Guest Posted June 6, 2017 Report Share Posted June 6, 2017 Despite being a mere slip of a lad in 1977 (7 years old) I can distinctly remember the Dons riders proudly wearing two completely different race jacket designs over the course of the season. The team started with a variation of the famous design of a yellow star on a red background with the additional wording "The Dons" at the top and "Wimbledon" at the bottom. At some point this was replaced with a rather natty design of a yellow star on a white background with a pair of red and yellow bands. Does anyone know why they changed race jackets? I certainly can't recall seeing this happen (apart from sponsorship changes) mid-season either before or afterwards. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 Yeah, I never thought about it! I know that the first action photo of Eddie I bought had the "The Dons" body colour, and then we switched fairly early in the season. Of course, the new design was the basis of the following season's Golden Jubilee jacket, using a gold star instead of yellow. All my progs are in storage, but we used the new design on the cover, although I don't know if we used it from the first meeting... Interesting question... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 Strange that the design was used on the programme cover from the start,but took a while before the riders had the new snappy design Was the design used for that seasons badge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 Yes, I've just got the 1977 badge from eBay and it's the same design as the programme. I can only imagine that the race jackets weren't ready in time for P&P day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 7, 2017 Report Share Posted June 7, 2017 Thought it was from memory.Sounds reasonable that there was a problem getting the bibs on time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Thought it was from memory.Sounds reasonable that there was a problem getting the bibs on time I know that has happened with other teams on occasion, but it does make you wonder how they managed to get the others - which hadn't been used before! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 (edited) I know that has happened with other teams on occasion, but it does make you wonder how they managed to get the others - which hadn't been used before! Steve Agree.I was thinking about this and wonder if they quickly knocked out a simple jacket,which the early season one was,because the other one caused them difficulties?Maybe the new colour caught the firm out,who had year after year always had the same colours to deal with?Sounds pretty unrealistic,but just wondered........ Edited June 8, 2017 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 Think you're onto something there Iris & Steve. It's fair to say that the previous race jacket design hadn't changed much since 1937! Slightly going off scope but the 1974 design was pretty unique as well. Both the front and back seemed to be made as one piece without the usual cotton shoulder straps. Not sure what prompted Maido to go all funky... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted June 10, 2017 Report Share Posted June 10, 2017 I have reg luckhursts original 1974 race jacket in my collection. Apart from the all in one construction it also has Velcro side straps. It is also reversible with a different design on the inside. Why maido went to all this trouble to produce what must have been an expensive jacket to have made, who knows. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 11, 2017 Report Share Posted June 11, 2017 I have reg luckhursts original 1974 race jacket in my collection. Apart from the all in one construction it also has Velcro side straps. It is also reversible with a different design on the inside. Why maido went to all this trouble to produce what must have been an expensive jacket to have made, who knows. Remember White City having two versions in 1976. The silver version for home meetings and the traditional red one for away...I guess that the silver one was to add to the splendour and occasion that was Wood Lane and its plush surroundings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted June 11, 2017 Report Share Posted June 11, 2017 I have them both Steve. The silver one is Gordon kennett's no.1, it don't get better than that does It! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMac Posted June 11, 2017 Report Share Posted June 11, 2017 Think King's Lynn may have used a reverse design in 1975, or am I mistaken and the green background with yellow stars saw them through the whole of the season? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted June 11, 2017 Report Share Posted June 11, 2017 Out of my interest range tony. My passion is London & South East tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 11, 2017 Report Share Posted June 11, 2017 I have them both Steve. The silver one is Gordon kennett's no.1, it don't get better than that does It! Gordon also had a silver jacket with an unusual confederate flag displayed (one red diagonal and one blue) that he wore at the Oxford pre-season practice in 1974. I think that he may have worn it during early season second halves? Think King's Lynn may have used a reverse design in 1975, or am I mistaken and the green background with yellow stars saw them through the whole of the season? Remember that one...lasted the one season if I recall (?) The days of race jackets...preferred them to those kevlar team suit thingies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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