The Lansdowne Motor Cycle Series

I took this photograph at McLean's Corner on the first lap of the Lansdowne Motor Cycle Series at the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2005.

Leading is Tim Jackson on his 1958 500cc Matchless G50. The other identifiable riders are number 1, Duncan Fitchett on a 1961 500cc Molnar Manx, and number 4, Chas Mortimer on a 1961 500cc Manx Norton.

Manx Norton

One of the motorcycles that took part in the Lansdowne Classic Series race at the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2004.

It's the 1958 500cc Manx Norton of David Beckett being prepared in the paddock before the race.

Motorcycles

Here in the paddock are three motorcycles that took part in the Lansdowne Classic Series race at the VSCC's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting at Donington Park in June 2003.

The Auto Cycle Union Road Racing standing regulations stipulate specific colours for the number plate of each class of motorcycle, white numbers on a blue background for the 350cc class and black numbers on a yellow background for 500cc. Number 20 in the programme of the event is Roger Ashby's 500cc 1955 Matchless G45, which is obviously the machine in the middle of the three. The number 20 on the left isn't shown in the programme and is an AJS 7R which the number plate shows to be a 350cc model, possibly also belonging to Roger Ashby. On the right is David Beckett's 500cc 1958 Manx Norton.

On 21 January 2017 I showed a photograph at the first corner of the first lap of the Lansdowne Classic Series race at the Donington Park meeting in 2007. Roger Ashby is riding a 1956 350cc AJS 7R in that photograph.

Motorcycles at Redgate Corner

This is the first corner of the first lap of the Lansdowne Classic Series race at the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2007.

The ones with visible race numbers are:
4     Vernon Glashier 1962 500cc Manx Norton
25   Mark Sharrock 1961 500cc Matchless G50
67   Gordon Russell 1961 500cc Manx Norton
85   Chris Swallow 1962 500cc Manx Norton
68   Mike Russell 1962 500cc Manx Norton
9     Tim Jackson 1958 500cc Matchless G50
6     Malcolm Clark 1962 500cc Matchless G50
50   Nick Roberts 1962 500cc Manx Norton
171 Patrick Walker 1960 500cc Manx Norton
8     Mick Hemmings 1962 500cc McIntyre G50
5     Mike Attrill 1963 350cc Aermacchi Ala d'Oro
77   Cliff Ransley 1961 500cc Manx Norton
30   Roger Ashby 1956 350cc AJS 7R
21   Andy Reynolds 1963 500cc Manx Norton
117 Andy Molnar 1961 350cc Manx Norton
56   Mike Dryden-Holt 1962 350cc Manx Norton
20   Jamie Donaldson 1960 350cc Manx Norton

The programme note about the race reads:

'The Lansdowne Classic Series is dedicated to preserving the sights and sounds of yesteryear, presenting a taste of Grand Prix motorcycle racing as it was in the 1950s and early 1960s when British and continental four-stroke machines ruled the roost. Evocative names such as Norton, Matchless, AJS, Moto-Guzzi and Aermacchi once more line up, with riders having to push start their Machines.'

Motor Cycles

The programme for the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in September 2005 included the following piece:

'Golden bike era celebrated

Two-wheeled racing variety will once again be provided by the Lansdowne Classic Motor Cycle series. Two races, one on each day, will feature up to 40 racing machines from the 1950s and '60s such as Matchless G50s and Manx Nortons.

For the first time there will also be a parade of special bikes, including one of the six famous George Beale Honda 6 replicas, owned by Dennis and Derek Bunning: an iconic bike of the '60s.

Also 100 years of Velocette will be celebrated with the appearance of the 500cc Velocette Thruxton which won both the Barcelona 24 hours and the Brands Hatch 500-miler in 1966. Keith Heckles, who rode the bike to second place in the '67 Production TT, will race it on Sunday.'

Here are photographs of three of the bikes which took part in the races.

The 1958 500cc Manx Norton of Dave Beckett

The 1958 500cc Matchless G50 of Tim Jackson

The 1962 350cc AJS 7R of  David Lock

The colours of the number plates differ to comply with the relevant ACU regulations:

'The front and side number plates for each class of motorcycles are:

Class	Background	Numbers
F125cc	Red background	White numbers
125cc	Black background	White numbers
250cc	Green background	White numbers
350cc	Blue background	White numbers
500cc	Yellow background	Black numbers
Over 500cc	White background	Black numbers
Formula 400	Blue background	White numbers
Supersport 600	White background	Blue numbers
Formula 600	White background	Blue numbers
Supermono	Black background	Yellow numbers
Stocksport	Red background	White numbers
FII Sidecars	Red background	White numbers
Open Sidecars	White background	Black numbers (incl three wheelers)'