Old hand , new member

Hi everyone
I stumbled on this website by accident when searching google for an old racing partner Dave Saltwell. My racing career started in 1978 when the Honda 125 GP series came to the UK. I worked for a dealer in Leicester called Ken Ives as parts manager. Ken Ives sponsored me for 3 years and my first club was the Bantam Racing club and I still have my membership card from 78,79 and 80.

Imagine my suprise when I saw the uploaded race programmes on this site with my name in!

I also was a member of the BFRC ? I think it was although I don't think it still exists.

I was entered in the open 125 category and to my suprise took a 3rd and 5th at my first meeting at Cadwell as a complete race novice. I still have my boots and leathers from those days although the boots are fine, the leathers are a bit tight!

I recenly had the chance to ride a current GP125 at Donnington courtesy of Niall MacKensie's son Taylor. Quite a difference from 1978 when the MT125 topped at about 26bhp and 125 mph, and MacKenzies GP 125 tops 140ish and is 45bhp. Wish I was 40 years younger!!

Unfortunatly because I was riding at the time I didn't get any photos of myself during the 1978/9 seasons so if anyone has old albums my bike was orange and pink quartered like a battenberg cake. Availability of any pics from that period would make a grown man cry!


Hope this is of interest, it makes my day to recall it all,
Safe riding, shiny side up, Keith Wicks

Hi Keith welcome to the forum.
How did you get on in your search for "Salty" I know him quite well, we went to school together and he doesn't live to far from me although I haven't seen him for a while.
What a coincidence that I happened to be talking about him tonight to a biker in my local. About how he won the British 125 title on a Bultaco due to consistency as apposed to notching up lots of wins. As he said at the time "you've got to be in it to win it"

Thanks for your response Ned, I haven't made any further efforts to contact DS, the last I remember was Joy Chama I think. In any case he probably won't remember me. Must say all this makes me think it might be nice to go to a meeting sometime just for old times sake.