Jock Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Robert Taylor |
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Taylor aboard his Fowler Yamaha outfit in 1979 at a guest-appearance when opening a motorcycle shop at Derby, prior to Stars at Darley, a nearby race meeting held annually where a selection of higher-level motorcycle racers compete in a local club event
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| Nationality | British | ||||||||||||
| Born | 9 March 1954 Pencaitland, East Lothian, Scotland |
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| Died | 15 August 1982 (aged 28) Imatra Circuit, Finland |
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Jock Taylor (born March 9, 1954 – died August 15, 1982) was a Scottish motorcycle racer. He became a World Champion in sidecar racing.
Jock Taylor was born in Pencaitland, a village in East Lothian, Scotland. He started his racing career at 19 years old. His first race was in 1974 as a passenger for Kenny Andrews. The next year, he became a driver himself. Sadly, Jock Taylor died in a racing accident in Finland in 1982.
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What Was Jock Taylor's Racing Career Like?
Jock Taylor became the Scottish Sidecar Champion in 1977 with his passenger, Lewis Ward. They won races at places like East Fortune, Beveridge Park, and Knockhill. They also had success in England.
Moving to Grand Prix Racing
In 1978, Jock decided to try racing in the Grand Prix series and the British Championships. He teamed up with a new passenger, Jimmy Neil. It took them some time to work well together. But by the end of the season, they were winning races regularly in England.
In 1979, Jock tried a new type of sidecar. However, he didn't like it after two accidents. One accident injured Jimmy Neil, and another caused the death of a stand-in passenger, Dave Powell. While Neil was recovering, Jock raced with veteran passenger Jimmy Law. They finished fifth in the German Grand Prix.
First Grand Prix Victory
Jimmy Neil returned to racing, but Jock soon partnered with Benga Johansson from Sweden. Together, Jock and Benga won their first Grand Prix race. This happened at the Swedish TT in Karlskoga. Later in 1979, Jock finished second in the British Championship.
In 1980, Jock Taylor and Benga Johansson had an amazing year. They won four Grand Prix races. They also finished on the podium (top three) in all seven races they completed. Jock won the British Championship that year. He also won the Isle of Man Sidecar B race, which meant he won the overall Sidecar TT.
In 1981, Jock kept his British title. He also became a four-time winner at the famous Isle of Man TT races. In 1982, Jock and Benga set a new lap record at the Isle of Man TT. They reached a speed of 108.29 mph (174.27 km/h). This record stood for seven years!
How Did Jock Taylor Die?
Jock Taylor died during the 1982 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix. The race was held in Imatra and the weather was very wet. Jock and Benga's sidecar started to slide on the wet track. It went off the road and hit a telephone pole.
Emergency workers were trying to help Jock. But then, a second sidecar team also slid off the track and crashed into them. This tragic accident killed Jock Taylor.
Jock was buried in the cemetery in his hometown of Pencaitland. A memorial was put up for him in the village in December 2006. There is also a memorial in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, which overlooks part of the old motorcycle racing circuit. Another memorial for Jock Taylor stands in Imatra, Finland, near the racetrack paddock.
What Happened to Jock's Racing Sidecar?
Jock's world championship-winning sidecar was bought by his friend Jack Muldoon. Jack rescued the sidecar from a group that was supposed to restore it. The group had kept the bike in pieces for four years without restoring it.
Jack Muldoon and his family bought Jock's bike in March 2012. They immediately started working to restore it. They took the sidecar completely apart. They spent months cleaning and polishing the frame. Many parts were rusty because the bike had been stored for a long time. Every part had to be cleaned, and all the bearings were replaced. The engine was also completely rebuilt.
Many people helped with the restoration. By August 2012, the restoration was almost finished. It was the first time in 30 years that the engine had run! The restored sidecar was shown at the Jock Taylor Memorial race weekend. This event was held at East Fortune, close to where Jock grew up.
What is the Jock Taylor Memorial Race?
After Jock's death, an annual race was started in his memory. It is called the Jock Taylor Trophy. This race is held at Knockhill and always attracts the best sidecar teams. Racers from all over the UK travel to compete in this important race. In 2012, the race was held at East Fortune. This is where Jock started his racing career almost 40 years ago.
