The great Bob McIntyre features strongly in both these BP films, which form a splendid tribute to one of the finest and most popular riders of his time.
This DVD is a compilation of all the Motorcycle Sport films from the famous BP Archive. Bearing in mind that some of these films are now 50 years old, the quality is remarkably good. Both the North-West 200 1958 and The Right Line 1960 are in colour and The Ulster Grand Prix 1955 and Motorcycle Sport 1956 are in wonderful period black and white. Much of the commentary comes courtesy of Graham Walker, Murrays father. One of the joys of this DVD is the variety of venues and motorcycling sport it covers. We get to see road racing at Port Stewart and Dundrod; circuit racing at Cadwell Park and Solitude, near Stuttgart; trials riding from Wales and Scotland and motocross from Hawkstone Park. We also get to see other riders such as Mike The Bike Hailwood, Geoff Duke and John Surtees. As a real bonus we are taken on-bike around Oulton Park for two laps with Bob McIntyre himself. This is quite an eye opener not only because of the quality of the footage but also to see just how bumpy and dangerous the tree-lined Cheshire circuit was in 1960. Robert McGregor McIntyre is remembered with great affection by his fans - he was a great racer and true hero. In many ways he was a two-wheeled version of the great Stirling Moss! Sadly Bob died after an accident at Oulton Park in 1962 when he was just 33 years old. The Scottish Classic Motorcycle Racing Club hold an Annual Bob McIntyre Memorial meeting at East Fortune Raceway, near Edinburgh.
NORTHWEST 200 1958
McIntyre was favourite to win the 500cc race on the 11-mile circuit at Port Stewart. Riding in his usual immaculate style (no knees-out stuff in those days!) he was soon in the lead, followed by his most serious challenger, Jack Brett. McIntyre had victory in his sight but with just two laps to go his Norton engine failed and Brett flashed past for the win. McIntyre had to be content with a new lap record.
THE RIGHT LINE 1960
A brief look at the 1960 German GP at Solitude before commentator Graham Walker takes us back to basics, beginning with the Scottish Six-Day Trial, scrambling at the British Motocross GP at Hawkestone Park and some Novice Races at Cadwell Park. Next we join the legendary team of Bob McIntyre, Joe Potts and Pim Fleming in their workshop for some expert advice on the preparation of racing bikes. This is followed by two exhilarating laps of Oulton Park, with the camera mounted on Bobs Manx Norton. Next were off to the 1960 Junior TT on the Isle of Man, where Bob finishes third on the Norton, behind John Hartle and John Surtees on their MVs. Finally, its back to Solitude and the 250cc German GP which provides a fine victory for Gary Hocking on his MV. We also get a rare glimpse of such interesting bikes as the twin-cylinder, dohc MVs; the early dohc, four-cylinder Hondas and the rotary valve, twin-cylinder, two-stroke MZ machines from East Germany.
