1969 Grand Prix d'Endurance Thruxton UK Tait Uphill - 2-Page Motorcycle Article

Description

1969 Grand Prix d'Endurance Thruxton UK Tait Uphill - 2-Page Motorcycle Article
Original, Vintage Magazine Article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
LE MANS style start — the riders run across the track to kick-
start their bikes.
JOHN COOPER on a 650 Triumph leads from the start. .
OUT OF THE OOX SOO
BRITAIN'S 500-MILE RACE FOR PRODUCTION MOTORCYCLE
WON BY 650cc TRIUMPH ENTRY OF TAIT / UPHILL
Report and Photos by Mick Woollett
TRIUMPHS in command. 52 Malcolm Uphill (650 Triumph) and 51 Ray Pickrell
(650 Triumph) dispute the lead ahead of lapped rider.
WINNING 650 Triumph with Malcolm
Uphill aboard.
DA VE CROXFORD on one of two works
Norton Commandos in the race.
FINISHING first, second and third on
overall classification and winning the
500cc Class, Triumph twins completely
dominated the International 500-Mile
Grand Prix d’Endurance at the Thruxton
circuit on Sunday, May 11.
This is Britain’s most important event
of the year for “same as you can buy”
sports machines which have to be raced in
full road-going trim, including lights,
mufflers and kick-starters.
Manufacturer support has increased
steadily since the Southampton club
organized their first long distance event
back in 1954 - and this year the event,
sponsored by the British weekly “Motor
Cycle,” had attracted works entries from
Triumph, BSA and Norton.
Surprisingly, the Japanese makers
showed little interest in challenging the
British bikes on their home ground, but’a
full entry of 59 bikes, split into three
classes (250, 500 and 750cc) faced the
starter at 11 a.m. that Sunday.
Each bike had a crew of two to share
the riding and the start was Le Mans style
with the bikes lined up on one side of the
circuit and the competitors on the other.
Then, at the starter’s signal, they ran
across the track and kick-started their
bikes into life.
A Norton Commando took the lead on
the first lap, but factory Triumph Bonne-
villes, ridden by Percy Tait/Malcolm Uphill
and Ray Pickrell/Rex Butcher, soon
ousted the Commando from first place.
Another Commando, ridden by Dave
Croxford/Mick Andrew, came up to
challenge, but a broken connecting rod
put it out of the race just before the first
hour was completed.
Then Triumph had a few anxious
moments. For Uphill, on the leading
Bonneville, came into the pits and reported
that his engine had seized. He had whipped
in the clutch and coasted for awhile and
when he dropped the clutch again the
engine had fired, allowing him to tour in.
Development engineer Doug Hele
looked serious, the plugs were changed
and veteran tester Percy Tait took over.
He did two slow laps and then settled
back into the swing of 90 mph laps. All
was well and Doug smiled again.
The Pickrell/Butcher Triumph now led...
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