

Ian Roberts (?) - Pair of Briggo leathers...the design used by Martin Ashby, Dave Jessup, Scott Autrey, Graeme Stapleton & Phil Crump!

 

Mark Minnett - Simon Wigg

 

Mick Handley - Bruce Penhall

 

Paul Dugard - Erik Gundersen

 

Terry Kelly - Ivan Mauger

 

Sure I can come up with some more!!

Edited by steve roberts
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Tom Godel rode in a pair of Dag Lovaas's leathers.

 

Oxford junior Phil Roberts - Hans Nielsen.

 

Paul Bosley - Gordon Kennett (Gulf/Weslake Sponsored Leathers)

 

Mick Fletcher - Dave Jessup (Ditto)

 

Ian Roberts (?) - Pair of Briggo leathers...the design used by Martin Ashby, Dave Jessup, Scott Autrey, Graeme Stapleton & Phil Crump!

 

Mark Minnett - Simon Wigg

 

Mick Handley - Bruce Penhall

 

Paul Dugard - Erik Gundersen

 

Terry Kelly - Ivan Mauger

 

Sure I can come up with some more!!

Thanks - keep 'em coming!

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A very young Martin Dugard - Kelly Moran

 

Stephen Barr (or it may have been Robert Dole?) - Billy Sanders

 

I recall Kelvin Mullarkey (when riding for Weymouth) wearing a pair of Oxford team leathers but whose they were I haven't a clue!

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Spencer Timmo had Marvyn Cox's distinctive chequered leathers, which Cocker had used in around '85/'86, when he was in full flow, passing riders for fun around Cowley (including Gundersen in the Golden Helmet).

 

Spence crashed at Mildenhall in 1989 and was smashed up (and never quite the same rider again). I remember visiting him in hospital, and he revealed they'd had to cut the leathers from him and they were no more.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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Spencer Timmo had Marvyn Cox's distinctive chequered leathers, which Cocker had used in around '85/'86, when he was in full flow, passing riders for run around Cowley (including Gundersen in the Golden Helmet).

 

Spence crashed at Mildenhall in 1989 and was smashed up (and never quite the same rider again). I remember visiting him in hospital, and he revealed they'd had to cut the leathers from him and they were no more.

 

All the best

Rob

I think that Spence also used a pair of old Martin Dugard's leathers?

Edited by steve roberts
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