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Best Race Suit Ever?


IainB

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8 hours ago, chunky said:

I was never a fan of predominantly white leathers, but I thought that the Gulf/Weslake leathers (mostly white, with orange and blue trim) used by a few (Gordon Kennett and Steve Weatherley etc) looked cool!

Steve

Yes i thought they look good as well, Simmo and PC wore them as well. My favourite leathers, were the ones PC wore in 77 the Castrol ones.

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9 hours ago, MARK246 said:

Malc Holloway had a set black and gold with tassels

I remember Dave Jessup once wearing tasselled leathers. Personally I felt it didn't match Dave's very conservative image as he wasn't the most flamboyant of riders although very successful over a number of seasons.

However even when black leathers were all the vogue (I perhaps saw the last years before coloured leathers were the norm) I was able to differentiate the riders by their distinctive riding styles (foot forward variety) and helmets, masks and flowing scarves. Tony Lomas who was recently interview in the excellent 'Backtrack' magazine used to wear highly polish black leathers as did Ken McKinlay with his socks tucked over the top of his boots...all individual distinctions.

Also football shirts that some riders preferred. 'Mad' Malcolm Ballard used to wear an awful cream coloured top over his black leathers I recall!

Edited by steve roberts
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24 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

IHowever even when black leathers were all the vogue (I perhaps saw the last years before coloured leathers were the norm) I was able to differentiate the riders by their distinctive riding styles (foot forward variety) and helmets, masks and flowing scarves. 

This has been discussed on here before. Basically, there is a generic riding style used by most riders today, and it is not easy to identify individuals. In the old days, everyone seemed very different, and we had no trouble picking out the styles.

We could identify riders wearing identical masks, and even when helmets like the Bell Moto III was popular, it wasn't hard to tell riders apart, even from just a head-and-shoulders pic!

Steve

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48 minutes ago, chunky said:

This has been discussed on here before. Basically, there is a generic riding style used by most riders today, and it is not easy to identify individuals. In the old days, everyone seemed very different, and we had no trouble picking out the styles.

We could identify riders wearing identical masks, and even when helmets like the Bell Moto III was popular, it wasn't hard to tell riders apart, even from just a head-and-shoulders pic!

Steve

I've often thought when the modern leg trailing style became the adopted 'norm' and I guess it's when the Americans graced our shores during the late seventies' early eighties? I remember the late Nigel Sparshott leg trailing and it was odd watching Henny Kroeze during the 1987 World Final in Amsterdam (seeded) when he was the only competitor riding the 'old fashioned' foot forward!

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30 minutes ago, FAST GATER said:

Ivan always seemed to hit the mark with his race suits he and Ole were always immaculately turned out  Simmo was another they just looked dressed for work as it were IMO, Hancock's are always eye catching as well seem  to stand out at the GP's . 

Remember the occasion when Ivan wore different leathers each time he took to the track during Canterbury's celebration of 50 years of speedway in 1973!

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Off the top of my head (supposed to be working but hey it's Friday):  Ivan Mauger blue Circle Industries leathers & mostly white Exeter leathers with tassles,  Barry Briggs red with black & white sleeves, Joe Owen black white sleeves with checks on shoulders + blue & white Shepley Racing suit, Mike Curoso blue white K&N Products + red / blue suit, Scott Autrey ditto, Dennis Sigalos red / blue with stars, Kelly Moran mostly white with red / blue stripes & white stars, Graham Drury red / blue Roberts Racing he wore part 1976 before they were stolen (!), Shawn Moran black with red flames, Garry Stead blue / silver suit he wore in 2005 & 2006, Malcolm Simmons mostly white with Simmo on right leg, most of Bruce Penhall's suits, Kenny Carter Pharoah Racing red / blue suits he wore in 1981 & 82, Peter Collins red / green Castrol leathers, John Louis black with tiger stripes on sleeves, John Davis black suit Castrol in sliver with silver / chrome sleeves, Ole Olsen mostly black with orange sleeves silver stars down the arms + a blue & white suit,  Michael Lee blue suit with BAF on forearms + Poole Pirates suit, the Gulf / Weslake team suits (Lee, Kennet, PC, Louis, Simmons), most of Jason Crump suits, Erik Gundersen ditto, Tai Woffinden early black / orange suit.  Pause for breath.  I have good memory for design and favour the colour blue (really ?!) and like many modern kevvies but quite a few look similar with the barbed wire / razor wire design....

Edited by martinmauger
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37 minutes ago, martinmauger said:

Off the top of my head (supposed to be working but hey it's Friday):  Ivan Mauger blue Circle Industries leathers & mostly white Exeter leathers with tassles,  Barry Briggs red with black & white sleeves, Joe Owen black white sleeves with checks on shoulders + blue & white Shepley Racing suit, Mike Curoso blue white K&N Products + red / blue suit, Scott Autrey ditto, Dennis Sigalos red / blue with stars, Kelly Moran mostly white with red / blue stripes & white stars, Graham Drury red / blue Roberts Racing he wore part 1976 before they were stolen (!), Shawn Moran black with red flames, Garry Stead blue / silver suit he wore in 2005 & 2006, Malcolm Simmons mostly white with Simmo on right leg, most of Bruce Penhall's suits, Kenny Carter Pharoah Racing red / blue suits he wore in 1981 & 82, Peter Collins red / green Castrol leathers, John Louis black with tiger stripes on sleeves, John Davis black suit Castrol in sliver with silver / chrome sleeves, Ole Olsen mostly black with orange sleeves silver stars down the arms + a blue & white suit,  Michael Lee blue suit with BAF on forearms + Poole Pirates suit, the Gulf / Weslake team suits (Lee, Kennet, PC, Louis, Simmons), most of Jason Crump suits, Erik Gundersen ditto, Tai Woffinden early black / orange suit.  Pause for breath.  I have good memory for design and favour the colour blue (really ?!) and like many modern kevvies but quite a few look similar with the barbed wire / razor wire design....

Some great memories there!

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Chris & Geoff Pusey c1973 with their polka dot creations. Chris basically blue and Geoff red.

Also Peter Collins in his pastel coloured leathers (1974?)

Always thought Ivan's Red, White & Black leathers were rather good representing his Canterbury (NZ) upbringing but also were 'The Aces' colours by chance...he wore them for many years.

Robert Pfetzing's 'Five Flavours' variations.

Bert Harkins' tarten mustard set of leathers.

Reg Luckhurst's Golden Boots...before boots were covered over by leathers.

 

Edited by steve roberts
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