An insight to the wee man, his courage and determination is most certainly the 250cc race at the TT in '68.

Phil Read was playing head games with Bill over tyre selection and at the last minute, changed his mind and insisted on a wider section tyre being fitted. This was after a lot of discussion during practice about tyres where Read had stated that the wide section tyres were no good and that the standard section tyres were far better.

This upset the wee man somewhat, however he went out with the standard section tyres on and on the first lap he put in a cracker and smashed Mike Hailwoods lap record from a standing start. He clocked a 105.51 which was unbelievable when it was later discovered that his bike was a full 7 mph slower at the top end, than his previous years bike.

At the end of the first lap, he led Read by some 14 seconds, however on the second lap, the exhaust system started to fall apart, and he ultimately slowed. On the third lap Read led by 14 seconds.

On lap 3, Bill trapped his right foot under the footrest going through Milntown, and wrenched his ankle tearing a large hole in his race boot.

Read retired on lap 4 with tyre trouble (poetic justice some say), and although the wee man was suffering terrible pain, he continued to finish the race and victory.

Although racked in pain, he made it to the winners rostrum, being carried there barefoot.

That night, Bill was found in a local hostelry, celebrating his win, "dancing with the dollies" as he would say, and when asked if his foot was ok, he replied, "Ah yes, p***y cures everything" !!!!!


That was Bill and there are many more tales of that ilk that could be told about him and his best mate Mike Hailwood.


Extracted from No Time To Lose unashamedly, without licence