Keith Pursglove
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RE: Memories of Mike
I have many memories of Mike, surely one of the most versatile riders ever to straddle a racing motorcycle. From 125 two stroke singles, through 250 two stroke twins, four stroke singles, twins, fours and sixes he could get the best out of them all. My memories of Mike in the Island are many and include watching him hit the bottom of Bray Hill on the Honda 500 four and disappearing stood on the rests in a full lock slapper! (No shutting off of course)
Rounding Creg na Baa on a Manx in probably his first TT. I had never seen a Manx cranked over that far, and everything tucked in too.
Riding the MV with broken screen, flattened megaphones, and certainly at Greeba, a sticking throttle!!!! the mind boggles.
Going through Keppel Gate on the Duke looking as though he had never been away!
But perhaps my most personal memory was in 1963? when he was up against John Hartle & Phil Read on the Gileras.
My mate and I were in the paddock one morning practice helping Peter Richards, and I was warming up Peters 350 Manx when into the paddock came a Mercedes convertable driven by Mike.
He got out, and walked past us, huddled in a camel coloured duffle coat, shoulders hunched looking half asleep.
Aturo was already lined up in the pit lane with the MV and Mike stood at the side of him until it was his time to go, when he took his duffle coat off put it round Aturo's shoulders and shot off towards Bray Hill.
A lap at 103mph and then a lap on the 350 MV at 101 and he was back in the paddock walking back to his car, still looking half asleep.
As he passed us he stopped smiled and confided that "It's too bl**dy cold out there"
That Honda six in last years parade took me back to Sarah's Cottage and Mike chasing Bill Ivy on the Yamaha, getting well out of shape and getting within inches of the bank on the exit every lap.
Such a nice guy, a great ambassador for the sport and so much talent, I feel privileged to have seen him ride and to have spoken to him on several occasions.
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| 22-03-2008, 12:33 PM |
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