Phil from Henley-on-Thames on his Z650 Kawasaki in-line four next to my burgundy Z750 twin at Silverstone in July 1979; Phil was my main riding mate for that summer, where are you now? The Silverstone Grand Prix was a day out for us bikers more than a strong interest in the racing or the cars.
Phil from Henley-on-Thames on his Z650 Kawasaki in-line four next to my burgundy Z750 twin at Silverstone in July 1979; Phil was my main riding mate for that summer. The Silverstone Grand Prix was a day out for us bikers more than a strong interest in the racing or the cars. My Z750 was my first proper bike after gaining my full motorbike licence on my KH250; the Z750 was Japanese but it was still a twin so had sufficient street cred with the Brit bikers I was hanging out with But a Triton, that was a speciality, celebrity bike even then, afforded massive status which it could enforce on the road due to its speed and handling, a Triumph triple engine built in to a Norton Featherbed frame, so combining the best features of the two leading British bikes.
Once in the gates, Silverstone in those days was free access almost everywhere, no big screens and only the one grandstand. No catch-fencing either so not a problem to get a clear view: I took my new 200mm telephoto lens and was keen to try it, no zoom and manual focus but it brought in these photos of the Goodyear “Blimp”, the Red Arrows and camera-shy Rob from Northampton, modelling his colours, slogan t-shirt and crash-hat.
The driver of the yellow car, number 14, was the Brazilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi, who retired the race after 25 laps. The race winner was the Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni.
Note the BBC Outside Broadcast scanner adjacent to the grandstand: I was working for London Weekend Television in 1979, the “other side” ie ITV, but was in my own time for this event.
These are new scans of my 35mm Vericolor II negatives, type 5025, ASA 160.