...this guy over on 'the other side' ?

I doubt he'll get much help over there!

http://www.iomtt.com/Home/Forum/ShowPost...tID=118680

He could try
http://www.motorcyclesport.co.nz/
I was going to post this on the other site, but it wouldn't recognise me. I've given up on it anyway, off more often than it's on.

D L McNeill (New Zealand) was entered in the 1959 Senior TT on a Norton and the Junior on an AJS. He non-started both races. We have a paddock shot of him with the Norton. No shots of him riding UK or Ulster GP that year.
Check with Charley Lamb from Christchurch University, he has information about Kiwi riders
Lamb@lincoln.ac.nz

Got this reply from Charley Lamb this evening
"Thanks for passing on the info re Bob McNeill. In 1959 there was a New
Zealand rider - Don McNeil who went to the TT - I think as a member of the
NZ team. He had a bad accident in practice - suffering severe head injuries.
He has been to a number of my talks here (New Zealand) on the TT and lives locally - in fact came and had a beer with myself and other bike friends at our local a wee while back - and as it turns out lives not far from me. If that is the
person that your contact was enquiring about - I can put him in touch.

As an aside - Don told me that when he had his accident in practice - his life
was saved by a British neurosurgeon who happened to be on the Island for
the TT. This chap went to (presumably Nobles) hospital and supervised
drilling into Don's skull to release pressure on the brain - which ultimately
saved his life. The surgeon also arranged for Don to be moved to England
for further treatment and rehabilitation."

Thanks for your efforts Bill. I've suggested the original enquirer has a look on here.

Hi Guys.

RE: D L McNeill at IOM

Many Thanks to all of you that have responded to my question. Such a fast response, and this http://www.ttwebsite.com has so many threads (I have joined up, as you can probably see)

Periodically I search for information on Don McNeill on the internet. I suppose there is no surprise that he is not mentioned on any papers or websites, because he crashed in practice. All his other achievements have been before this in NZ, well before the computer.

However, Don has one of the longest M/C histories in NZ, and is well know in NZ circles. Riding until just a few months ago, Don would have been in the seat for say around 57 years.

I am Don's son, Cameron McNeill of Sydney, Australia. I suppose I owe a lot to that surgeon, eh? .

Not that this is about me, but personally I race VMX, This is my hobby site, take a look http://www.vmx.com.au .

Once again, thanks to Sticky, Thewitch, Bill Snelling & Charlie Lamb

Hi Cameron, I'm from Killarney Vale on the Central Coast so welcome..fellow Aussie. You have joined a fabulous site and I can assure you the friends made from TTWebsite.com are the greatest bunch of people you will ever find.

Welcome to the site, Cameron. Maybe I'll come and see you when I finally get round to visiting my firnd in Sydney, and also Jan. Of course, you could always come to the Isle of Man...

Hi Jan, feel free to PM me,

Thanks guys, this seems like a nice forum.