My Personal Tribute to Barry Sheene
Today, 10th March, 2003, brought very sad news to the world of motorcycling. The announcement being the death of Barry Sheene, our very own 2 times world motorcycling champion.
The 70's was a great era for motorcycling. It was a time when getting on the road was uncomplicated and fun. There were only two major restrictions at that time. Firstly you had to be 17 (16 for a moped) and secondly you had to wear a helmet. Insurance was relatively cheap and bikes were wide and varied but in the main were Japanese. Choices were mainly Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and of course Suzuki.
LIke many of us at the time our choice of machinery was influenced by the performance of motorcycles on the track. Some of us followed Kenny Roberts and bought a Yamaha and some of us emulated our very own home grown hero Barry Sheene and bought a Suzuki. For me there couldn't be any other choice but a Suzuki.
On my 17th birthday I bought my first Suzuki, a secondhand TT250. On it I visited Mallory Park and saw Barry Sheene for the first time competing in the Race of the Year. He won of course! A few years later I moved up to a GT750A. I rode it to Donington where I watched great dices between Barry and kenny Roberts. It was here that I had the pleasure of chatting to my hero. I don't recall what was said (probably not a lot since I was obviously overawed by the occasion) but I do recall how friendly and accessible he was even though he was concentrating on the task ahead. I have his autograph from that occasion and I will prize it forever.
There comes a time in our lives when we need to grow up and settle down and a car becomes more of a neccessity than a bike and for many years I did just that. Saying that, once a motorcyclist always a motorcyclist! I joined the VJMC and bought myself another GT750. That was me well and truly back! Several other Suzuki's followed as can be seen in my website.
Last year saw a dream I have held come true. The purchase of an RG500. There's no guessing who inspired me to purchase this - Barry Sheene.
This weekend past has been my own "Barry Sheene" weekend, having my RG500 on display not 50 feet from one of Barry's Yamaha machines at the Scottish Motorcycle Show. The pinnacle of the weekend (and probably my motorcycling life) was an outing on the track with my RG500 yesterday. Ok, it wasn't a race, just a parade but I was able to open it up and I can say I really felt like Barry Sheene!
This morning, still on a high from the weekend I heard the news I had been dreading - Barry Sheene had died.
I just don't know how to put this tragedy into words except that my love of motorcycling, my love of Suzuki's and ultimately this website are down to one man - Barry Sheene.
You will be sadly missed.
BARRY SHEENE 1950 - 2003
