The Place

Hi.

I am trying to get together some information about my dad, Dale Ward.

He used to race outfits in the late 60's, early 70's, and his passenger was Margaret Beckett. We have some pictures of them racing, but thought that there must be some more out there.

It's his birthday later in the year, so we (his kids) wanted to get something together.

thanks.

He ran the most beautifull fairings & made out of aluminium, Dale Ward Saab.
It was at a time when a lot of the bikes were getting the sidecar class a bad name in the way they were turned out. The Dale Ward Saab was one of the exceptions.

I can remember racing against your dad when his passenger was Graham Allcock? On a Triumph? Yep, the Saab was always immaculately turned out. I think that Margaret was commissioned as passenger when he was sponsored by Becketts with the Saab.

I remember the first time I saw the Ward/Becket Saab was at a practice day at Snetteton.The outfit was kept under a cover most of the time except when Terry Becket was setting up the motor for testing.The outfit was the most fantastic looking thing I had seen with it,s alli fairings and the new 850 sport motor breathed on by Becket.As far as I can remember it even had an auto-lube lubrication system but my memory is not that good now days.I was there with my driver Steve Collet and the Saab outfit we had built the previous winter.Dales Saab that year was very fast and we could never beat him.


John

jclassic1 wrote:I remember the first time I saw the Ward/Becket Saab was at a practice day at Snetteton.The outfit was kept under a cover most of the time except when Terry Becket was setting up the motor for testing.The outfit was the most fantastic looking thing I had seen with it,s alli fairings and the new 850 sport motor breathed on by Becket.As far as I can remember it even had an auto-lube lubrication system but my memory is not that good now days.I was there with my driver Steve Collet and the Saab outfit we had built the previous winter.Dales Saab that year was very fast and we could never beat him.


John

we have a photo , we will try and scan it this week and put in on.

jd that would be great.haven,t seen a picture of it for many years.

John

dale built the most beutiful machines.the saab was the best.i lived down the road from him in carlton notts.across the road from the becketts and spent many atime in his garage waching perfection.my beezas were never a match for him.but the guy who had it off him.tony stark yep thats the the man.i had a fast imp by then a boy did we do battle. hope your dad is well please send him my best regards

If you are looking for photos Classic Racer have a large archive

Contact Jane Skayman on 01507 529423 or jskayman@mortons.co.uk

Totally off topic! Report me if you think it appropriate

Shall we change Jim's avatar to something newer?

Guy Martin quote from his talk the other night......'Jim Sinnott, legend...He likes the women... Mega' I know Sorry

steve-e wrote:Shall we change Jim's avatar to something newer?

Well, we were lucky to get that pic from 1942

1974 - 75

I like the Guy Martin bit about the women. Did he teach Steve or the other way round.

Back to topic, the Saab was a beatifull machine in its day. In 72 or 73 there was a Croft- Silloth weekend. The old man and me had two fantastic races with Dale and Margaret (werent they an item at the time?) at Croft.and we were 2nd each time. Dad ,in the bar afterwards persuaded Dale to do Silloth the next day. He rang Jack Horseman up from the bar and got it sorted.The theory was that Silloth being so bumpy, Margaret wouldnt be able to hang on. The theory proved to be spot on, but not until after the final where we were beaten into 2nd place again by the silver Saab. We won the invitation race after Margaret decided to call it a day. Great racing in the days when it was just SIDECARS .