Derek Minter: Difference between revisions
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'''Derek Minter''' (born 27 April 1932 in Kent, south-east England) was a [[Great Britain|British]] former [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] and short-circuit [[road racing|road racer]]. A versatile rider, he rode a variety of machinery between 1955 and 1967 at increasing levels of expertise and in varying capacities and classes. His best season was in [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]] when he finished the year in fifth place in the 500cc world championship.<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Derek+Minter Derek Minter career statistics at MotoGP.com]</ref> In 1960, Minter won the [[North West 200]] race in [[Northern Ireland]]. In [[1962 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1962]], he won the [[1962 Isle of Man TT|Isle of Man]] 250cc [[Lightweight TT]] <ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/competitors.aspx?ride_id=1811 Derek Minter profile at iomtt.com]</ref> |
'''Derek Minter''' (born 27 April 1932 in Kent, south-east England) was a [[Great Britain|British]] former [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] and short-circuit [[road racing|road racer]]. A versatile rider, he rode a variety of machinery between 1955 and 1967 at increasing levels of expertise and in varying capacities and classes. His best season was in [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]] when he finished the year in fifth place in the 500cc world championship.<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Derek+Minter Derek Minter career statistics at MotoGP.com]</ref> In 1960, Minter won the [[North West 200]] race in [[Northern Ireland]]. In [[1962 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1962]], he won the [[1962 Isle of Man TT|Isle of Man]] 250cc [[Lightweight TT]] <ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/competitors.aspx?ride_id=1811 Derek Minter profile at iomtt.com]</ref> |
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==Early Days== |
==The Early Days== |
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Derek Minter was an electrician who worked evenings and weekends as a farm labourer to earn the extra money needed to buy his first bike, a CB34 500cc BSA Gold Star which was prepared for racing and stripped of unneccessary weight but retained the standard, roadster-based equipment and had no race fairing |
Derek Minter was an electrician who worked evenings and weekends as a farm labourer to earn the extra money needed to buy his first bike, a CB34 500cc BSA Gold Star which was prepared for racing and stripped of unneccessary weight but retained the standard, roadster-based equipment and had no race fairing |
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After 1961 Ray Petty from Farnborough, Hampshire prepared the Norton engines . In 1962 Minter won the 250cc TT on a Honda 4 provided by importers Honda Ltd. Over the years he realised that riding in local events whilst still 'guesting' for other teams could earn him more money than being tied to a factory team |
After 1961 Ray Petty from Farnborough, Hampshire prepared the Norton engines . In 1962 Minter won the 250cc TT on a Honda 4 provided by importers Honda Ltd. Over the years he realised that riding in local events whilst still 'guesting' for other teams could earn him more money than being tied to a factory team |
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For the 1963 season Minter signed to ride in Championship races for [[Geoff Duke|Geoff Duke's]] ''Scuderia Gilera'' team (AKA ''Scuderia Duke'') with new team mate [[John Hartle]] whilst planning to continue riding Nortons in home short circuit races. |
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The new team were to use older 1950s Gileras on which former World Champion rider Duke had much success, but with upgraded tyre technology. The team was devised by Duke to challenge the domination of Mike Hailwood on the MV and had early successes at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Imola, Italy |
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| ⚫ | In May of 1963 whilst riding a 500cc Manx Norton at Brands Hatch, Kent, Minter was involved in a battle for the lead with [[Norton Dunstall|Dunstall]] rider [[List of Brands Hatch Circuit fatal accidents|Dave Downer]] on a 650 Norton Dominator twin. During a last lap accident Minter suffered serious injuries and Downer died |
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Minter recovered from his injuries and went on to many more wins on Manx Nortons and a 250cc [[Cotton (motorcycle)#Racing in the sixties|Cotton]] |
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Minter's Gilera team place had been taken temporarily by up and coming [[Phil Read]] riding in June's Isle of Man TT claiming 2nd (Hartle) and 3rd (Read) to Mike Hailwood's MV(<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1963/ULST/500cc] MotoGP.com 1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10</ref>followed by [[Dutch TT]] at [[TT Circuit Assen|Assen]] where it was 1st (Hartle) and 2nd (Read) with Mike Hailwood's MV retiring |
