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1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 14:24 pm
by PTRACER
Looking at photos from this event, but I don't really understand the series titles:
http://www.progcovers.com/motor/cadwell790916.jpg
Formula 1 is also a motorcycle category?
Are these from the 'F1' race?
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 16:43 pm
by kals
Yes F1 used to be a motorcycle series. I believe it eventually morphed into Superbikes in the late 80s, @Andy can confirm.
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 16:58 pm
by Everso Biggyballies
IIRC it started as an IoM thing and developed. I think they also had an F2 class based on engine size/type. F1 was for 1000cc (smaller for 2 stroke) initially. IIRC it might have been called Formula TT.
I think it started after the IoM TT was stripped of its Championship / British GP status and they needed a label to continue racing bikes there. Yes I believe it was ultimately what became World Superbikes
A lot of I think in my post, but I am sure
@Andy will know the full and real story.
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 22:53 pm
by PTRACER
Thanks @kals and @Everso Biggyballies! The race series title seems to be MCW TT Formula 1, but I can't find what MCW stands for, or any info about that series (was it a UK championship?). Also, those bikes in the photos don't look 1000cc, but maybe @Andy can confirm.
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 03:26 am
by Everso Biggyballies
PTRACER wrote: ↑5 years ago
Thanks @kals and @Everso Biggyballies! The race series title seems to be MCW TT Formula 1, but I can't find what MCW stands for, or any info about that series (was it a UK championship?). Also, those bikes in the photos don't look 1000cc, but maybe @Andy can confirm.
They had F1,F2,and initially F3 classes in the races as well, all with different engine sizes. I think the F3 class was for 125-250cc F2 were 250- 600cc and F1 600-1000cc in 4 stroke engines. (They allowed two strokes in each class which were smaller sized engine limits in each class)
@Andy will know the finer details for sure.
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 09:49 am
by Andy
Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑5 years ago
IIRC it started as an IoM thing and developed. I think they also had an F2 class based on engine size/type. F1 was for 1000cc (smaller for 2 stroke) initially. IIRC it might have been called Formula TT.
I think it started after the IoM TT was stripped of its Championship / British GP status and they needed a label to continue racing bikes there. Yes I believe it was ultimately what became World Superbikes
A lot of I think in my post, but I am sure @Andy will know the full and real story.
It was the Formula TT and the TT organisers as well as the ACU started a production series past the TT was stripped off the world championship status, as Chris rightly says.
Usually, the TT wasn't mentioned often but F1 and F2. Interestingly, exactly these two terms still have a place in sidecar racing these days.
You can also read it up at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_TT
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 09:54 am
by Andy
PTRACER wrote: ↑5 years ago
Thanks @kals and @Everso Biggyballies! The race series title seems to be MCW TT Formula 1, but I can't find what MCW stands for, or any info about that series (was it a UK championship?). Also, those bikes in the photos don't look 1000cc, but maybe @Andy can confirm.
Since it was the forerunner of Superbikes the final iterations were 750s although bikes like the Britten 1000 were taking part as well. A few 1000s and a lot of 750s in F1 like Ducatis Desmo 750 TT F1 .... Its paint job was the Italian flag, one of the more known. But Slippery Sam the Triumph Trident took part in the early days as well.
Re: 1970s UK Motorcycle Championships
Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 09:56 am
by Andy
Andy wrote: ↑4 years ago
PTRACER wrote: ↑5 years ago
Thanks @kals and @Everso Biggyballies! The race series title seems to be MCW TT Formula 1, but I can't find what MCW stands for, or any info about that series (was it a UK championship?). Also, those bikes in the photos don't look 1000cc, but maybe @Andy can confirm.
Since it was the precedessor of Superbikes the final iterations were 750s although bikes like the Britten 1000 were taking part as well. A few 1000s and a lot of 750s in F1 like Ducatis Desmo 750 TT F1 .... Its paint job was the Italian flag, one of the more known. But Slippery Sam the Triumph Trident took part in the early days as well.
And if you look at the schedules towards the end in '90 you'll find quite some circuits which were found again a bit later in WSB
WSB started as a rival series in 1988 and proved to be more commercially successfull so Formula TT was discontinued.
