A helping hand. HERE COMES A time for anyone successful in their field, when they have to

Transcription

1 2 A helping hand T HERE COMES A time for anyone successful in their field, when they have to admit that they were in the right place at the right time, and were also given a helping hand along the way. There appear to be three elements that contributed to Gary Hocking s success. First, his own talent and determination. Second, meeting someone who could show him what to do and how to do it, and hone that talent that was Ken Robas. And third, finding someone who could promote the talent. That was John Wells. Robas was the Rhodesian motorcycle champion, and had started racing at the Umgusa circuit in the latter part of the 1940s. For the next ten years he tasted success, holding lap records at Umgusa and Coronation Park. He also won the most respected race in Rhodesia, the Mashonaland 100, twice in successive years: first at the Belvedere circuit and the following year at Marlborough. The second time he broke the lap record set by Bepe Castellani. Later in his career Robas would have several tussles with Hocking before the older man retired in It was Robas who spotted Hocking as one of the Main Street Cowboys. Robas recalled the dangers of riding at speed around the streets of Bulawayo, even in the late 50s. Racing at 60mph, there was no chance of stopping if a car came out of a side street or in the opposite direction. There were two storm drains in the Main Street, and you hit the first one at speed and leapt over the second. Robas watched dozens of riders in those unofficial races, but there was one who stood out. We had quite a few in the Cowboys, most of them were no-hopers, but Gary was the master. Gary and Eddie Fay (Richard s brother) both had motorbikes, and often went to the Umgusa speedway track where they could gain easy access and raced around the track. It was as a result of these impromptu races that Gary Hocking decided to have a go at racing. With his good looks, money in his pocket from regular work, and his skill on a 21

2 An early photograph of Gary Hocking on a 350cc Norton. It is thought this race could be the PE 200 Handicap event at Port Elizabeth in January (Billy James Collection) Having persuaded Reg Dearden to sponsor him, Gary Hocking had some races against Jim Redman. Here, he chases Redman in one of their early European encounters. Early 1958, after Gary Hocking had begun riding in Europe. Here he is on a Reg Dearden Norton chasing Jim Redman, also on a Norton. 52

3 Reg Dearden, in his familiar macintosh, applies last-minute adjustments to Gary Hocking s Norton. (Billy James Collection)

4 Over Ballaugh Bridge on the MV 350cc during the 1961 Junior race. (Courtesy Tony Breeze Racing Photos IOM) The end of the 350cc race at the 1961 TT. Hocking was second to Phil Read on his Norton. Hocking s MV is covered in oil, and it was an achievement to get the machine home. Apparently, the boy in the cap is a young Barry Sheene. (Courtesy Duncan Hocking) Always happy to sign autographs, by 1961, Gary Hocking relaxes in some rare sunshine on a bale of straw. (Courtesy Duncan Hocking) 114

5 Appendix World championship races Year Machine Race Position WC position cc Norton Dutch TT Assen 6th 500cc Norton Nürburgring 500cc Norton Swedish GP Hedemora 4th 6th 3rd 125cc MZ Ulster GP Dundrod Circuit 125cc MV Agusta Nations GP Monza 6th 9th cc MZ Swedish GP Råbelöfsbanan 250cc MZ Ulster GP Dundrod Circuit 350cc Norton French GP Charade Circuit 350cc Norton Isle of Man TT 12th 350cc Norton 500cc Norton Hockenheim French GP Charade Circuit 500cc Norton Belgian GP Spa 5th cc MV Agusta Isle of Man TT 3rd 125cc MV Agusta Dutch TT Assen 125cc MV Agusta Belgian GP Spa 5th 125cc MV Agusta Ulster GP Dundrod Circuit 125cc MV Agusta Nations GP Monza 5th 250cc MV Agusta Isle of Man TT 250cc MV Agusta Dutch TT Assen 250cc MV Agusta Belgian GP Spa 250cc MV Agusta Solitude 350cc MV Agusta French GP Charade 350cc MV Agusta Dutch TT Assen 350cc MV Agusta Nations GP Monza cc MV Agusta Spanish GP Montjuïc circuit 350cc MV Agusta Isle of Man TT 350cc MV Agusta Dutch TT Assen 350cc MV Agusta East German GP Sachsenring 350cc MV Agusta Ulster GP Dundrod 350cc MV Agusta Nations GP Monza 4th 8th 169