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Minter soon recovered from his injuries, riding at Oulton Park<ref>[http://racingmemo.free.fr/MOTO-GP-1963.htm] RacingMemo. Moto GP results. Retrieved 2013-05-10</ref> then reclaiming his team place for the Dundrod Ulster GP in August with Gilera again scoring 2nd (Hartle) and 3rd (Minter) to Mike Hailwood's MV<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1963/ULST/500cc]MotoGP.com 10 August 1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10</ref>followed by East German GP where Minter was 2nd to Mike Hailwood's MV<ref>[http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1963/ULST/500cc] MotoGP.com 18 August1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10</ref> The ''Scuderia Duke'' team was disbanded at the end of 1963 |
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| ⚫ | Minter went on to many more wins on Manx Nortons and a 250cc [[Cotton (motorcycle)#Racing in the sixties|Cotton]] before retiring as a professional road-racer in 1967. In the 1990s he returned to the tracks to ride Summerfield Manx machines in leisure classic events until an accident at Darley Moor in 2000 finally ended his sport-riding career |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 01:44, 10 May 2013
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Derek Minter (born 27 April 1932 in Kent, south-east England) was a British former Grand Prix motorcycle and short-circuit road racer. A versatile rider, he rode a variety of machinery between 1955 and 1967 at increasing levels of expertise and in varying capacities and classes. His best season was in 1958 when he finished the year in fifth place in the 500cc world championship.[1] In 1960, Minter won the North West 200 race in Northern Ireland. In 1962, he won the Isle of Man 250cc Lightweight TT [2]
The Early Days
Derek Minter was an electrician who worked evenings and weekends as a farm labourer to earn the extra money needed to buy his first bike, a CB34 500cc BSA Gold Star which was prepared for racing and stripped of unneccessary weight but retained the standard, roadster-based equipment and had no race fairing
He first raced it 1955 entering non-expert races, progressing to expert races where the competition rode Manx Nortons and Matchless G45s. His performances in 1956 impressed Ron Harris, MV importer and proprietor of Wincheap Garages, who created a team providing Minter with 350 amd 500 Manx Nortons
The Middle years
Minter's succcess continued with Steve Lancefield preparing his engines until 1960 when he became the first rider to lap of the TT course at over 100mph on a single cylinder machine. This led to other rides with Bianchi, Moto Morini and MZ
After 1961 Ray Petty from Farnborough, Hampshire prepared the Norton engines . In 1962 Minter won the 250cc TT on a Honda 4 provided by importers Honda Ltd. Over the years he realised that riding in local events whilst still 'guesting' for other teams could earn him more money than being tied to a factory team
For the 1963 season Minter signed to ride in Championship races for Geoff Duke's Scuderia Gilera team (AKA Scuderia Duke) with new team mate John Hartle whilst planning to continue riding Nortons in home short circuit races.
The new team were to use older 1950s Gileras on which former World Champion rider Duke had much success, but with upgraded tyre technology. The team was devised by Duke to challenge the domination of Mike Hailwood on the MV and had early successes at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Imola, Italy
In May of 1963 whilst riding a 500cc Manx Norton at Brands Hatch, Kent, Minter was involved in a battle for the lead with Dunstall rider Dave Downer on a 650 Norton Dominator twin. During a last lap accident Minter suffered serious injuries and Downer died
Minter's Gilera team place had been taken temporarily by up and coming Phil Read riding in June's Isle of Man TT claiming 2nd (Hartle) and 3rd (Read) to Mike Hailwood's MV([3]followed by Dutch TT at Assen where it was 1st (Hartle) and 2nd (Read) with Mike Hailwood's MV retiring
Minter soon recovered from his injuries, riding at Oulton Park[4] then reclaiming his team place for the Dundrod Ulster GP in August with Gilera again scoring 2nd (Hartle) and 3rd (Minter) to Mike Hailwood's MV[5]followed by East German GP where Minter was 2nd to Mike Hailwood's MV[6] The Scuderia Duke team was disbanded at the end of 1963
The Final Years
Minter went on to many more wins on Manx Nortons and a 250cc Cotton before retiring as a professional road-racer in 1967. In the 1990s he returned to the tracks to ride Summerfield Manx machines in leisure classic events until an accident at Darley Moor in 2000 finally ended his sport-riding career
References
- ^ Derek Minter career statistics at MotoGP.com
- ^ Derek Minter profile at iomtt.com
- ^ [1] MotoGP.com 1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10
- ^ [2] RacingMemo. Moto GP results. Retrieved 2013-05-10
- ^ [3]MotoGP.com 10 August 1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10
- ^ [4] MotoGP.com 18 August1963 results. Retrieved 2013-05-10