In the 1969 Belgian Grand Prix, on the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in the Ardennes, Tait was riding Triumph’s entry for the 500cc race – a version of the Triumph Daytona developed by Doug Hele. Percy travelled with the mechanics Arthur Jakeman and Jack Shemans in an old Ford Transit van, in which the three of them also had to sleep.
Percy led the world champion Giacomo Agostini for three laps to finish second to the MV Agusta at an average speed of 116 mph.
Triumph racing team member, chief test rider and all-round motorcycle guru: Percy Tait. Riding twins and triples at Grand Prix, The TT, Bol d’Or, NW200 and a million miles of road testing in between. This photo is taken during a one thousand mile endurance race in the sixties on s production bike.
In latter years he has become a show winning sheep breeder.
Race Day. Pack the car we’re off to the track. Well if your car is a classic mini you’d better make sure your Moto is a lightweight one: here they’re toting a Triumph Cub in the boot door. As needs demand!
Did I ever tell you I passed my driving test in a Mini?
The Great Jim Clark would have been 80 today. Borders farmer from Chirnside he went on to become one of the most likable and naturally talented driver behind the wheel of any car. Sadly we lost him in ’68 at the Hockenheimring track in Germany.
Just look at those dapper driving brogues.
Our Bloke Guy Martin takes flight with his Smiths Triumph in 2015 over the infamous humpback Ballaugh Bridge on The Isle of Man TT.
Even more impressive is Harvey Williams catching air on his 125 BSA Bantam in 1952. Fag is lit too!
Jimmy Dean would have been 85 today. Though only starring as a surly youth in three films his iconic influence stretches over sixty years. We’ve seen all those lip curled images of him on a Triumph, and the racing driver to be in his fateful Porsche 356, so I chose this one of him gazing at a Siamese kitten enjoying the world around.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever.
Live as if you’ll die today.”
When careening across the Mojave on a knobbly booted Triumph desert sled you need to keep the tank topped up. Harvey Mushman takes a quick break and sloshes some much needed leaded Mobil into his steed.
Racing art of a period British racer tearing through a screen print poster. Two colors is all it takes with the highlighted non printed white to add the sparkle of movement. Tres Bien!
Foggy is seen here riding in style on one of the new Triumph at a launch event recently. Former superbike King and Ducati rider seeing him on British fare is a good sight. He won’t the reality show “I’m a celebrity GMOOH!” A couple of years back- probably psyching out the opponents with those intense eyes.
That silver Thruxton R is my favorite bike right now.
Sled, desert sled that is. Steve McQueens desert sled. Hot SoCal day and a race across the dusty scrubland is anticipated. Here in Illinois it’ll soon be cold, icy and unrideable; bah, humbug!
Hey!
McQueens production company which backed films such as Les Mans as well as the documentary On Any Sunday. Clean graphic.
#66 was his Porsche 908/2 number he used on the disused airfield track in Holtville CA.
Let’s head into the weekend at a hundred miles per hour – average! This is the beefy Black Shadow which, in 1952, set a six hour endurance record on the racetrack at Montlhery. This very machine was sold at auction a couple of years ago for $200,000. That’s four hundred bucks a mile.
The great Gary Nixon taking a smoke break between races in June ’68. Big tanked Triumph with a big fat number one on the sharp end. It’s a 500cc being tuned by Clifford Guild. Track is Loudon NH
Wonderfully evocative photos by Kurt Fischer.
1988 saw Norman Hyde bring forth his reframed twin and triple Triumphs to speed stably along the motorways of Thatchers Britain. Good tyres, good brakes, better engine balance and a whiff of fine engineering and the Harrier was born.
Good on the track too; its prowess derived from a knowledge of running the triple racers in the early sixties.
The newer Hinckley version is a fettled brute. Keep your Thruxton I’ll take one of these sir!
Sometimes you’ve just got to keep a tight grip on things. And hope the crazy ride will settle down at some point or other.
..if all else fails just make sure you’re wearing your leathers and helmet!
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