Author Topic: BILL SMITH 350 GTR RACER  (Read 10489 times)

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paul

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Re: BILL SMITH 350 GTR RACER
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2017, 10:39:56 PM »
To find the  Steve Murray 50cc article, you click on the forum. Look under general category. There's a title called  BS racing days?  I don't think Bill Smith road the 50 twin in  a race, but looking at the photoes he was at Oulton Park  for testing in May of 1966. Another question, anyone know if Wyn Richards a motorcycle dealer in Cardiff is still alive?

Offline BRT-GTR

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Re: BILL SMITH 350 GTR RACER
« Reply #21 on: January 13, 2017, 08:45:31 AM »
    Thanks Paul,                 my old brain can remember what's on the site but not always where it is.  ;D 
                     Smithy was probably too robust to get the best out of a 50 !!                         Brian.
Unspoiled by progress.
I'm so glad I grew up in the 60s & 70s. I did so much stupid stuff and there's no record of it.............Anywhere !!

Offline anthony c

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Re: BILL SMITH 350 GTR RACER
« Reply #22 on: January 21, 2025, 09:46:27 AM »
            While owning a GTR, I used to follow National and Clubmans racing in the North of England at the time.
        Visiting Oulton Park (as a marshall), Aintree, Wallasey with occasional run to Mallory Park in the Midlands. Was never aware of any BS racer, I'm sure I would have picked up on it.  Could always pick out a thundering 350 Aermacchi from a bunch of 20 two strokes down the back straight at Mallory  ;D 8)
            Brian.

A young Tom Herron raced the Brian Cartwright Bridgestone 350 at Oulton Park in 1969.

Offline anthony c

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Re: BILL SMITH 350 GTR RACER
« Reply #23 on: January 21, 2025, 09:54:53 AM »
Wow well Campbell Gorman unfortunately passed, another Sad Irish Race story of a good guy. Irish Racing is unforgiving. 
Run on Public  roads sometimes directly through Towns and Villages check out this Utube Video :-
     Along the course, Walls, trees, Barbed Wire fences, Bridges. I hit a Bridge in the 1969 "Cookstown 100" during a rain storm don't misunderstand me Extremely well Run Events super Track Marshals,Doctors, Flag man etc. 

Both Bridgestone,s are still in Ireland , i posted a photo of the one that Campbell Gorman rode. The other one ridden by Ray McCullough is owned by Bertie Bradford, its Fast. I hopefully  will also get a Photo to Post. 

    Ray McCullough is a legend in Irish road-racing and was Irish Champion since he was a young Lad in 1960 he was equal to the very best International riders but never left Ireland to race, when he was 70yrs old he did a Parade lap of Dundrop (UGP) course went out and broke the Course Record.  Joey Dunlop if you know the name got really fast catching McCullough and often said " when your up with that man McCullough its really scary" and Joey was no Slouch !! as later I.O.M. wins would Prove.

To be honest the Sponsors who owned these Race Bikes the guys rode, where purchased Factory Machines like Yamaha,s, Ducati's, Nortons, AJS's, Bultaco's  out of the box Race ready with spares and the factory continually working to improve them to Win races, just needed a good Rider to get results.
The rest of the guys would choose Road Machines and work on them to get Race type performance, due to not having the $ to buy Factory Bikes some where very successful some just needed more and more Development.
Hope this answers your Query

Regards Bert

Interesting that you mentioned the 1969 Cookstown 100 for Brian Cartwright rode his Bridgestone 350 at this event. If I can, I shall post a good photo of the start of the 350 race showing the Bridgestone getting a great start. The bike finished in the top 10.

Brian lent his Bike to Bill Smith for the big Bishopscourt event where Bill went on to win the 350 race after a race long dice with Cecil Crawford.

Brian Cartwright sold this bike to Campbell Gorman at the end of the 1969 race season taking a Yamaha in part exchange.

Campbell though then bought a new chassis that Billy Guthrie had produced for the new Yamaha race bikes and fitted all the running gear from the Brian Cartwright Bridgestone onto this chassis.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2025, 10:10:42 AM by anthony c »

 


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