National Road Races

Saturday 10th May 1969

The Oliver’s Mount National Road Races held on Saturday 10th May 1969 incorporated the Castrol British Road Racing Drivers Championship, but the entry had been some what depleted after many of the top contenders opted to compete at the Thruxton 500-mile Production race.

Amongst the field was experienced campaigner Barrie Scully, a fuel technician at Hadfield’s Steel Works, who’d been instrumental in the revival and development of his famous air-cooled, two-stroke, 350cc-twin, Scott racer. Scully’s main contender for the meeting was expected to be London rider Terry Grotefeld, who’d arrived at the track with two very fast Padgett Yamahas.

There was controversy in the sidecar paddock when Andy Chapman started unloading his 1,275cc Greenwood Special, which had the other drivers grumbling, mainly because the front wheels were exposed. The organisers ruled that Chapman and John Worthington, who was racing a 680cc Scitscu , which also had its front wheels exposed and a centrally located rear wheel, had to start 20-seconds after the flag had dropped for the other outfits and were timed separately.

Whitaker 350cc Final
The first final of the meeting was the eight lap, Whitaker 350cc, which counted towards the Castrol British Road Racing Championship. From the drop of the flag, Barrie Scully howled his Scott away from the line and into the lead. Terry Grotefeld made a bad start on his Yamaha and was eleventh at the end of lap one, but soon began slicing back those lost seconds.

At the end of the second lap Scully’s lead was challenged by Mike Bennett (Norton) who scraped past, but then relinquished his place later after missing a gear change and corner. By lap four Grotefeld was up to fifth, hot on the heels of John Swannack (Norton). A lap later he was fourth, challenging Geoff Barry (AJS). Although at this stage, Scully and Bennett were seven seconds ahead of Barry. Grotefeld finally caught Scully on the seventh lap and then, with the superior speed of his Yamaha, he burst ahead to win by a wide margin.

Leon Cooper 250cc
In the eight lap, Leon Cooper 250cc final, Boston’s Derek Chatterton and his Yamaha were in a class of their own. He pulled out a steady four to five seconds a lap on Terry Grotefeld’s Padgett Yamaha. In what became a processional race, John Swannack completed the top three on his Royal Enfield, Eddie Johnson fourth on the Crooks Suzuki and Dick Pipes’ Bultaco fifth.

Chamber of Trade Threewheeler
Despite having to start twenty seconds behind, Andy Chapman seared his Greenwood Special through the field during his four-lap heat and finished a comfortable first on the road. In his respective heat John Worthington was not quite so swift on his Scitscu, but still managed a fourth.

Chapman, who can’t have been having the best of days, really had something to complain about later in the afternoon, as he was still stood at Mere Hairpin watching the racing when the Sidecar Final started. The organisers had cancelled the 1000cc solo invitation race, due to take place before the sidecar final and the unfortunate Chapman had missed the announcement.

Newcastle ’s Mac Hobson, hit the front on his 650cc BSA-powered outfit and was looking good for the win, but the 37-year-old, bespectacled Geordie, chaired by Geoff Atkinson, struck trouble and was forced to retire. Dave Lofthouse/Tony Readman went on to take victory on their 650cc Special ahead of John Fawcett/Ian Ward (648 JFS Triumph) and Terry Rudd/Henry West (649 W & G Triumph).

Tesseyman 1000cc
In the Tesseyman 1000cc final, which counted for British championship points, Scully and his Norton were never challenged. After another fine start, he led for the entire eight laps. Runner-up was the Oakley Matchless of Derby engineer, Geoff Barry, Towcaster’s Mick Bennett third, Hugh Porter fourth, Paul Cott fifth and in sixth place was circuit first timer Mick Grant.

Twenty-five-year-old Yorkshireman, Grant had turned his back on a possible teaching career to take to the tracks on his road-going 500cc Velocette Venom. Having used his skills as an engineer, he’d transformed the very ordinary pushrod Velo into a competitive machine, stripping down the frame, manufacturing his own single disc front brake, sporting a home-made hump-back seat made of wood, polystyrene and imitation leather.

Cine Video - Part 1
The cine video footage opens with a shot of Terry Grotfeld's Padgetts Yamaha (No.36), then local rider B. Noble, of Driffield (No.61) is seen waiting for scrutineering with his 348 Norton. Eddie Johnson’s 247 Crooks Suzuki (No.28) is being examined.

At Mere Hairpin, a few of the riders which can easily recognised are Bill Armstrong (No.44), Derek Chatterton (No.17 – 246 Yamaha), Terry Grotfeld (No.36 – Padgett Yamaha) and the unfaired 247 Suzuki of Bill Robertson (No.5).

Heading off from the start line is A. Monk (No.57), then another shot of Travelling Marshal Anthony Earnshaw. The clip finishes with Mac Hobson/Geoff Atkinson (No.116 ) tearing through the start & finish on their 650 Cowes BSA - there was no Farm Bends in those days !

Cine Video - Part 2
The second part of the cine video continues with sidecar action at Mountside Hairpin, Andy Chapman (No.2) on the controversial 1,275cc Greenwood Special, followed by John Worthington on the 680cc Scitscu and sidecar final winner Dave Lofthouse/Tony Readman (No.119 - 650 DLS).

Amongst the solos easily identifiable at Mountside Hairpin are Derek Chatterton (No.17 – 246 Yamaha), R. Ford (No.8 – 246 Yamaha) and B. Noble (No.61 – 348 Norton) retiring from the race.

The action switches to the exit of Memorial, with a glimpses of M. Taylor (No.20 – 246 Nolan Special), N. Clegg (No.11 – 248 Yamaha), Steve Machin (No.25 – 248 Bultaco), Mick Chatterton (No.35), Terry Grotefeld (No.36) and Paul Cott (No.52 – Norton).

At Mount Hairpin its 350cc action from Vic Wright (No.68 – 344 Greeves) and Geoff Barry (No.58 – 349 AJS). Then we see Derek Chatterton (No.17 – 246 Yamaha) leading the 250cc final followed by the duelling John Swannack (No.24 - 246 Royal Enfield) & Terry Grotefeld (No.36 - 246 Padgett Yamaha) then Dick Pipes (No.24 - 244 Bultaco) and Eddie Johnson (No.28 - 247 Crooks Suzuki).

Mac Hobson/Geoff Atkinson (No.116 – 650 Cowes BSA) leading the sidecar final and the 590 BMW outfit of D. Dickinson/S. Cooper (No.101).

The film closes with J. Stevenson (No.37 – Greeves), Terry Grotefeld (No.36) and Vic Wright (No.68 – 344 Greeves).