RIP Geoff Duke

[Welsh]

Given how many of his "sucessors" have passed on, I assumed he had years ago, but no he has just left us RIP Geoff, the Rossi of his decade...


http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/05/03/vale-geoff-duke/

[Ysterman]

Never knew of him, up until yesterday - but what a true legend with those achievements in that era.

"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games."  Ernest Hemingway

[subie]

Also before my time so first I have heard of him.
He must have been a hard man in his day. Respect!!
RIP Geoff

[Welsh]

Also before my time so first I have heard of him.
He must have been a hard man in his day. Respect!!
RIP Geoff

The inventor of one piece racing leathers.... smelt just like a new bakkie..

[cheesy]

Also known as a thorough gentleman, R I P.

[tok-tokkie]

I was well aware of him. Also surprised to hear he has only just died


Racing on a 500cc 4 cylinder Gilera.  Look how close they are going round the Monza parabolica .  I preferred the Gilera to the MV Agusta.  They pulled out leaving the field open to MV.


Then the dustbin fairings were banned.  Gilera 4 cyl again


In those days you rode in all classes. 125cc  250cc  350cc & 500cc.  Possibly not 125cc but this looks like a 125cc  later there was also 50cc racing.


The Isle of Man was included in the Grands Prix series in those days & Duke excelled there.  Here he is on a Manx Norton - before the Gilera days.


Isle of Man again on a Gilera


The races were push starts.  When guys make 'cafe racers' these days it is bikes like this and the next one that they are venerating.



On a Manx Norton


A classic picture of him on the Gilera.

[Herklaas]

  RIP Geof, but hel!!, those guys had to be good pushing those things around the track. 

[Welsh]

RIP Geof, but hel!!, those guys had to be good pushing those things around the track. 

And the tyres were kark...... 

[Welsh]

I was well aware of him. Also surprised to hear he has only just died


Racing on a 500cc 4 cylinder Gilera.  Look how close they are going round the Monza parabolica .  I preferred the Gilera to the MV Agusta.  They pulled out leaving the field open to MV.


Then the dustbin fairings were banned.  Gilera 4 cyl again


In those days you rode in all classes. 125cc  250cc  350cc & 500cc.  Possibly not 125cc but this looks like a 125cc  later there was also 50cc racing.


The Isle of Man was included in the Grands Prix series in those days & Duke excelled there.  Here he is on a Manx Norton - before the Gilera days.


Isle of Man again on a Gilera


The races were push starts.  When guys make 'cafe racers' these days it is bikes like this and the next one that they are venerating.



On a Manx Norton


A classic picture of him on the Gilera.

Tok Tokkie, he retired the year after I was born.... no wonder not many on here know of him..

[jaybiker]

Here, it seems is a difference between my generation of roadrace fans and the present generation. We were fascinated by the history of the sport, and we knew all the names of the heroes who had died before we were born, their exploits and the machines they rode.
Nowadays apparently the only ones who are relevant are those who are 'hot' right now.
How many years before motorcycle racing enthusiasts will be asking, "Valentino who? Before my time, was he any good?" 

[Welsh]

Here, it seems is a difference between my generation of roadrace fans and the present generation. We were fascinated by the history of the sport, and we knew all the names of the heroes who had died before we were born, their exploits and the machines they rode.
Nowadays apparently the only ones who are relevant are those who are 'hot' right now.
How many years before motorcycle racing enthusiasts will be asking, "Valentino who? Before my time, was he any good?" 

I "grew up" in the days of Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and later Barry Sheene etc some of the greats..

[manxkipper]

The quintessential Norton man of the 50's. RIP