Jack Findlay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Findlay |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Findlay circa 1973/74 working on a Suzuki TR500 watercooled twin
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Australian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cyril John Findlay (born February 5, 1935 – died May 19, 2007) was an Australian professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was known for having one of the longest racing careers in Grand Prix history. He raced for 20 years, from 1958 to 1978. Only a few other riders have raced for that long. Jack was special because he competed at the highest level mostly as a privateer. This means he raced without being a full-time member of a big factory team. He often had to find his own bikes and funding.
Jack Findlay's Racing Adventures
Findlay was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, a town in Australia. He started racing motorcycles when he was just 15 years old. This was two years younger than the official age limit! To get around this rule, he used his father's identification documents and raced under the name "Jack." His father, John 'Jock' Findlay, was a Scottish immigrant to Australia.
After finishing school, Jack worked at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. But his passion was racing. In 1958, he moved to England to chase his dream. He got a job at the BSA factory in Birmingham. Soon after, he joined the Grand Prix circuit. He started with a 350cc Norton Manx motorcycle. He raced in his first Isle of Man TT in 1959. He continued to compete in Grand Prix races from 1958 until 1978.
Big Wins and Challenges
Jack's best result in a championship was in 1968. He rode a Matchless bike and finished second in the 500cc class. The famous racer Giacomo Agostini won that year.
In 1971, Jack won his first race for Suzuki at the Ulster Grand Prix. This was a huge moment! It was Suzuki's very first win in the 500cc class. It was also the first time a 500cc race was won by a motorcycle with a two-stroke engine.
His most amazing victory happened in 1973. After trying for 15 years, he finally won the Isle of Man Senior TT race. He rode Suzuki TR500 bikes in 1973 and 1974. In 1974, he even joined the official Suzuki factory racing team. He helped develop the new Suzuki RG 500 motorcycle with other top riders like Barry Sheene and Paul Smart.
In 1975, Jack achieved another great feat. He won the FIM Formula 750 championship, beating Barry Sheene. Sadly, an accident that fractured his skull ended his racing career. He retired in 1978. Another high-speed accident in 1987 meant he could no longer ride motorcycles at all.
Life After Racing
Jack married Dominique Monneret, who was the widow of Georges Monneret. He made his home in France and had a son named Gregory Findlay. In 1992, he was chosen to be the Grand Prix technical director for the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). He held this important job until he retired in 2001. His ability to speak French and Italian very well helped him in this role.
A French filmmaker named Jérôme Laperrousaz made a documentary about road racing in 1972. It was called Continental Circus and starred Jack Findlay and Giacomo Agostini. The movie's music was by the band Gong, and it even included a song called "Blues for Findlay."
To honor his achievements, a bronze statue of Jack Findlay was unveiled in July 2006. It shows him on his TT-winning Suzuki bike. The statue is in a park in his hometown, which was renamed the Jack Findlay Reserve.
See also
In Spanish: Jack Findlay para niños
