Derek Minter has passed away

sad news R.I.P Derek 

What a great picture!
rip mate.

Another rider who has his place in the history of our sport

King of Brands Book:- On Amazon

Derek Minter (born 27 April 1932 in Kent, south-east England ) RIP great man, love that picture I scrape my boots like that but mine is because I have big feet not my ability to ride that hard

One of the true greats of motorcycle racing. First man to lap the TT course on a single cylinder machine at over 100mph..........moments before Mike Hailwood did it in the 1960 Senior.
I had a lovely chat with Derek a few years ago at the TT. He didn't reckon much to the new crop of riders at the time. Thought he would be able to get a Manx Norton round at 110mph, and he was probably right!

 I have great memories of my earliest visits to Brands Hatch in the mid sixties & watching Derek Minter race. RIP 'King of Brands'.

Sad loss and a fantastic picture.  R.I.P

My all time hero. Derek rest in peace  my friend you were one tough competitor.

Rest in peace Derek and thanks for all the memories

RIP mr Minter,a true legend,raced with the best and often beat the best,so pleased to have been about in the wonderfull 60,s to take it all in.

A great rider, and in my opinion the true King of Brands.  RIP Derek Minter

A hard rider; always good to watch. R.I.P. the Mint.

As above.
The former TT winner passed away today aged 82.
RIP
Condolonces to friends and family

Although some days old now this news about Derek Minter is news to me and not seeing it on the web may also be news to many.

Derek Minter has died 05.01.2015| Author: World desk| World News Minter in action One of Britain’s greatest short circuit racers, Derek Minter, died on Friday, January 2. He was 82 and had been in ill-health for some time. Best known for his prowess on British tracks and known as the original “King of Brands” he was a multiple champion, mostly on Manx Nortons tuned either by Ray Petty or Steve Lancefield. This was in the late fifties and sixties when he was competing against the likes of Mike Hailwood, Bob McIntyre, John Hartle and John Cooper. But he was also a regular and successful competitor in world championship events in Europe and in the Isle of Man when the TT was a championship event. In 1960 Minter was the first rider to lap the thirty seven and three quarter mile course at over 100mph on a single cylinder machine in a race won by Surtees with Hailwood third. In 1962, he won the Lightweight 250cc TT on a privately entered Honda beating the works machines. A year later (1963) he was chosen, together with John Hartle, to join a Gilera bid led by Geoff Duke to wrest the world 500cc championship from the MV factory and Hailwood. But an early season crash at Brands Hatch, which also resulted in the death of Dave Downer, ruled him out and his place was taken by Phil Read. He returned to finish third in the Ulster GP and second in the East German GP. He retired in 1967 to run his haulage business from his home in Kent. Details of his funeral will be published shortly. - See more at: http://www.bikesportnews.com/news/news-d...s67ek.dpuf

It was posted on this site on the day Spanner's but on the General topic section , I did think at the time it may have been more appropriate on this section with his record of TT achievements but there you go , another great man sadly gone but again will not be forgotten ,

What a brilliant racing motorcyclist he was. I watched him in the mid 60's, mostly at Oulton Park he was fantastic there too. Also a TT winner it was just a shame he didn't get the long term works ride he so clearly deserved. It's quite well known that he was his own man and fiercely independent as were / are many top class motorcycle racers so I wonder why didn't he get the rides?

As a kid he was one of my favourite riders always fast & stylish