Stu taking the TT’s tight
Governor’s Bridge corner
As I’d done a spot of contributing work for
what was back then New Zealand Motorcycle
News, the chief scribe (the only member of staff
as I recall) did me up a sort of ‘allow this man
entry’ letter, which a month before I embarked I
sent off to the five events I targeted.
He’d come up with the contact addresses. It
worked.
I got to the gate, presented my copy of
the letter and identification and after some
paperwork was sifted through I was awarded
a press pass which I proudly, and with rather
“look at me” headiness, placed around my neck.
I still have all five of them, including an
armband I had to wear while wandering about
at the Isle of Man.
I got to wander the pit lanes, meet the riders,
bump into George Harrison, get an ale from
Sheeny, chat with Agostini and Mick Grant, get
introduced to Johnny Cecotto and, of course,
catch up with Stu and John when I could. I
bumped into John at the 2010 Moto GP at Philip
Island and bless him, he remembered me from
the European landscape of ‘77.
Made my day.
So, the other evening I was sifting through
drawers and boxes and folders and albums
and unearthed some pics I’d snapped of Stu
40 KIWI RIDER
at the TT. I have since made copies and flicked
them off to him, as I’m sure he’ll shout me a
beer next time he’s over.
Forty one years ago. Still can’t quite wrap my
head around that part of the whole wonderful
equation called “memory”. I only wish I had
written more things down, but when there are
free ales going, and autographs to pursue, one
tends to just seize the moment. I can recall
the more startling things and still have three
albums of photos, so all is not completely lost.
So you young track attendees of today, save
or borrow and get someone to forge, I mean
lodge, some media short-cut paperwork and
get to Europe next season and watch the Moto
stars of 2019 duelling it out.
Oh yeah, that’s another thing (please bear with
me) back at the French GP in ‘77 I watched a lad
called Graziano Rossi hunt for the lead. Today
his boy is a legend, and at the 2014 Aussie
Moto GP Valentino was delighted to see my
programme from Paul Ricard in ‘77 with his
dad’s name in it, and duly autographed it along
with a chirpy “ciao”.
Hey, I’ll only be 65 next year... probably still
time to whip over for another few ales at Assen.
Might catch up with Stu and John there.