ROAD NEWS
MOTORCYCLING COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF ‘ GENTLEMAN JIM ’ by : Andy McGechan
T he passing last week of the man affectionately known as “ Gentleman Jim ” has left the New Zealand motorcycling community saddened , but it also led the huge Kiwi bike “ family ” to reflect on the outstanding achievements of the 81-yearold and to appreciate just what this man had offered to the sport here over many years . He also had the nickname “ Dog ” ( because it was God spelled backwards ) or simply known respectfully as “ JD ”. A Life Member of Motorcycling New Zealand and beloved husband to Glenis , James Houghton Doherty passed away suddenly on March 8 , 2021 . He was a competitor back in the 1970s and he was already also active behind the scenes in the sport . Whether it was roadracing on purposebuilt tracks or in the streets , beach racing , motocross or trials riding , Doherty was a key mover and shaker , facilitating events and allowing them to flourish . Born on August 23 , 1939 , Doherty generally enjoyed good health even into his senior years , although he did undergo a quadruple heart by-pass operation several years ago . Doherty was a former vice president of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union ( before it was renamed MNZ ) and , a mechanic by trade , he was noted as a technical director for the sport , specialising in sidecars . His understanding of engineering most important
with the sidecar branch of the sport when many rigs were home-built affairs . He was an FIM ( world governing body ) technical steward , the first Kiwi to fill that role , and was heavily involved with MotoGP events staged in Australia and with the World Superbike Championships when they were staged in New Zealand in the years 1988 , 1989 , 1990 and 1992 . “ He was lovingly referred to as ‘ Gentleman
James Houghton Doherty affectionately known as
‘ Gentleman Jim ’
Jim ’, because when he spoke it was a passive , quiet voice , but he also spoke with authority . When he spoke , people listened ”, said longtime motorcycling sports commentator and fellow MNZ Life Member Neil Ritchie . Another MNZ Life Member , Sandra Perry , who was MNZ secretary and CEO for 20 years between 1981 and 2000 , said Doherty will be “ greatly missed ”. “ He was on the MNZ executive throughout my tenure ,” she said . “ He was also on the Speedway Control Board of the NZACU and a much valued member of our big motorcycling family in New Zealand . “ From the 1970s until just a few years ago , Jim played a very active part in motorcycle sport . He put in so much work and few people these days give up the same sort of time as he did for this sport . We ’ ll miss him .”
KIWI RIDER 21