Internnational Darby

[TerryMcg]

An interesting link, i know some of us rode with more people than was really healthy for us and 150 has been mentioned here.

How many drivers have you passengered and can you name them all?

I have a reasonable list.

[steve-e]

Just over 60, somewhere around 64 I think but not too sure any more. I know it's on at least 70 bikes though. I did have a list somewhere years ago.

[Bob B]

Me about six I think, too many moons ago

[Eccles]

Elevenish. Including practice day outings.

[Eccles]

Did you ever hear the one about International trying to beg a bed from Chris Hollis and his Good Lady?
International could not understand their objections.
It was their wedding night!
Honest.

[Ian E]

I imagine he finished the Cake

[Eccles]

I think he took the biscuit!

[Crusty412]

one of the best passengers i ever had, if anybody comes across him say hi from me. cheers

[Welsh Daph]

He was at Castle Coome today.....looking for a screw!

[Bob B]

Hope that he found one Daph ...

[Welsh Daph]

....We never had one to fit Bob! he sat talking to Winnie when we left.....perhaps he helped him out

[long legs]

....We never had one to fit Bob! he sat talking to Winnie when we left.....perhaps he helped him out

we helped him out with many things that weekend , always good to see int darby , your not gonna belive this , i saw him put his hand in his pocket and buy the percy's a beer each !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! , he was gonna go to pembray on sunday as there was lots of seaside for him to swim in !!!! , wonder if he made it there ???????

[dick tapken]

if you did not know tony you would think it was all made up rode with me at gedinne once and ended up having a bath in a cattle trough seeing is believing with him

[Fritz]

Mr Rust said

one of the best passengers i ever had, if anybody comes across him say hi from me. cheers

I always found Tony really good company,,,,,,,,,, I am sure us here in West Lancashire were always on Tony's list of places to call into on his way North when traveling round to see friends from the sidecar scene. In fact he would tend to call into my old chaps place as he lives closer to the M58 Motorway than we do..............Quite often a beer a meal and a bed were there if he needed a break and was welcome anytime of day or night... They often ask about you Tony....

As an electrician he would work each and every moment he could to enable himself to travel around the world to follow the sport he loved to be involved in,,,he also liked to visit loved ones abroard such as his sister and her family. Being the cunning fox he is he would wait till the price of a return ticket to Aus was at it's lowest and only then would he buy it. Then he would turn up unexpected -out of the blue- as he would he in the UK,,,,,,,,I liked him for this, and never got sick of him turning up like a bad penny.

Then some time ago Tony decided to sell his flat in Edgbaston , use the money to travel and then rent a room from the chap in the flat opposite who happened to be 'Bernie the Bolt' from the late 60's game show......The Golden Shot...

I also saw Tony take a bath in the cattle trough when there was bugger all in the way of proper toilets/showers/Bar at Gedinne,,,,,,,and when the covered bar was built Tony would insist on being dowsed with the ice water from the fridges after each race,,,,,,,,unless you have been to this Belgian circuit I can't explain how hot this place can get.

Tony was a prize guy, the sort of chap who would borrow a push bike and ride round the old Nurburgring track at 6am and then turn up for practice as if it was nothing,,,,people would be amazed at his gaul, guts and determination.

I will never forget Tony pointing out my bit of a paunch, this really hurt me as I admired Tony seeing he was a bit older than me but twice as fit,,,,he really did look after himself.

My circumstances changed during my association with Tony, I met a new girl, got married and then had our first child named after my all time solo hero Freddie Spencer,I resigned my self to having a family rather than racing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Tony visited us one one or two occassions en route to see the Bakers in Cumbria.

The last time I saw Tony was after an over night stay at our place in Ormskirk en route up North, after that we have never seen him since....

I admired Tony and his philosophy, from the first time we met I felt like he was the brother I never had, I always looked up to him and enjoyed every minute of his company.

Regards


Fritz,,,,,,

PS, I hope someone has invited him to the Festival of Sidecars, if not I would like to see him there.......

[mum e]

When we were at the North west last year he borrowed Grahams scooter to go around the circuit, he landed up at Joeys bar, and then he went to the rope bridge, and you think it s all a story,but he then showed you the pictures to prove it. he was always good at getting parts if some were needed. and a journey was never long when he came on it.