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First Rider To Carry A Sponsor's Name On Their Leathers?


steve roberts

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Another teaser and although some riders had the leather manufacturer's logo emblazoned on their leathers not sure if they were necessarily sponsored by same? I'm sure that Ivan Mauger must have been one of the first? I recall some of his early leathers displaying "valvoline" and he did display "TT Leathers" who sponsored him and "Jawa" as did Briggo. Both Garry Middleton and Eric Boocock wore Lewis Leathers who sponsored them and they also carried the logo on their leathers. Of couse much later there was Ray Wilson with his famous "Bostik" leathers but by the middle seventies many riders carried sponsored brands on their leathers.

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Briggo definitely had JAWA on his leathers in 1969, and Ivan was still mostly in black then, although he also had JAWA on his that year also.

Edited by chunky
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Just now, steve roberts said:

I guess if one looks outside the UK the Americans in the late sixties may well have worn leathers with sponsors?

While the leathers tended to be coloured, I really don't think there was that much in the way of sponsors' names. I will look into the Basts, and people like that.

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Just now, chunky said:

While the leathers tended to be coloured, I really don't think there was that much in the way of sponsors' names. I will look into the Basts, and people like that.

I was thinking of the Bast Brothers in particular but you may well be right.

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9 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I was thinking of the Bast Brothers in particular but you may well be right.

While there was speedway here in the 60's, it wasn't really organized, so I don't know if there was much in the way of decent sponsorship. The first official US National Championship (since 1948) was won by Steve Bast in 1969 (although some sources state that Rick Woods was 1968 National Champion).

The problem is that while there are photos available online, it is actually difficult to pinpoint the years in US speedway.

Edited by chunky
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2 hours ago, chunky said:

While there was speedway here in the 60's, it wasn't really organized, so I don't know if there was much in the way of decent sponsorship. The first official US National Championship (since 1948) was won by Steve Bast in 1969 (although some sources state that Rick Woods was 1968 National Champion).

The problem is that while there are photos available online, it is actually difficult to pinpoint the years in US speedway.

Thanks for that. I never actually got to see Rick Woods ride during his very short spell at Newport in 1973 but I did see his brother (?) Gene.

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50 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Thanks for that. I never actually got to see Rick Woods ride during his very short spell at Newport in 1973 but I did see his brother (?) Gene.

Yep, Gene was his bruv. Had a short spell at Plough Lane, but I never got to see him.

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27 minutes ago, chunky said:

Yep, Gene was his bruv. Had a short spell at Plough Lane, but I never got to see him.

Saw him ride for Birmingham if I remember before moving to the "Dons."

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2 hours ago, RS50 said:

It says he had the backing of top trials rider Peter Fletcher who owned a motorcycle business in Leeds.

Remember when Arnie had a short spell riding for the "Cheetahs" towards the very back end of his career. A real character by all accounts.

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30 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Remember when Arnie had a short spell riding for the "Cheetahs" towards the very back end of his career. A real character by all accounts.

SHORT??? It consisted of one meeting, two rides, and a point. At Newcastle on 18th May, 1981.

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8 hours ago, chunky said:

SHORT??? It consisted of one meeting, two rides, and a point. At Newcastle on 18th May, 1981.

Yes if I recall he had been signed by Cradley (who ran the show at Cowley at the time) and loaned out to the "Cheetahs" and as you say it was short-lived...he did ride in a second half or two at Cowley if I remember?

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
On 8/18/2023 at 1:30 PM, steve roberts said:

Another teaser and although some riders had the leather manufacturer's logo emblazoned on their leathers not sure if they were necessarily sponsored by same? I'm sure that Ivan Mauger must have been one of the first? I recall some of his early leathers displaying "valvoline" and he did display "TT Leathers" who sponsored him and "Jawa" as did Briggo. Both Garry Middleton and Eric Boocock wore Lewis Leathers who sponsored them and they also carried the logo on their leathers. Of couse much later there was Ray Wilson with his famous "Bostik" leathers but by the middle seventies many riders carried sponsored brands on their leathers.

Noah

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