1. When did you first become
interested in racing 50’s?
Answer: I first became interested when I was 14 years old, which is +/- 43 years ago.
1963 Isle of Man TT - Top of Bray Hill
2.
When and from whom did you acquire your first Racing 50?
Answer: Before I left school I used to work in a motorcycle shop cleaning the bikes and bubble cars, they had a second-hand ‘Itom’ Astor Super Sport. The deal was that I would pay for this machine by hours worked.
1963 Isle of Man TT - Negotiating Governors Bridge
3. How many 50’s have you owned
over the years?
Answer: As far as I can remember ‘5’, but I have been
lucky enough to ride some special machines owned by other people. The Itom
Astor and then an Itom Competizione which I bought from Bob Smallcorn
which had been tuned by Frank Sheene and was very quick.
Although I did not own this machine I was fortunate to ride the Val Knapp
CR110 Honda in the 1963 TT and came in 6th ahead of the Frank Sheene
"Sheene Special" ridden by Bill Ivy. Then I obtained a brand new Honda CR110, which I rode in the 1964
‘TT’, a great machine and ultra reliable. I retired from racing in
1965 and it wasn’t until I was encouraged to join the ‘TTRA’ and a
visit to watch the Lap of Honour in 1994, which rekindled the interest
again,
I decided to buy an early 70,s
water-cooled Kreidler. This machine cost me a lot of money to get it to
the standard that I like (many trips to Holland for correct parts and
information} ) this machine is now in Northern Ireland In William McCombs
private collection. The next two machines are the ones that I have at
present. Firstly my 1978 model Kreidler van Veen, which I built from
scratch from new & second-hand parts.
It completed the TT lap of honour in 1999 and has been very
reliable although there are many things to learn regarding setting them
up. I have found it difficult to ride on short circuits, (lack of
experience on type which is my fault, but quite exciting on the
‘Island’ where it really gets into its stride and where I feel more at
home.
And lastly but not least the Honda RC 115 replica that is now complete and the engine did run at Castle Coombe, the engine will be coming out soon to fit the HRC’ parts that I now have for the ‘Dream’ engine including a recently arrived ‘CR’ 6 speed gearbox. Needless to say that I am looking forward to riding it in the 50cc demo run from the ‘Creg’ next year, Jeep I think you should wear some ear plugs!
4.What unique preparation, if any
did you perform on your machines?
Answer: Nothing really, my ‘yardstick’ is always careful preparation and do things properly.
1964 Isle of Man TT 50cc Honda CR110
Ian Plumridge on his Honda CR110, in very high speed at the bottom of Bray-Hill in the Isle of Man TT course in 1964.
5.Details of tuning approaches
you might have used and how successful.
Answer: I think we all pick up tips over the years, but I am not a ‘Tuner’ as such. John Loxley has been a great help with advice over the last few years but as I said earlier my only skill is careful preparation.
6.
What memories do you have of the early 50cc scene and success?
Answer: I have many nice memories, when I was a teenager I used to eat/drink & sleep 50cc racing much to my parents displeasure. I used to travel to race meetings on my Ariel VB 600cc sidevalve with platform the side to carry the Itom. My fondest memories are from the Isle of Man and they will live with me for ever, very special and also my recent trip to Tokyo to ride Mr Naito’s CR110, that was also a very special day for me, wonderful memories.
Isle of Man TT 1965 Derbi 50cc Quarter Bridge
7. Have you been involved with
any other class of racing or competitive Motorcycling?
Answer: I did sometimes ride in the 250cc class but to be honest I wasn’t really good enough to become top flight.
Ian on the CR110 at the Time Tunnel in Japan 2002
8. Who, if anyone has been the biggest influence in your racing career or in the racing 50cc scene in general?
Answer: Without doubt Dave Simmonds, he was a gentleman always willing to help. A superb rider on the track and his machines were always prepared nicely. He would have made a great ambassador for our Club.
9.What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given and by whom?
Answer: Without doubt from the ‘Late’ John Dixon’ who told me never ride a bike that you have bought until you have stripped and rebuilt it, I know on at least one occasion that saved my ‘neck’.
10. What piece of advice or tuning tips would you like to pass on to fellow members?
Answer: As I said earlier I have no specific ‘tuning’
skills, just take pride in what you do.
P.S. I don’t know everybody in
the Club, but if I am at a race meeting please come and say ‘hello’.