50 Miler

Good Evening All,

Can anyone shed light on the 50 miler races that were held, how the started, where were they run, were there prizes/stickers etc.

Have heard about them but not in detail, you dont ask, you dont get!



Kind Regards



Eddie

Hi Edward Don't know how they started but for Bantam racers they were the equivalent of an enduro. They were held once a year at Snetterton for all classes Novice, Inter & Open. No stickers but place prizes went further down the field.
I've seen many a bantam rider patting and stroking the bikes fuel tank on the run in lap for not braking down.

Originally the "50 Miler" races were one hour + 1 lap enduro which then evolved into 50 mile races at Snetterton

I have particular fondness for this event as it was the first race I ever won as a novice back in 1981. Mind you I couldn't walk for a week afterwards!
(The Novice "50 Miler" used to actually be 25 Miles. 1981 was the first year that the Novices ran the full distance)


Rusty

I've got mixed memories for the good old 50 miler, finished 2nd in the novice to colin Hall in 77 because I missed a gear on the last lap, it was that close. I eventually managed a win in 82 in the 1300cc 4 stroke race, chased all the way by Nick Jury and Ray Knight, it clinched the championship for me.

Hi ED just spotted this post,

The 50 miler was a great annual event for us, and was always the race to win, 26 gruelling laps of snetterton, what can only be discribed as "shear hell - physically".

usually i got of and could not feel my hands or feet for at least an hour after, I was a mear youngster, what it was like for the older guy's I have no idea, but I never had an issue changing gear or clutching, but as soon as it was over it was hell.

always held at snetterton, one of the great super fast circuits of that erra, but its even better now they have made the new mods, been there on the bant.

regards Derek

Did the hour + 1lap twice at Snetterton and both times it rained. Should have been called the Water-Cooled-Goolie race!
Icarus-1 misfired all the way down the old Norwich Straight and ran perfect past the pits which meant that I´d think it was OK and carry on ... and on ... and on ... and on....
with water running down the INSIDE of my leathers....

A 3rd time -- I said no way and the sun shined all day.